Pope Francis has appointed Fr Stephen Chow Sau-Yan SJ as the next Bishop of the Hong Kong diocese. He will take over from Cardinal John Tong Hon, who has served as the Apostolic Administrator of Hong Kong since January 2019.
Bishop-Elect Chow is currently the Provincial of the Chinese Jesuits. Born in 1959 in Hong Kong, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1984 in Dublin, Ireland and was ordained a priest 10 years later. Prior to joining the Jesuits, he already had a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Philosophy and a Master of Arts in Educational Psychology (Counselling) from the University of Minnesota in the United States.
Fr Chow served as the Director of Vocations in Hong Kong – Macau region from 1991-1993 and 1995-2000. After his ordination in 1994, he obtained a Master of Science degree in Organizational Development at Loyola University, Chicago, USA. He worked at Wah Yan College Kowloon and Hong Kong for five years, from 1995 to 2000, as ethics teacher and chaplain. At Wah Yan College Hong Kong and Kowloon, he also served as school manager (trustee). In 2006, he obtained his Doctorate in Education degree in Human Development and Psychology at Harvard University.
Prior to his appointment as Provincial in 2018, Fr Chow served as Formator of scholastics in Hong Kong. He continues as Supervisor and Chairman of the School/Incorporated Management Committee of Wah Yan College Hong Kong and Kowloon, positions he has held since 2006 and 2007 respectively. For 13 years, from 2006 to 2019, he was the Chairman of the Jesuit Education Commission of the Chinese Province.
In his message to his brother Jesuits and mission partners, Fr Chow said that he accepted his new appointment after rounds of discernment and in consultation with Fr General Arturo Sosa SJ. “I chose to honour my vow of obedience to the Holy Father after he has made explicit his desire for me,” he said.
Fr Chow’s episcopal ordination is slated on 4 December this year.
Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific President Fr Tony Moreno SJ notes the “crucial and challenging mission” of Fr Chow and commends him to our prayers.