20140712a
Date: 12Jul., 2014
Subject:HKSE: Three new bishops: Michael Yeung, Joseph Ha, Stephen Lee
Hong Kong Sunday Examiner 12 July 2014Three new bishops: Michael Yeung, Joseph Ha, Stephen LeeHONG KONG (SE): John Cardinal Tong Hon announced at a gathering of priests and religious on July 11 that his tenure as bishop of Hong Kong has been extended for a further three years by Pope Francis and that the diocese is to receive three auxiliary bishops. Monsignor Francia Andrea, from the Vatican Study Mission in Hong Kong, announced that Father Michael Yeung Ming-cheung, Father Joseph Ha Chi-sing and Father Stephen Lee Bun-sang have all been chosen as auxiliary bishops for the diocese. Speaking as a representative of the Holy See, Monsignor Andrea explained that his announcement came at the same time as the appointments were being promulgated in the Vatican at noon, Rome time. Shanghai-born Father Yeung grew up in Hong Kong and did his formation for the priesthood at the Holy Spirit Seminary College in Aberdeen. He began his life as a priest in the developing parishes of the NewTerritories, working with the Maryknoll Fathers, before doing studies in mass communications, public relations and education the United States of America (US). Father Yeung is a priest of Hong Kong diocese and is currently the chief executive of Caritas. He is also a member of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Vatican aid agency. He said that the announcement came as a shock to him, but he thanked the bishops and priests of the diocese for their trust in him and the support they have offered. Father Ha was born in Hong Kong. He began his working career in the banking sector, but in 1984 joined the Franciscans, doing his initial formation in Taiwan and then philosophy and theology studies at the Holy Spirit Seminary College. He has done further studies in religious formation and spirituality in the US and twice been elected as the provincial of his order in Hong Kong. Father Ha said that it is not a normal thing for a Franciscan to become a bishop, as the spirit of the order is to take a low key presence in the world and not to seek prominence in society. He is currently the supervisor of St. Bonaventure School, as well as being a member of the board of the Holy Spirit Seminary and the Council of Priests in the diocese. Father Lee was also born in Hong Kong and joined Opus Dei after studying architecture in England. He continued his studies in Spain and received a doctorate for his work on the application of canon law in the Church within the abnormal situation of the current relations that exist between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China. He has been the supervisor of the TakSunSchool and is currently the regional vicar of the Opus Dei Prelature for the East Asia Region. Father Lee said that he was surprised when asked to take on the position of bishop, as up until now his whole life as a priest has had quite a different focus. Father Yeung has been one of the three vicars general of the diocese since April 2009, along with Father Dominic Chan Chi-ming, who Cardinal Tong announced will retain his position, and Father Pierre Lam Minh, who will be relieved of his duties as he is taking sabbatical leave.It is anticipated that the three bishops-elect will be ordained in Hong Kong in either late August or some time in September, but a date has yet to be set.
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