CBCEW establishes group for Hong Kong Catholic Migrants

Source: CBCEW

To serve the increasing number of Hong Kong Catholic migrants to Great Britain, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW) has established the Hong Kong Catholic Migrants Pastoral Coordination Group. As a formally established pastoral body, the Coordination Group aims to liaise with the local faith groups across Great Britain, the Bishops' Conference, and the Diocese of Hong Kong, as well as provide pastoral support to strengthen and deepen the faith of the laity. The arrangement is ad experimentum for one year, beginning from 1st July 2024.

The functions of the group are:

-To liaise between the Hong Kong Catholic migrant communities across England and Wales (the local communities) and the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales.

- To ensure the local communities are supported pastorally by liaising with the local coordination groups and arranging opportunities for social and faith-based gatherings.

- To serve as the first point of contact for Cantonese-speaking visiting priests who wish to support the local communities across England and Wales.

- To serve the Hong Kong Catholic migrants by providing, at national and local levels (with the support of the local communities), different supporting services to strengthen and consolidate their faith.

The Coordination Group is under the supervision of Bishop Paul McAleenan, lead bishop for migrants and refugees in the Bishops' Conference.

The group has set up a page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ukhkcaths