Bishop Michael Yeung installed head of Hong Kong Church

The new bishop of Hong Kong officially assumed office at an evening Mass on Saturday in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in the presence of some 100 priests and nearly 1000 faithful.  Coadjutor Bishop Michael Yeung succeeded Cardinal John Tong as Bishop of Hong Kong, after Pope Francis on August 1 accepted the resignation of the 78-year old cardinal.   

Among those present at the Eucharistic celebration were the two retired bishops of Hong Kong, Cards. Tong and  Joseph Zen, Bishop Stephen Lee Bin Sang of Macau, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha of Hong Kong, a hundred priests and representatives of other Christian communities of Hong Kong.   Among government authorities were Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and a few other ministers.

After a brief exhortation at the installation ceremony at the start of the Mass, retired Card. Tong accompanied Bishop Yeung to his 'cathedra' or the bishop’s chair, the symbol of his office. Hong Kong’s priests, missionaries, religious and faithful then pledged their fidelity to their new head, promising to preserve the unity of the community and ‎their commitment to evangelize.  Visibly moved, Bishop Yeung embraced each one who came an bowed in reverence before him.

Compassion and accompaniment

In his homily,  Bishop Yeung reflected on Sunday’s Gospel of the Transfiguration of Jesus, stressing that "without the Cross we are not disciples of the ‎Lord."  Showing "compassion and ‎accompaniment" to "the last, the least and the lost," was what, he indicated, would be the mark of his mission as head of the Catholic Church of Hong Kong.  The poverty that must be cared for is not only ‎economic, but also spiritual, of those who are not loved and are not welcomed, he said.  

The 71-year old bishop said the ‎areas which need more attention include the elderly, many of whom are abandoned, homeless, ‎in difficult economic situations. But he also mentioned the youth, recalling that they are also suffering ‎from abandonment, their rejection of authority and, their lack of hope in a possible future.‎  The people of Hong Kong should not concern itself only with the economy, but also ‎housing, education, the environment and political reforms, Bishop Yeung stressed.   (Source: AsiaNews)