SW News: The population of Catholics in Hong Kong has witnessed positive growth over the past two decades. The diocese of Hong Kong has released data that says that in 1999, there were 347,000 Catholics comprising 5.2 percent of the population. In 2019, they comprised 8.2 percent of the city’s population and their number stood at 611,000.

The diocese has said that this Easter, as many as 1,700 catechumens will be baptized and welcomed into the faith during the Paschal Vigil. They will embrace the faith after undergoing intense catechesis for 37 weeks apart from a pilgrimage to a famous shrine and charitable activities. This is being carried out under the name of “Formation Path for New Catholics”. It is being supervised by the Hong Kong Central Council of Catholic Laity.

Most of the converts are either people who did not profess any faith earlier or those who indulge in ancestor worship, which is rampant across Asia. Often, they become curious about the Catholic faith when they are invited to church by friends or relatives. This results in an exploration of the faith. Some people come to church out of curiosity after having encountered Catholicism on the internet.
Despite the fact that hundreds of catechumens are going to receive baptism this year, the number is much lower than in previous years. For many years, around 3,000 people used to embrace the Catholic faith every year during Easter Vigil.

According to Bishop Stephen Chow SJ, the reason for the dip in the numbers can be attributed to several factors. The complicated political situation in the Beijing-controlled city and the intense pressure from the communist authorities in the mainland are responsible for the drop, said the prelate. He also said that the intense catechumenate results in people without enough zeal to drop out.

In his pastoral letter, Bishop Chow urged believers to celebrate the new brothers and sisters and welcome them to the community of faith. “They are a precious gift from God, and in this family, they are sisters and brothers to each other, and we must care for them. And secondly, parishes and faith communities must offer them a community of ongoing formation and accompaniment, so that they can continue to grow in the faith they have just embraced," he said.