The Hong Kong diocese has ordained its youngest ever permanent deacon at the age of 45. Stephen Kwok Ping-fai was one of a group of four ordained at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on July 24.
Bishop John Tong Hon presided over the ordination Mass in front of a packed gathering of around 1,200.
The ordinations bring the average age of Hong Kong permanent deacons down by five years and help dispel the notion that the post is reserved for retirees only.
“Responding to God’s calling at a younger age will allow me to exert my utmost effort as a witness for God,” said newly ordained Deacon Kwok.
“I will continue my career as a hospital radiographer while serving in the Church and I’ll strive to balance my time properly between work, family and service.”
“With the four new deacons, the average age has dropped five years to 60,” said Father Dominic Chan Chi-ming, Hong Kong’s Vicar General.
“There are some aspirants in their 40s and the youngest is only 30. I think more and more young laymen have understood what the ministry entails, which has inspired their interest in joining,” he said.
“The latest ordinations have also shown how diverse our permanent deacons are,” said Father Chan, who is responsible for deacon formation in the diocese.
“However, a deacon does need to spend time on his formation and must possess a mature personality.”
The diocese currently has 15 permanent deacons, six candidates and several aspirants.
The duties of a permanent deacon include preaching and assisting at Mass, administering baptism, distributing Communion, presiding over funerals and visiting prison inmates.
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