Hong Kong's Catholic priests are facing mounting pressure as they struggle to cope with the growing workload of the "world's busiest diocese," says a top church leader.Reverend Lawrence Lee, chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, said that a shortage of priests and a heavy workload was placing serious strains on the clergy.
He said the diocese's 300 priests were not enough to cater to the city's 250,000 Catholics - a number that increases by 2,500 yearly.
It is common for priests to deal with churchgoers as late as 11pm, Lee said.
Hong Kong has the world's busiest diocese, he said, due to being a financial hub, its proximity to the mainland and small size.
"Many people come to Hong Kong for business and pass through on their way to China, which means the local church is full of vitality," Lee said.
"The parishes are very active in the evening. After people leave their offices they come to church for meetings and activities. We can be taking calls at 11pm or meeting people after 8pm. This is common in poorer districts. They cannot handle the workload."
Priests are getting older, with the average age over 60 years, but they are still having to take care of their parishes.
In the past seven years the diocese has tried to attract younger blood but only managed to recruit 10 priests, with just four from Hong Kong.
Priests usually start the day with mass at 7am and then engage in pastoral work in schools, hospitals, funeral services and home visits. They then handle parish activities in the evening.
About 30 are also busy with the work of 24 diocesan commissions, which advise the bishop on social issues including hospital work, education and justice. Dioceses in Western countries did not face such pressures, Lee said.
The vice rector of the Holy Spirit Seminary, Benedict Lam, agreed.
"Hong Kong is such a small place to have so many parishes," he said. "There are 50. The Catholic density is so high that the workload is also high."
Lee said it was more difficult to attract priests because of the secularization of society and smaller families. "People's outlook on life is different and they have different values from the past."
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