Celebration Mass for Diocesan School Staff
July 21, 2026
After several months of careful preparation by many people from the East Anglia Cantonese Chaplaincy, Our Lady of the English Martyrs (OLEM) Parish, Cambridge, Our Lady of Lourdes (OLOL) Parish, Sawston, the Bishop’s Office, and the UK Hong Kong Catholic Migrants Pastoral Coordination Group, Cardinal Stephen Chow SJ successfully completed his three-day pastoral visit to Cambridge from 9 to 12 July 2026.
The visit of a serving Cardinal from Hong Kong to East Anglia was an unprecedented occasion and will surely be remembered as a significant moment in the history of the Catholic community in Cambridge.
Cardinal Stephen arrived at Cambridge Station on the afternoon of 9 July, having travelled from London. Cambridge was one of four destinations included in his pastoral journey, alongside Edinburgh and Birmingham. His arrival coincided with the Feast of the Holy Martyrs and Blesseds of China. Although he did not celebrate Mass on that day, his presence among us on such a significant feast carried profound spiritual meaning.
Throughout his stay, Cardinal Stephen and his assistant were warmly hosted by OLEM Parish.
A Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of the English Martyrs
On Friday 10 July, Cardinal Stephen travelled to Sawston, where he concelebrated the 9.30am parish Mass with Fr John Minh. This day was also the 27th anniversary of Fr John’s priestly ordination, giving the community a special opportunity to thank God for his priestly ministry.
Sixteen members of the Cantonese community joined a larger-than-usual parish congregation. The Mass was celebrated in English and reflected the truly international and welcoming nature of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, with members of different communities, including brothers and sisters from South India, worshipping together as one family in Christ.
After Mass, Fr John Minh introduced the lives of two saints closely connected with Sawston: St John Rigby and St Nicholas Owen.
“We are standing on the land of the martyrs,” Fr John reminded the group.
He invited everyone to imagine the world in which these saints lived — a time of intense persecution, both physical and spiritual, when many were tempted to abandon their faith because of pressure, fear or material incentives.
During the Reformation period, some remained steadfast and gave their lives for Christ, while others compromised their beliefs for personal security. This witness continues to challenge Christians today. In moments of difficulty, we often turn to God in prayer; yet, when life becomes comfortable again, there can be a temptation to place God in the background.
The group then visited Sawston Hall, the historic home associated with St John Rigby, and the nearby St Mary’s Church. There, passages from the Gospel of John (15:13) and the Second Letter to Timothy (4:6–8) were proclaimed. Together, they prayed and reflected on the courage and faithfulness of the martyrs.
Following a pleasant lunch in the village, the group accompanied Cardinal Stephen to Fisher House, the Catholic Chaplaincy of the University of Cambridge. Fr Paul Keane, Principal Chaplain, introduced the life and martyrdom of St John Fisher and explained the mission of the chaplaincy in serving students and staff of the University.
St John Fisher and the Catholic Heritage of Cambridge
Fr Paul then guided the group on a visit to Queens’ College, including the President’s Lodge and the magnificent College Chapel, where Catholic Mass is regularly celebrated. The Dean, Revd Tim Harling, shared the history and development of the Chapel, and everyone admired its remarkable beauty and architectural heritage.
Cardinal Stephen presented each host with a commemorative gift marking the 80th anniversary of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong.
The visits to Queens’ College and St John’s College also carried an important ecumenical dimension, something particularly close to Cardinal Stephen’s heart through his work with the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.
On the way to St John’s College, the group briefly stopped at Michaelhouse, a former church where St John Fisher celebrated Mass. Today, part of the building has been transformed into a café, while the chapel remains a place where services and Evensong continue to take place.
At St John’s College, the group was warmly welcomed by the Dean, Revd Dr Victoria Johnson, who introduced the history and significance of the chapel. She also reminded visitors to look back when leaving through the main gate onto Trinity Street, where the magnificent statue of St John the Evangelist can be seen.
Throughout the afternoon, the group was, in many ways, on a pilgrimage through Cambridge — discovering the enduring influence of St John Fisher and his relationship with Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of King Henry VII, and their contribution to the foundation and development of Cambridge colleges, including Christ’s College.
The day concluded with a visit to a Hong Kong Catholic migrant family. Cardinal Stephen led a prayer gathering and reflected on the importance of family faith life. He encouraged families to live as a “domestic Church”, where daily prayer, mutual support, openness and sharing of life’s joys and struggles allow faith to flourish.
Before a simple but delicious home-cooked dinner, Cardinal Stephen blessed the family home by sprinkling holy water in each room and offering prayers in Cantonese. The evening concluded with a Collect and a heartfelt “Deo Gratias” prayed together in Cantonese.
The family presented Cardinal Stephen with a beautifully drawn illustration by one of their children, depicting life in Cambridge in contrast with life in Hong Kong — a skilful and meaningful expression of their migrant experience.
Walking with the Young and Celebrating the Martyrs of China
On Saturday 11 July, Cardinal Stephen met with a group of young Catholics aged up to 35. Some were university students in Cambridge and elsewhere, while others were already working. He listened attentively to their experiences of faith and life after migration, offering encouragement and guidance as they continue their journey as young Catholics in Britain.
In the afternoon, Cardinal Stephen celebrated a sung Holy Mass for the Hong Kong Catholic community, solemnly commemorating the Feast of the Holy Martyrs of China.
Bishop Peter Collins, Bishop of the Diocese of East Anglia, was present and sat in choir, demonstrating his support and pastoral solidarity with the Hong Kong Catholic community.
The Mass was concelebrated by Fr John Minh, who celebrates the monthly Cantonese Mass, usually at Our Lady of Lourdes, Sawston, and the newly ordained Fr Peter Tan Hung Ho. A permanent deacon from the Hong Kong migrant community, who travelled from Harrow in the Archdiocese of Westminster, also joined the celebration.
Before Mass, the three priests each made themselves available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Many members of the Cantonese community took the opportunity to go to confession, some in English and many in Cantonese. It was a deeply moving moment of grace and renewal.
The Mass readings were from Revelation 7:9–17, Romans 8:35, 37–39, and Matthew 5:1–12.
The setting of OLEM provided a beautiful and meaningful backdrop for the commemoration of the Chinese Martyrs. Among the 120 canonised Martyrs of China, 87 were Chinese Catholics and 33 were foreign missionaries, including religious men and women.
In his homily, Cardinal Stephen reflected that the Beatitudes are, in reality, the virtues of Jesus Himself. At the offertory, the choir sang a Cantonese version of Suscipe Domine, adding a particularly meaningful cultural expression to the liturgy.
After Mass, a fellowship gathering and afternoon tea were held in the Parish Centre. The Hong Kong Catholic community sang the anthem commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Diocese of Hong Kong. In this year, when the Diocese of East Anglia celebrates its 50th anniversary, the shared joy and thanksgiving were especially fitting.
Towards the end of the gathering, Cardinal Stephen earnestly reminded those present of the importance of synodality, meaning ‘walking together’ and an openness to understanding. He emphasised that both leaders and members of the Church should listen to one another, discern together and ultimately share co-responsibility for the Church.
A Witness of Faith and Communion
On the morning of 12 July, Cardinal Stephen departed Cambridge for Birmingham as he continued his pastoral journey. He was due to return to Hong Kong on Monday 13 July.
We remain deeply grateful to Cardinal Stephen for making time for this visit amidst many significant commitments, including his recent ad limina visit to Rome with the Bishop of Macau and the Auxiliary Bishop of Hong Kong, as well as participation in the Special Consistory convened by Pope Leo XIV. He himself joked that he had accumulated a substantial number of air miles!
During his time in Cambridge, Cardinal Stephen walked alongside the Hong Kong Catholic community, accompanying them in the footsteps of the English Martyrs and joining more than 170 Hong Kong Catholics and local parishioners in celebrating the faith and witness of the Chinese Martyrs.
As he reminded us in his homily:
“We are not necessarily called to shed blood, but through our everyday actions — our steadfast small acts of love, self-sacrifice, and solidarity against dehumanisation — such acts, in many ways, may amount to martyrdom.”
The martyrs were ordinary people who performed extraordinary acts of faith. Many never knew that the Church would one day honour and venerate them. Yet they remained faithful and made the sacrifices required of them.
We give thanks to God that practising our Catholic faith today is possible with such freedom, especially when compared with the sufferings endured by the English Martyrs and the Martyrs of China.
Our sincere gratitude goes to Bishop Peter Collins, Monsignor Eugene Harkness, Canon John Minh, Fr Peter Ho, Deacon James Shin from Harrow, Deacon Jonathan Wright of OLEM, and all the servers, volunteers, musicians and parishioners who made this visit possible. Many OLEM servers generously participated even though the language of the liturgy was unfamiliar to them.
As one server reflected afterwards:
“I enjoyed it, and I understood the presence of Christ.”
Perhaps this captures the heart of the entire visit.
Integration into the local Church does not mean abandoning our unique Hong Kong Catholic identity and heritage. Likewise, celebrating liturgy in English should not prevent Hong Kong Catholic migrants from participating fully and becoming deeply rooted in their local parishes.
Whether in Cantonese or another language, we are united by the same Lord, the same Eucharist, and the same mission: to witness to Christ together as one family of faith.
