New parish priest of Sai Kung’s largest church keeps doors open to serve devout in face of pandemic

^{Father Raja Duggimpudi}

Sai Kung’s largest church by attendance, Sacred Heart, is now headed by Father Raja Duggimpudi, who battles on trying to serve his parish despite the pandemic. Father Raja succeeded last year Father Carlo Tei, who tended the spiritual needs of the town flock for 23 years. At 85 Father Tei has now been retired by the Bishop to Holy Redeemer Church, Tuen Mun, where he still conducts services.

^{With his parents in India}

Father Raja said the virus crisis hit the church disrupting services shortly after he took over. “It was one month on, then stop, then one month on, then stop,” he said. He described how the church is working now. It is open every day from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm so people can worship. “We never close if there are people inside.” On Sunday residents may receive holy communion if they visit the church from 11:30 am. Communion is administered with social distancing and about 100 people come every Sunday. At 10:30 am Father Raja conducts an online mass in Chinese.

BUZZ commented that the gathering restrictions will have hit the devout Filipina helpers hard. “Yes, it is great pity, very sad for them,” Father Raja said. “But they can come to the church any time.”

Meanwhile, the new parish priest has introduced reforms such as painting the church, renovating the priest’s house and clearing the snake-infested garden.