Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr. Stephen Chow Sau-yan, S.I., until now Provincial of the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus, as bishop of the Diocese of Hong Kong (China), according to the Holy See Press Office.
Two years of vacant headquarters
The leadership of the diocese of the former British colony - rocked last year by major clashes between the government and citizens, including violence and arrests - had been vacant since the death of Bishop Michael Yeung Ming-cheung on January 3, 2019. The prelate had succeeded Cardinal John Tong Hon, who resigned at the age of 77, in August 2017 and, following the death of his successor, was appointed apostolic administrator of the diocese. Previously, from 2002 to 2009, Salesian Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun had led the diocese.
Msgr. Stephen Chow Sau-yan
Stephen Chow Sau-yan, S.I., was born on August 7, 1959 in Hong Kong. After his pre-university studies, he obtained a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in psychology at the University of Minnesota (USA). He then entered the Society of Jesus on September 27, 1984.
From 1986 to 1988 he did his novitiate and graduated in Philosophy in Ireland, continuing his theological studies from 1988 to 1993 in Hong Kong, where he was ordained a priest on July 16, 1994. At Loyola University, Chicago, he earned a master's degree in Organizational Development (1993-1995) and at Harvard University, Boston (2000-2006), a doctorate in Human Development and Psychology (Ed.D.). He delivered his final results on April 17, 2007.
Chow Sau-yan has held the following positions: since 2007, supervisor of two Jesuit schools in Hong Kong and Wah Yan, Kowloon; honorary assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong (2008- 2015) and formator of Jesuits (2009-2017). Since 2009, he has served as Chairman of the Education Commission of the Chinese Jesuit Province and since 2012 as part-time Professor of Psychology at the Holy Spirit Diocesan Seminary in Hong Kong; from 2012 to 2014 as Member of the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese of Hong Kong, from 2013 to 2017 as Provincial Consultor and since 2017 as Member of the Diocesan Council of Education.
Since January 1, 2018 until now he has been Provincial of the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus and since 2020 Vice Secretary of the Hong Kong Association of Religious Superiors of Men's Institutes.
