ANNUAL REPORT

“Walking with the poor”

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me. In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:35-36,40)

Thanks be to God who has called us to become a Vincentian. All the Vincentians I know have one thing in common, that is, we do not count how much we have done to help the people in need; we take care for their needs both morally and financially. In Matthew 25:40, the Lord said, "in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me." In our service, we do not only see God in one of the least of our brothers and sisters, we often encounter Him during our visitations or delivery of services. I am convinced that this is truly the cause of why we love our service and where the source of power comes from.

I thank the Lord for His care in the past year. I would also like to thank his Eminence Cardinal John Tong, of and our patron, for his support to our services; Rev. , VG, our Spiritual Advisor, for his guidance and teachings; all clergies who offered their kind advice and encouragement during the year; the dear members of the Society for their untiring efforts in their charitable work at many different levels; and of course, the council officers and the senior members for their contributions and support during the year. I would also like to thank our donors for their unfailing support to our charitable work. Without them, we could not have delivered the various quality charitable works as smoothly as it has been over the years.

New Activities and New Services during this Year

We are honoured to be invited by the Diocesan Ad Hoc Committee for Jubilee of Mercy, led by Rev. , to take part in the organization of two major events in this Year of Mercy.

Love  thy Neighbours from Afar – Care for Refugees: The event was designed for members of the faithful to better understand the refugee situation in Hong Kong and to arouse their concerns. The event took place in two days - the first day was a sharing session on 21 May 2016 and the second a visitation to refugee families on 25 June 2016. We were honored to have Cardinal John Tong, Auxiliary Bishop Rev. , Auxiliary Bishop Rev. Joseph Ha and Rev. Dominic Chan, VG to take part in our visitation to some refugee families living in To Kwa Wan and Yuen Long, bringing blessings and caring to them.

The Saint of Mercy – Mother Teresa of Calcutta Exhibition: The exhibition was held from 3 to 4 September 2016 at the Caritas Institute of Higher Education. We would like to extent our gratitude to the Hong Kong Diocese and the Missionaries of Charity for their full support in this exhibition by providing us with rich and valuable information about St. Teresa of Calcutta. The exhibition covered not only the details about the life and service of the Saint but also provided direct broadcast of Mother’s canonization ceremony, sharing with guests, film show, prayer service and spiritual development sessions. In the course of the preparation for the event, what we have gained from learning through the services and teachings of St. Teresa of Calcutta was far greater than the efforts we spent. Thanks be to God for giving us this valuable opportunity to serve.

The Central Council Meeting

The Central Council holds monthly meetings every Wednesday of the third week of the month.

Conferences and Membership

We have a total of thirty-four parish conferences and one youth conference, with over seven hundred members.

Our Work and Activities

In 2015 – 2016, all members worked very hard and delivered excellent services in their respective areas, like financial support to the poor and the needy, holding workshops and seminars for members in spiritual development, organizing retreat for members, collaborating with other organizations in delivering charitable work, etc.

Charity Community (China) – During the year, the Group visited sixteen regions and districts in the Mainland, focusing on visiting and providing financial support to the poor and the needy with local parishioners. Members took part in a summer youth camp held in Boluo and joined a workshop in Lanzhou.

Communication Management Group – During the year, the Group held six meetings and published four issues of the quarterly e-Newsletter. The Group also devoted tremendous efforts in revamping the SSVP HK web site to better meet the emerging needs of the Central Council and conferences brought about by the rapid advancement in information technology and the rising popularity of social media. The new web site which launched on 20 July 2016 adopted a new domain name (ssvp.org.hk), signifying a new page in the SSVP HK’s participation in on- line media. Members are welcome to visit this new web site which could be displayed responsively on various mobile devices, including desktop and tablet computers as well as smart phones.

Documentation Management Group – The Group held meeting every two months at the Ozanam Centre. It aimed to develop and maintain an archive system for documentation relating to the establishment of the Society in Hong Kong, its history in the past years, including the set-up of conferences etc.; to retrieve information relating to the establishment of the Society, the registration under the Society Ordinance, the Inland Revenue Ordinance and the Community Chest, for instance; as well as to retrieve from various channels information relating to the history of the Society in Hong Kong especially charitable works in the past, Kung Kao Po, for instance. Recently, the Group visited the Hong Kong Central Library and Hong Kong Seminary to collect past materials in Kung Kao Po. The Group also documented information of major events for future reference. In addition, the Group also assisted in archiving relevant records of CGI.

After all, we will try our best to make these precious historical materials good references in the future.

Extension and Development Group - The Extension and Development Group consists of eight members. A major task of the Group is to visit parishes that have yet to establish a conference, and to introduce to parishioners the mission and the spirit of the Society. It is hoped that new conferences could be established in these parishes when parishioners gained a better understanding of the Society.

During the year, the Group set up the “Walking with Conferences” what’s app groups with the presidents and vice-presidents of conferences. Conferences were welcome to report problems they encountered to the E&D Group at any time with the Group responding within 24 hours. Advices and support would be provided according to the guidelines and rules of the Central Council in real time. The channel was also an effective means for the Central Council to disseminate news and messages. In addition, monthly evening gatherings were held among core members of four to five conferences. Participating conferences revisited the mission, rules and the usage of various forms of the Society together, and discussed problems they were facing and areas of concerns. Conferences got to know each other better through sharing in these monthly gatherings.

The Group also assisted conferences in recruiting new members by introducing the Society to other parishioners and catechumen at their parishes. As the parishioners and catechumen learn more about the Society and our services, they would be inspired to join our family to live out their faith through charitable work and serving people in need. For that purpose, the Group also updated and printed new leaflets for conferences’ reference and use.

Financial Management Group – The Group held meetings during the year to discuss financial issues encountered by conferences and provide recommendations for their consideration. One of the main tasks of the Group is to appraise and recommend to the President, funding applications of charitable works exceeding HK$ 8000 per case from conferences based on the Funding Approval Guidelines.

Ozanam Comprehensive Service Centre (the Centre) – The Ozanam Management Committee manages and oversees the operation of the Centre through quarterly meetings convened to assess, audit and align the directions for the operation of the Centre. The Centre also assisted the Society in communicating and coordinating charitable work and activities of parish conferences. The Centre provided a variety of services to the community in adhering to the teaching of love and care which Christ gave us. Throughout the year, the Centre had continued its services to the people in need, including:

 Tutorial Classes: We provided after-school homework tutorial classes for primary students. There were about 2,240 head counts enjoyed the services last year;  Free Medication and Acupuncture: The Centre collaborated with teams of voluntary qualified Chinese medicine practitioners to provide high quality free medication and treatment. There were about 2,584 head counts received the services from the free clinic last year;  Leisure and Cultural Services: The Centre invited experienced music teachers to provide harmonica and erhu classes for people of all ages. There were about 248 student-counts enjoyed the services last year; and  Caring Elderly Neighbours: The Centre collaborated with Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council - Sham Shui Po to arrange visits for members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, brining seasonal gifts, warm regards and blessing to the elderly, both solitary and couples alike, in the district during festivals.

We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all teachers of the tutorial classes, Chinese medicine practitioners, teachers of the musical instrument classes and staff of the Centre for delivering such amazing charitable services under very limited resources at the Centre.

In May 2016, the Centre, in collaboration with other organizations, held “The Wheel of Longevity” charity activity and baked the longest wheel bun in the world. The wheel bun measured 3.28 m long and was accepted by Guinness World Records as the longest wheel bun so far. The donations raised by this activity was used to provide Personal Emergency Link service to the solitary elderly and the needy without support.

Refugee and Protection Claimant Services Group– The Services Group is responsible for coordinating the services rendering to refugees and protection claimants by various conferences. Through this, the Society could better manage resources to provide services as needed. We conducted home visitation to families of refugees and protection claimants through the “adopting a family” approach.

During the year, a total of 15 conferences took part in conducting monthly home visitations to some 100 families. Through home visitations, members had better opportunities to understand the situation and the needs of families, and bear witness to the love of God. Apart from visitations, the Group also met once every month to exchange experiences, to share information and to align practices among conferences. Through discussions and exchange of views in the monthly meeting, the Group took opportunities to update and review our practice and services, if necessary.

To celebrate the Jubilee Year of Mercy, the Society in conjunction with the Diocesan Ad Hoc Committee for Jubilee of Mercy held two special events enabling lay Catholics to understand the status of refugees and protection claimants in Hong Kong, and to raise their awareness of the needs of these brothers and sisters from afar – A seminar on 21 May 2016 and home visitations to families of refugees and protection claimants on 25 June 2016. The seminar composed of sharing from Auxiliary Bishop Rev. Joseph Ha, representatives from United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Christian Actions (CA), sisters of Contemplative Missionary and the Society about the situations of refugees worldwide and in Hong Kong, and was well attended by some 70 members and lay Catholics. Regarding the home visitation to families of refugees and protection claimant families, Cardinal John Tong, Auxiliary Bishop Rev. Michael Yeung and Rev. Dominic Chan, VG, joined the visits in Yuen Long while Auxiliary Bishop Rev. Joseph Ha took part in To Kwa Wan together with our members, other parishioners and sisters of Contemplative Missionary. We visited a total of some 60 families.

The Group organized a “Fun Day” on 17 January 2016 to celebrate Vatican’s “The World day of Migrants and Refugees 2016”. Besides, two activities including a visit to the Science Museum on 27 July 2016 and a “Games Day” at the Caritas Yuen Long Chan Chun Ha Secondary School on 13 August 2016 were organized for families during summer vacation. The activities were well attended and attendees highly appraised the activities. The experience gained would help us organize more and better activities for the families in future.

Spirituality Group – declared the opening of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy for the Universal Church on 8 December 2015 and invited every one of us to experience God’s grace and reconciliation. The Spirituality Group invited Rev. Gabriel Altamirano Ortega to help in organizing a series of spirituality activities for the Jubilee. There were three spirituality talks on mercy followed by activities such as visiting single elderly, the homeless and the drug rehabilitants in Shek Kwu Chau. The Group also organized a pilgrimage to Jiangmen and Guangzhou as well as a retreat for members of the Society.

Youth Group - During the year, the Youth Group organized a Liberal Studies Exposure Programme for ethnic minorities students of Caritas Tuen Mun Marden Foundation Secondary School. Through experiential learning, the Programme aimed to provide opportunities to the junior secondary ethnic minority’s students to better understand the life of Hong Kong people, and the senior secondary ones to understand issues and concepts in the DSE Liberal Studies curriculum.

The three events held for the junior secondary students included “Morning Tea & Victoria Park Flower Fair Tour”; “Central & Sheung Wan Walking Tour” which covered the Man Mo Temple, Mid-Levels Mosque, Catholic Cathedral and the University of Hong Kong, allowing students to experience the religious and cultural traditions in the two districts; and “Visit to the Caritas Lok Chun School & HK Heritage Museum”. In the last event, participants cheered for the intellectual or physically disabled students in the Caritas Lok Chun School on their Sports Day and learned about the limitations faced by the students in their lives during the visit to the school hostel, as well as the roles of ethnic minorities in Hong Kong culture.

As for the senior secondary students, a “Visit to the Yaumatei Fruit Market” was held for the Secondary 4 students. It allowed them to understand the history of the Fruit Market, the considerations involved in preserving or abandoning the market, and how this market was compared with similar markets in Pakistan. They also learned to appreciate architectural designs and the ways of religious worships in a Catholic chapel and a Muslim worship place.

The activities were organized by a core group of around eight youth leaders with tens of youth volunteers helping out in different events. In the process, collaborating relationships had been established with university students in HKUST, Poly U and CUHK.

Incident Support and Special Event Group – The Group organized visits to the St Mary’s Home for the Aged and the St Joseph’s Home for the Elderly run by the Little Sisters of the Poor on 14 November 2015 and 23 April 2016 respectively, bringing to the elderly a very happy afternoon through performance and games. In collaboration with the Yuen Long Caritas Chan Chun Ha Secondary School, the Group organized a charity dinner for the hawkers and scavengers in the Yuen Long area, bringing them some care and support. It also served as a very good evangelization activity. In one of the coldest night in Hong Kong in February this year, the Group paid visits to the homeless in the Kwun Tong and Lam Tin areas together with members of the parish conferences in East Kowloon and other districts. They chatted with the homeless and offered hot food and heat-pads to them. In June this year, a serious fire broke out in an industrial building in Ngau Tau Kok; the Group sent members living in the district to go on site to learn about the situation and liaised with the parish priest nearby to understand the needs of the affected elders.

The Community Chest and Hong Kong Council of Social Service

The Society is the founding member of the Community Chest and is also a member of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. This year we actively participated in the activities organized by the Community Chest.

Our Supports to the International St. Vincent de Paul Family

During this year, Brother John Lee continued to serve in the CGI. He also continued to be the convener of the “Strategic Commission on China”. Brother Yeung continued his support to CGI in Asia Oceania in his capacity of Group 3 Coordinator. Also, the Central Council continually supported the CGI as a member of the Concordat country.

Obituary

Brother Michael Chan of Rosary Church Conference passed away in 2015. May his soul rest in peace and may perpetual light shine upon him.

Looking Forward

The General Assembly of Council General International (CGI) was held in Rome, Italy from 5 to 8 June 2016. This Assembly took place once in six years. The Assembly also had the task of electing a new President General as the term of office of the President, Dr. Michael Thio, would expire in September this year. Brother Arthur Chan represented SSVP HK to attend the Assembly and cast vote in the election. In the end, Brother Renato Lima de Oliveira, Territorial Vice-President for the South America Zone, was elected as the 16th International President of the Society.

PANASCO 9 is tentatively scheduled to be held in Hong Kong for four days in November 2019. There will be hundreds of Vincentians coming from the Asia Pacific Region to take part in this conference to share with us their joy and difficulties in the delivery of their services, exchanging views and experience, and to discuss the service development in our regions.

The Society is now present in 151 countries with over 800,000 members and is assisting over 30 million poor people in the world every day. In Hong Kong, conference members carry out visitations and charitable services every day to look after the needs of the poor and the weak; to walk along with them; so that they could feel the love and kindness of God. Not only that we are bringing God’s love to them, but at the same time we are serving Jesus Christ in the disguise of the poor.

May the peace of Christ be with you always.

Garley Wong President Society of St. Vincent de Paul Central Council of Hong Kong