By LiCAS News
HONG KONG — A century-old bronze bell rang again in Pok Fu Lam earlier this month as Catholics in Hong Kong marked 130 years of missionary presence at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
The celebration combined the parish’s patronal feast with a Marian procession retracing the evangelisation efforts of the Paris Foreign Missions Society, which began work in the area in 1896.
The event underscored the enduring Catholic identity of Pok Fu Lam, a historic district on Hong Kong Island shaped by missionary education, healthcare initiatives, and community formation, according to a report by Sunday Examiner.
The procession began at University Hall of the University of Hong Kong, formerly the site of Nazareth Seminary, an early formation center that played a significant role in regional missionary outreach.
More than 230 participants walked along an old path to Pok Fu Lam Village, stopping at a preserved clinic established by Father Rene Chevalier, parish priest from 1952 to 1971.
Father Dominic Chan Chi-Ming and Father Joseph Fan Kam-Tong, both of whom grew up in the former settlement of Tai Koo Lau, attended and reflected on the parish’s missionary heritage.
Father Chan expressed admiration for Father Chevalier, recalling his leadership in education and healthcare programs that supported low-income families during decades of social change.
Participants later traveled by coach to Precious Blood Primary School in Wah Fu Estate and then to Yu Chun Keung Memorial Secondary School No. 2 before concluding at the parish church.
At the church, Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., bishop of Hong Kong, struck a bronze bell cast in 1909 and first used by the Sisters of St Paul de Chartres in an orphanage.
The bell, gifted to the newly built church in 1938, rang again to mark the anniversary, symbolically linking the present community with more than a century of Catholic witness.
A Bible was presented to a representative of the youth community, highlighting the importance of passing on the missionary legacy to younger generations within the Hong Kong diocese.
Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Stephen together with MEP superior Father Matthieu Masson, parish clergy, and diocesan officials at the Yu Chun Keung Memorial College No. 2 school hall.
In his homily, the cardinal honored the selfless contributions of early missionaries and urged that their spirit continue to inspire the faithful as the Diocese of Hong Kong marks its 80th anniversary.
He also highlighted the Virgin Mary’s role in guiding individuals toward Christ and encouraged parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes to embody love and unity in their communities.
The parish plans to make the procession a regular feature of its annual feast day celebrations, recognizing strong lay interest in learning about Pok Fu Lam’s evangelization history.
Historian Chan Tin-kuen said he joined the procession to gather material for his classes and expressed delight at participating in the anniversary observance.
He noted that the government has preserved the clinic established by Father Chevalier for storage purposes, but said the historic structure has potential for revitalisation.
The Paris Foreign Missions Society established the Bethanie Sanatorium in 1875 to assist missionaries recovering from tropical diseases and later expanded its presence throughout Pok Fu Lam.
In 1885, the society acquired Claymore for the Nazareth Seminary and Press, and in 1896 Father Joseph Gaztelu built a small chapel for printing workers.
That same year, the MEP acquired Douglas Castle to house a new seminary and printing house, constructing two-storey buildings that accommodated up to 300 residents.
The area became locally known as “Tai Koo Lau,” and former residents and their descendants have since formed a group to share memories of the once-thriving Catholic settlement.
As the Catholic population grew in the 1930s, the MEP constructed a larger church in 1938, officially naming it Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
Little Flower’s School was established in 1951 to serve children living in Tai Koo Lau, expanding the parish’s educational mission in the district.
Under Father Chevalier’s leadership beginning in 1952, the school welcomed local residents, and a clinic opened in 1954 to provide affordable education and healthcare.
Susan Chan, who attended Little Flower School in the 1950s, recalled that the monthly school fee was about $2.50, making it accessible to most low-income families.
She also remembered Father Chevalier smiling as he rode his motorbike to the school and distributed food coupons to residents in need.
In 1978, Tai Koo Lau was demolished, and Sunday Masses were temporarily held at Precious Blood Primary School in Wah Fu Estate.
In 1982, when Yu Chun Keung Memorial College No. 2 was completed, space became available to rebuild the church and continue parish life in a new setting.
As the bell cast in 1909 sounded once more in Pok Fu Lam, parishioners marked not only a historical milestone but a renewed commitment to carry forward a missionary legacy in Hong Kong.
