Diocese of Hong Kong IslandDiocese of Hong Kong Island   Hong Kong Sheng Kung HuiHong Kong Sheng Kung Hui   St. John's Cathedral, Hong KongSt. John's Cathedral, Hong Kong

Prison Visiting

 

 

Just a 5 minute walk from St. Stephen's is Stanley Prison, Hong Kong's main high security prison. Prisoners tend to be out of sight and out of mind, but our Christian faith encourages us to visit prisoners. Our priest Will is the Anglican Chaplain at Stanley Prison.

We now visit Stanley Prison twice a month on Friday mornings. We take a service of Holy Eucharist or Morning Prayer, with a bilingual service book so everything is in both English and Chinese. We also have time, 30-40 minutes, to talk with the prisoners and get to know them. Members of the congregation can volunteer to join these visits by arrangement, and many have found this a deeply rewarding experience. 

"When I came in here everyone outside forgot about me. My friends never visit me. They never write to me. But you come and visit me. You care for me. Why do you care for me, but my own friends forget me? I know it’s because you are Christians." Johnson, a prisoner

‘Lord, when did we see you in prison and visit you?’ ‘Truly I tell you, as you did it for the least of these, you did it for me.’ Matthew 25.39-40