To celebrate the 80^th anniversary of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, the 2026 Taizé Asian Youth Gathering was held from April 30 to May 3 at St. Benedict Parish, Sha Tin. Over 330 young Christians from mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and Europe gathered for a four-day spiritual journey under the theme “Messengers of Hope.”

Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan, Bishop of Hong Kong, welcomed the youth, stating, “Even though we come from different cultures and different churches, we are praying together. We are all in the same boat, moving forward together; you are all grace-filled and mission-oriented disciples of Jesus.”

Brother Matthew and several other Taizé brothers came from France and South Korea to be present. Representatives from the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (Anglican Church) and the Hong Kong Christian Council also participated, demonstrating the spirit of ecumenical prayer and communion.

Two main biblical introductions were hosted by Cardinal Chow and Archbishop Andrew Chan Au-ming of the Sheng Kung Hui, guiding the youth through the Word of God and highlighting the ecumenical friendship between the Catholic and Anglican churches.

Addressing the recent decline in young parishioners, Archbishop Chan noted that youth do not lack ideals or faith, but rather need more room to explore. “Young people are very keen on social and volunteer service because they can find themselves in this interest.” He suggested that pastoral work should aim to lead youth to discover their true selves through service, and that ministers should remain patient and trust in the plan that the Lord has for each individual.

Throughout the four-day event, morning, midday, and evening prayers in common allowed the young people to find inner peace and encounter the Lord. In small group sharing sessions, participants from different cultural backgrounds opened their hearts, discussing their faith journeys, and deeply experiencing unity and support in the faith.

Brother Matthew expressed that seeing youth from different backgrounds gathering filled him with an "indescribable joy." During the evening prayers, he shared meditations with the young pilgrims, inviting them to seek tranquility, direction, joy, and the meaning of life amidst a turbulent world, and to look forward together to a peaceful world founded on justice and community.

For him, the essence of Taizé singing consists in a repetitive prayer using words taken from the Bible or church tradition. He noted that when the phrases are repeated for three to four minutes, this allow the words enough time to settle deep into the soul, opening a space within to welcome the Risen Lord.

He also explained that this prayer, while personal, opens to a wider communion. He recalled his own student days, when he would sing Taizé chants alone while knowing that others around the world were praying in the same way, which allowed him to feel connected to a larger community. This practice can be a good way to cultivate a personal prayer life focused on Christ, creating space for the Holy Spirit to act within.

On the afternoons of May 2 and 3, the event featured a variety of workshops on different topics, allowing participants to choose according to their interests and explore the connection between faith and life. Spiritual experiences included Ignatian spirituality, Franciscan ecology, and artistic spirituality. Among the artistic and sensory workshops were blue-thread coaster making, Chinese herbal sachet crafting, a plaster-statue workshop, spiritual and musical literacy, and coffee meditation.

The workshops also explored life and social issues, such as exploring sexuality and love through the Theology of the Body, learning to make life-choices in marriage through the "Cana" board game, reflecting on responsibilities in life through micro-films, and visiting Shek Kip Mei and Sham Shui Po to understand the history of faith in the postwar era. These activities provided a space for reflection, communion, and practice, leading the youth to discover and communicate hope in contemporary society.

The gathering concluded with a prayer that was a "Celebration of Light". Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, Bishop Timothy Kwok Chi-pui of the Sheng Kung Hui, and Vice-President Leung Mei-ying of the Lutheran Church jointly blessed the faithful. Different denominations thus walked hand-in-hand with the youth, carrying the fire of hope to every corner of the world.