A CALL TO PRAYER AND A CHINESE LITANY FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE WANG FUK COURT FIRE

November 27, 2025

A CALL TO PRAYER AND A CHINESE LITANY FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE WANG FUK COURT FIRE

The Horrible Ravages of Fire in the Wang Fuk Court Complex

✠ OFFICIAL CALL FOR PRAYER AND CONDOLENCE ✠

From the Missionary Diocese of East and Southeast Asia

27 November, AD 2025

To the beloved clergy, monastics, and faithful of our Diocese,

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Dearly Beloved in Christ,

It is with profound sorrow and pastoral urgency that I write to you concerning the catastrophic fire that has devastated Wang Fuk Court in the Tai Po District of Hong Kong—one of the most grievous disasters to strike our region in recent memory. The magnitude of this tragedy, with scores confirmed dead, many more injured, and hundreds still missing or unaccounted for, calls the entire Church to earnest prayer, watchfulness, and compassion.

We lament with those who mourn. We lift up the injured, the displaced, the bereaved, and the terrified. We commend to the mercy of Almighty God the souls of those who perished, praying that He will grant them rest where the light of His countenance shineth and sorrow and sighing flee away. We hold before the Lord the firefighters, rescue workers, medical teams, and civil authorities laboring under immense strain to save lives, recover the missing, and bring order amid devastation.

In a moment when human frailty stands exposed against forces of flame and ruin, we remember the words of the Psalmist: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”

(Psalm 46:1–2)

Accordingly, I call upon every parish, mission station, household, and monastic community within the Missionary Diocese of East and Southeast Asia to set aside time in the coming days for fervent intercession. Let us gather—whether in our churches or homes—lighting candles for the departed, offering Psalms for the grieving, and entreating the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lover of mankind, to send comfort, healing, protection, and peace.

I hereby appoint this coming Sunday as a Day of Prayer and Mourning throughout the Missionary Diocese.

At the Divine Liturgy, all clergy are to offer the appointed petitions “For the Departed,” “For the Afflicted,” and “For Those in Grief,” together with a special litany for Hong Kong and all who suffer from this disaster.

May our Church bear witness not only in prayer but also in charity. As further information becomes available, we will coordinate relief efforts and avenues of material support for the victims and their families.

Beloved, let us stand together in the compassion of Christ.

Let us weep with those who weep.

Let us pray without ceasing.

And let us commend the whole region to the mercy of the Lord, who is “full of compassion and mercy, long-suffering, and of great goodness.”

May the blessing of Almighty God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—be upon Hong Kong and upon all who suffer, and may His angels encamp round about those in distress.

In Christ’s tender love,

+Joseph

Missionary Diocese of East & Southeast Asia

✠ 祈祷与哀悼之呼吁 ✠

远东与东南亚传教教区

主历二〇二五年十一月二十六—二十七日

致本教区众司祭、修士修女、及一切信徒：

愿天父上帝与我主耶稣基督所赐的恩惠与平安临于你们。

亲爱的诸位在基督里的子民：

值此香港大埔区宏福苑遭遇惨烈火灾之际，我怀着极其沉痛与牧灵迫切之心，向全教区发出此呼吁。此次灾祸之殊惨，已夺去多人生命，更多受伤者、失踪者和无家可归者仍在统计之中，堪称本地区近年来最悲恸之灾难之一。此刻，教会必须同心合意，以祈祷、守望与慈悲相扶持。

我们与哀哭者同哭，亦为亡者守祷。愿全能之上帝以祂慈悲的怀抱接纳蒙难之灵，使他们得享永光照耀、无悲无叹之安息。我们亦将受伤者、惊惶者、无助者及其家人交托于主，祈求祂亲自赐下医治、扶持与慰藉。我们更为奋力救援的消防队、医疗人员及各民政部门祈祷，求主赐他们力量、智慧与保护。

在此人类脆弱暴露无遗的时刻，让我们记念圣咏者之言：

「上帝是我们的避难所，是我们的力量，是我们在患难中随时的帮助。地虽改变，山虽摇动到海心，我们也不害怕。」

（诗篇四十六篇一至二节）

鉴于此，我呼吁本教区所有堂区、传教所、信徒家庭及修道院，

在未来数日皆应虔诚设时祈祷。

无论在教堂或在家中，让我们点烛为亡者代祷，以诗篇为哀伤者祈祷，恳求我主耶稣基督──仁慈的爱人者──将安慰、医治与平安赐予一切受苦之民。

兹宣布本主日为本教区「祈祷与守丧之日」。

所有司祭在举行圣祭礼时，当加诵「为亡者祈祷」、「为受苦者祈祷」、「为哀伤者祈祷」之增祷，并为香港及一切遭受此灾祸者设立特别连祷。

愿我教会不仅以祈祷见证基督之爱，也能以施行慈善来服事灾民。待进一步资讯公布后，本教区将协调救济与支援的具体事工。

亲爱的弟兄姊妹，让我们在基督的慈心里同心站立；

让我们与哀哭者同哭；

让我们不住地祈祷；

并将整个地区交托于「有怜悯、有恩典、不轻易发怒、且有丰盛慈爱」的主。

愿全能之上帝——圣父、圣子、圣灵——的祝福临于香港，

也临于一切在患难中的人。

愿祂的圣天使环绕保护凡处在痛苦与危难中的灵魂。

奉基督温柔之爱，

✠ 约瑟夫主教

远东与东南亚传教教区

✠ A REQUIEM LITANY FOR HONG KONG ✠

In Solemn Memory of Those Who Lost Their Lives in the Wang Fuk Court Fire

Let us pray.

O God the Father, Fountain of life and Giver of every good and perfect gift,

have mercy upon the departed of Hong Kong.

O God the Son, Conqueror of death and Captain of our salvation,

have mercy upon the departed of Hong Kong.

O God the Holy Ghost, Comforter of those who mourn and Restorer of the sorrowful,

have mercy upon the departed of Hong Kong.

O Holy, Blessed, and Glorious Trinity, one God,

receive the souls of the departed in Hong Kong.

That it may please thee to grant the faithful departed rest, renewal, and repose in the habitation of Thy glory,