Hello from Hong Kong

I've been here in Hong Kong for 8 days now. I've enjoyed my time visiting with my brother and my new twin nieces tremendously, but other than that, I am looking forward to returning to Canada. I actually miss work!

As a newly confirmed Catholic, I am seeing Hong Kong from a different angle this time. I see people walking on the streets with their heads down, not making eye contact. I see them always plugged into their i-Pods or their mobile phones. The beeps and rings from these electronic gadgets have become the music of the city. I see giant billboards everywhere celebrating brand names. Models and actors are worshipped like idols. Medical clinics often have signs promoting skincare and weight loss programs. Materialism is the religion in Hong Kong. Don't get me wrong, this is nothing new to me. I've always known Hong Kong to be rather soul-less, but this time around, I am feeling the emptiness of the city even more. In a place packed with so many people, I feel alone.

A couple of nights ago, I had drinks with my cousin and her co-workers. These people barely talked to me the entire evening. I tried to make conversation, but I could tell that they did not want to have anything to do with a stranger. Perhaps I am of no use to them...? I find this to be quite typical in Hong Kong. People keep to themselves. It is troublesome to deal with strangers unless you are networking for your career.

Even at church last Sunday, I saw the same "disconnection" among people. When it came time to receive the Eucharist, there was no line-up. Instead, it was a mad rush to the front. I don't understand what the big hurry is, as the Mass won't be over until everyone has received the Eucharist anyways! Then I saw a young man cough, and the lady standing next to him stared at him with much disgust. I know people are paranoid about the swine flu nowadays, but evil-staring is no way to treat your brothers and sisters! Whatever happened to comraderie or brotherhood? It is not very evident in Hong Kong.

Today, I paid a visit to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Caine Road. I have never been there before, and yet I used to live in the Mid-Levels. I've travelled on Caine Road many times and have never seen this church. No wonder...it's nestled behind a bunch of buildings. This is quite ironic -- such a gorgeous place of worship is cocooned in the city, hidden from view. In a way, it is not very different from the way people in Hong Kong cocoon themselves from each other.

Inside the Cathedral, I was immediately overcome by a sense of relief, serenity and belonging. I looked at the Cross and it felt like coming home. I spent some time sitting in the area where one can adore the Eucharist. I was so ready to spend a few minutes with God. While sitting there, I overheard the priest giving a sermon, and he basically summed up my entire experience this time in Hong Kong. He said that people in big cities are increasingly disconnected from each other. There is less and less of a sense of community, and we live in dangerous times. He said that as human beings, we need to be recognized, not because of pride, but because this is a necessity of human nature. We cannot exist alone. The process of recognition can be as simple as making eye contact with someone you pass by on the street, because by doing this, you acknowledge the person's existence, and you make a connection, even if it is on a miniscule level. Recognition is also given when you hold the door for someone, or thank someone. However, if you choose to forego even these simplest of gestures, we then become more and more isolated, and our community will break down. Our souls will not be nourished. We will be a nation of zombies.

The priest went on to explain why it is not enough or alright to worship God on our own. He said that the Catholic Church has always been about community. We are meant to profess our faith together as a Christian family, and therefore, we should worship and pray together. Praying on our own, at home, is good, but it can never replace the Catholic community, the Church, which is an extension of Christ. As Jesus said He is the true vine, we as branches of His vine cannot survive alone or bear fruit on our own.

Of course, we should always celebrate our individuality, but in modern times, perhaps there needs to be more focus on bridging these differences and building a sense of community. The strings on a violin each has a different tone, but it is not music unless they are played together. And if we are to become the Lord's instrument, we have to make more of an effort to reach out to each other.

I think I know why I'm longing to come back to Canada. I want to return to my community. I don't care about having the latest designer jeans or the whitening my skin. I want to return to my work where I can make connections with many people daily. This is what matters to me the most.