The Hong Kong Christian Council, together with the Hong Kong Catholic Diocesan Ecumenical Commission, jointly organised their third ecumenical pilgrimage this year from 10 to 22 May.
This pilgrimage was part of the Christian Council’s 70th anniversary celebrations. A total of 23 members of clergy and laity participated, included the Rt Revd Matthias Der, the Revd Jonathan Chee, the Revd Billy Ip, the Revd Wong Ka Fai (Chair of the Hong Kong Christian Council and General Secretary of the Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China), the Revd Joseph Chan (Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong), the Revd Leung Mei Ying (Vice-Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong), Ms Chow Yin Yung Esther (President of the Tsung Tsin Mission of Hong Kong), the Revd Kwok Chi Wing Eddy (Field Superintendent of the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Hong Kong), and Ms Cheung-Ang Siew Mei (Executive Director of Christian Action).
This ecumenical trip took our cross-denomination cohort first to Germany, where they visited Berlin, then Wittenberg, where the Reformation began, Ottmaring, where the Focolare Movement started, and Augsburg. They then arrived at Zurich and Geneva, two important foci of the Reformation in Switzerland, to visit the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation. Afterwards they went to Trent in Italy, and then to Rome and the Vatican.
The Ecumenical Experience of Ottmaring
The Revd Billy Ip, who took part of this ecumenical trip, was particularly struck by the little village of Ottmaring near Augsburg. The 30-odd houses there, together with a nurturing centre, form a ‘Union of the Common Life’, a Christian community sharing an ecumenical life with members of the Focolare Movement there. Judging from the differences between these two communities – in both their religious customs and history – it is easy to say that the two are alien to each other. But by that single call from God that reached them 50 years ago, and by the sweet experience of a shared community built within Christ, this small community in Ottmaring is still, to this day, championing the cause and gospel of ecumenism.
The Revd Ip recalled how during conversations with the residents there, the matter of finance and decision-making came up in the context of communal life: they often hold different views, but these are moments when God would lead them in learning to listen to others. During COVID, the community faced financial challenges, but God provided whenever there was a need. The Revd Ip believes that this is something the church in Hong Kong need to learn from.
Half a year ago, the ecumenical community at Ottmaring was tasked with an important mission: to receive refugees from Ukraine. Tens of families were forced to flee their homeland due to war, and came to Germany. The ecumenical community in Ottmaring was there to receive them with love, comfort their frightened souls, and help them adapt to their new environment. Out of pure coincidence, Ottmaring’s 50 years of experience in acceptance and ecumenism found its way to these families from afar, and by God’s guidance they reached even farther than that.
The next stop was Trent, Italy, to visit the Mariapolis Centre there under the Focolare Movement. Trent is an important location in the history of the Reformation, as it is here inside the Santa Maria Maggiore, Trento that the Catholic Church began the Council of Trent, a hallmark of the Counter-Reformation prompted by the Protestant Reformation. The Hong Kong cohort stayed for two days, exploring the history and culture of the place, with a tour at the Trento Cathedral led by a retired Bishop of Trent.
Mutual blessings within one Christ
After the stop at Trent, the ecumenical pilgrimage travelled to Rome, and attended an evening mass at Santa Maria Maggiore. This church, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, is one of the four Major papal basilicas of the Roman Catholic Church, and was built in the 4th century AD. For three days our Hong Kong troop stayed at Rome, each day a packed schedule. The Revd Jonathan Chee recalled how on the first day they visited the Vatican Museum and St Peter''s Basilica, and the sculptures and paintings on display there were truly awe-inspiring. They then went to the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, which houses the cathedra of the Bishop of Rome. There, the Revd Joseph Chan celebrated mass, and coincidentally it was also his birthday. Before giving the blessing, he invited all clergy attending to first bless him. The Revd Chee commented how this ecumenical action touched him, as it showed him how within Christ, we are truly all inseparable members of the same body.
The second day in Rome saw our cohort visiting the catacombs of early Christians. Contrary to popular belief, these early Christians were not buried underground because of persecution, but rather that burial costs for an above ground grave was far too expensive. They then went to the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, where St Paul was buried. A statue of him outside the church is characteristically adorned with chains, serving as a reminder that St Paul was an apostle who got imprisoned for preaching the Lord’s gospel. The last visit of the day was to the Focolare headquarters in Rome, with a meaningful conversation on their mission of putting peace and the gospel into action.
On their last day in Rome, the ecumenical pilgrims entered Vatican City to meet with Pope Francis. Under the recommendation of Cardinal Stephen Chow, each member came up and shook hands with this friendly elderly. The Revd Ray Ka Fai Wong, who headed this trip, asked of the Pope to pray for the people and church of Hong Kong, Macau, and China. As a token of commemoration, each participant was gifted a silver coin bearing the papal coat of arms.
The long and hopeful road of ecumenism
These 13 days saw our Hong Kong travellers meeting each other from across denominations. They went on a journey tracing the route of the Reformation and the historic pain that these schisms brought us, learning on the way the importance of forgiveness, communion, and ecumenism. Though the road of ecumenism is a long one, we are fortunate enough to have the same saviour in Jesus Christ our Lord. With the hope that each denomination will strive for this same goal, one day we may yet see each other in complete unity within Christ.
Visiting the World Council of Churches
Members of the ecumenical pilgrimage meeting with Pope Francis © Vatican Media
Anglican Mattins inside a chapel of St Anne’s Church,
Augsburg, Germany
The Vicar General Joseph Chan shaking hands with the Vice-Bishop Leung Mei Ying in commemoration of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification signed within St Anne’s Church, Augsburg between the Catholic and Evangelical Lutheran churches.