Research on Hong Kong Catholic Cemetery

Cemetery is the final destiny of human body. In cemetery, a space of contact is created between the living and the dead through architecture, artistic statues and religious rituals. Through research on cemetery, we can have a deeper understanding of how people of different backgrounds in different era face the problem of life and death. The Centre for Catholic Studies will conduct research on Hong Kong Catholic cemetery (Happy Valley), so as to examine the development of Catholic Church in Hong Kong society, and the cultural exchange and conflict between East and West on the issue of life and death.

In order to promote this area of research, the Centre for Catholic Studies had organized three trips to cemeteries, to investigate the St. Michael Catholic Cemetery and the Hong Kong Cemetery. A group of scholars, undergraduate and graduate students, and other parties who are interested in research of cemeteries are gathered to further promote academic exchange in this area. In these three trips, Fr. Louis Ha, Mr. Yim Tak-Chee, Mr. Ko Tim-Keung and Miss Patricia Lim were guides of the tours, to explain the history and background of the two cemeteries, as foundation of the research project.

Tour on Hong Kong Catholic Cemetery (Happy Valley) I

Date: 30 October, 2006 (Monday)

Time: 2:30 to 5:00pm

Guide: Fr. Louis Ha

Contents:

1. To investigate the history and planning of the cemetery.

2. To observe the behaviour of Chinese Catholics in paying homage to ancestors.

Tour on Hong Kong Catholic Cemetery (Happy Valley) I

Date: 1 November, 2006 (Wednesday)

Time: 3:30 to 6:00pm

Guide: Fr. Louis Ha, Mr. Yim Tak-Chee

Contents:

1. To introduce the meaning of death from the Catholic point of view and its relationship with the symbolic meanings of the statues

2. The management of Catholic cemeteries

Tour on Hong Kong Cemetery

Date: 16 November, 2006 (Thursday)

Time: 3:30 to 6:00pm

Guide: Fr. Ko Tim-Keung, Miss Patricia Lim

Contents: Historical Development of Hong Kong cemeteries and Hong Kong society

Besides, the following items are part of the plan of the cemetery study project:

1. Database on the St. Michael Cemetery
2. Conference on Cemetery Studies, examining the meanings of cemeteries in society, and the impact of religious, social and cultural factors on the historical development of cemeteries;
3. promoting cemetery studies through seminars, workshops and exhibitions
4. Study trip and producing educational kit
5. Publications on cemetery studies, including a book for teachers and public, proceedings of conference, historical documents and so on.