Thanksgiving Service marks Archbishop Paul Kwong’s retirement

Publish Date: 06-Jan-2021

Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui held a thanksgiving service on 27 December to mark Archbishop Paul Kwong’s retirement. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the service was streamed online for the faithful of the church to participate at home.

The Archbishop-elect of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, the Rt Revd Andrew Chan, preached at the service. In his sermon, he praised Archbishop Kwong for his leadership and his initiative to engage the church with the community.

After the sermon, the Revd Canon John Petersen, former Secretary-General of the Anglican Communion, who, in a pre-recorded message, expressed his admiration and gratitude to Archbishop Kwong and called him “a giant” in the Anglican Communion. He also said that the people in the Communion have been blessed by Archbishop Kwong’s outstanding ministry in Hong Kong and around the world.

In his short address at the end of the service, Archbishop Kwong said that retirement of an ordained priest signified the conclusion of one phase of his/her ministry and the beginning of a new phase. However, he added two duties that remain unchanged no matter what position a cleric was in, these were worshipping God and proclaiming the Gospel.