Pope Francis has appointed Father Stephen Chow Sau-yan, SJ, currently provincial of the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus and supervisor of Wah Yan College (Hong Kong and Kowloon), as Bishop of the Diocese of Hong Kong. The announcement was made by the Holy See Press Office on Monday, 17 May 2021.
The Diocese of Hong Kong has finally been gifted with a bishop. After the untimely demise on 3 Jan 2019 of Bishop Michael Yeung Ming-cheung who had succeeded Cardinal John Tong Hon in August 2017, the Hong Kong see had been vacant. In the meantime, Cardinal Tong was appointed Apostolic Administrator.
In a letter to the Wah Yan College community, Father Chow revealed that the appointment “is the outcome of a process of consultation and discernment that involved months in my case. Besides myself, Fr General has accompanied me in the discernment process, which culminated in an explicit intention of the Holy Father.”
The Bishop-Elect will not immediately take over the reins of the Diocese. In an announcement, the Chancery of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong explained that a few months were needed given “the arrangements of the Society of Jesus for the appointment of a new Provincial Superior for the Chinese Province.” Hence, “the episcopal consecration of Rev. Stephen CHOW will be postponed to 4 December 2021 (Saturday), with details to be announced later.”
The Chancery Notice added: “In compliance with Church Law, Cardinal John TONG, currently Apostolic Administrator, will continue to be the head of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong until Rev. Stephen CHOW has received episcopal consecration and has taken canonical possession of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong (i.e, has officially taken office) at the Cathedral.”
On Tuesday, 18 May, Father Stephen Chow, accompanied by Cardinal Tong and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha, gave a press conference where he admitted surprise at the selection. Way back in December 2020, he had already been speaking with the Father General about the matter. But the matter was settled when the Holy Father wrote him a letter expressing his desire for Fr Chow to take on the responsibility, so he accepted out of obedience.
When asked about the present polarization in Hong Kong society, he said that unity does not mean uniformity, that there can be “plurality in unity.”
Several questions were asked concerning Church and State relations, including dealings with HK Chief Executive Carrie Lam who is a Catholic herself. Bishop-Elect Chow said that it is premature to give any opinions at this moment. “I must always be attentive to what is going on, I prefer to wait because there is a lot that I do not understand – for example, about China – and I want to learn. Prudence is a virtue!” he added.
The Vatican Press Office provided the following curriculum vitae of the new bishop. Following is Clarim’s English translation.
H.E. Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-yan, SJ, was born on 7 August 1959 in Hong Kong.
After his pre-university studies, he obtained a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota in the United States. He then joined the Society of Jesus on September 27, 1984.
From 1986 to 1988 he completed his novitiate and obtained a licentiate in philosophy in Ireland, continuing his theological studies in Hong Kong from 1988 to 1993, where on July 16, 1994, he received priestly ordination. At Loyola University in Chicago he earned a Master’s degree in Organizational Development (1993-1995) and at Harvard University in Boston (2000-2006) he earned his Doctor of Human Development and Psychology (Ed.D.).
He made his final vows on April 17, 2007.
He has held the following positions: Since 2007, Supervisor of two Jesuit colleges in Hong Kong and at Wah Yan in Kowloon; Honorary Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong (2008-2015) and Jesuit Formator (2009-2017). Since 2009 he has been President of the Education Commission of the Chinese Jesuit Province and since 2012 a part-time teacher of psychology at the Holy Spirit Diocesan Seminary in Hong Kong; from 2012 to 2014 Member of the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese of Hong Kong, from 2013 to 2017 Provincial Consultor and from 2017 Member of the Diocesan Council for Education.
From 1 January 2018 up to now he has been Provincial of the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus and from 2020 Deputy Secretary of the Association of Religious Superiors of the Male Institutes of Hong Kong.
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