On Sunday 23 February, Bishop Daniel Meagher celebrated a special Mass at St Kevin’s in Eastwood, honouring the Chinese Catholic community’s unwavering faith and remarkable generosity.
The event, coinciding with Chinese New Year celebrations, highlighted the community’s growing influence within the Archdiocese of Sydney.
Harold Pon, a young adults’ co-ordinator from Chinese Catholic Community Inc (CCCI) served as an acolyte on the day and said it was a great honour to have the bishop there to celebrate the community’s contributions.
“It just shows the ties being forged between the Chinese Catholic community and the archdiocese,” he said.
“Bishop Danny actually came to the young adults table to have a good laugh and chat with us. Some of them had not met Bishop Danny before and they were happy and excited to see how approachable he was in person,” said Harold.
Joining the festivities was Richard Allcock from the archdiocesan Development and Fundraising Office, who initially invited CCCI to get involved with the seminarian scholarship program.
“They’ve been doing tremendous work for the last 20 years in Sydney,” said Allcock. “They’re supporting many projects and missions within the church.”
With approximately 150 worshippers, the Mass showcased the vibrant and expanding Chinese Catholic presence in Sydney.
In his homily Bishop Meagher drew parallels to St Francis of Assisi’s teachings on generosity, emphasising the community’s embodiment of these virtues.
The Chinese Catholic community at Eastwood has been a silent force for good, funding a full seven-year scholarship for a seminarian, valued at $168,000—a testament to their dedication to nurturing future Church leaders.
“It’s been an honour to contribute and participate in helping the next generation of priests with donations supporting our seminarians.
“The Chinese culture is all lot about contributing, how can we contribute to our families and to wider society, especially our seminarians,” said Pon.
While the Chinese Catholic community’s impact is felt across multiple fronts such as aged care, mission support, and vocations, it has been in evangelisation where they have become a real powerhouse.
“They are a huge evangelisation drive, converting their fellow brothers and sisters, Chinese to become Catholics,” Allcock observed.
As the Chinese Catholic community in Sydney continues to grow, particularly apparent in the number from the community joining the converts and catechumens coming to the church through RCIA this March, it is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Catholic Church in Australia and around the globe.
“They’re going to be the next largest Catholic community in Australia, besides the Maronites,” Allcock predicted.
“They’re going to be very powerful in the years to come.”
