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.
At 61, Fr Chow is the youngest priest to become full bishop in Hong Kong. His 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.
Stephen Chow SJ – Biography
7th August 1959 – Born, Hong Kong. Nationality: Chinese
27th September 1984 – Joined Society of Jesus. Novitiate in Dublin, Ireland. First vows 27th September 1986
1984 – MA in Education and Psychology, University of Minnesota
1984-86 – Philosophy Studies, Dublin, Ireland (Licentiate in Philosophy)
Sept 1988 – Aug 1990 – Wah Yan College, Kowloon
1990-1993 – Theology: Holy Spirit Seminary College, Hong Kong
16th July 1994 – Ordained a priest, Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Hong Kong by Bishop John B.Wu
1995 – MSOD – Organisational Development, Loyola University, Chicago
1996-2000 – Teaching, Chaplaincy, School Manager Wah Yan College, Kowloon. Vocations Director in Hong Kong
2006 – Doctorate in Human Psychology and Development, Harvard University, Cambridge MA, USA
2007 – Final vows in Society of Jesus
2006-21 – Supervisor of Wah Yan colleges (both Hong Kong and Kowloon)
2017-21 – Provincial of the Chinese Province