the catholic parish I'm going to has a beautiful church building with its own car park (quite a feat for Hong Kong!). It is geographically located in a (upper) middle class residential area, and a 10-minute walk from one of Hong Kong's most popular shopping districts with eateries galore. There are something like seven Mass each sunday, and the schedule of the celebrants (the officiating priest) rotates. The church can house anywhere between 500-700 people per Mass. Mass goers can go whichever one works best for their dinner or breakfast or sleep schedule, and find a different priest each time.

this set up has made it difficult to have a sense of community, much less the hope of a vibrant community of faith, a Spirit-led eucharistic people. from the mouth of a leader in the church, some of the parishioners who are residents of the area can sometimes be very snobby, and wouldn't stoop to get involved in the parish activities. some are sending their kids to Sunday school to have a better chance of being admitted into the prestigious Catholic schools in the neighborhood. some are here just for free carpark, so that they can go from the communion line straight to dim sum afterwards. on top of that, the leadership can be quite divided - when it comes to the English and Chinese congregations.

I've been quite put off by this parish, it seems so unalive. Or may be I'm biased. Whatever it is, I've been anything but hopeful for the Catholic scene in HK in general. But God knows my heart. I've been discerning about church membership for a very very long time. I've been pleading for His permission for me to leave. I didn't feel like I'd sin if I had left, but I just didn't feel free to leave all along.

After Mass today, this leader I quoted above invited me to join her for lunch. She shared with me some struggles and frustrations she faces. I asked her haven't you ever thought of leaving? She said yes, but she knew God has placed her there and so she's learned to hope even as she serves. She prays a lot for the congregation and the leadership. Besides training up new readers in the Mass, she teaches the only parent-child Sunday school class, so she can invest in the hearts of the young, and train their parents as well.

With God's help and providence of people and words, I've come to see how prideful and unloving I've been. It was really His hand, that I should be taught through this lady to be humble and to hope.  Praise to you Lord.