Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan, S.I., Bishop of Hong Kong (China), was born on 7 August 1959 in Hong Kong. After his pre-university studies, he was awarded a degree and a master’s in psychology from the University of Minnesota, United States of America.
He entered the Society of Jesus on 27 September 1984. From 1986 to 1988 he carried out his novitiate and graduated in philosophy in Ireland, continuing his theological studies from 1988 to 1993 in Hong Kong, where he was ordained a priest on 16 July 1994.
He was awarded a master’s degree in Organizational Development (1993-1995) from Loyola University of Chicago, and a PhD in Human Development and Psychology (Ed.D.) from Harvard University in Boston (2000-2006). He gave his perpetual vows on 17 April 2007.
He has held the following offices: since 2007, supervisor of two Jesuit colleges in Hong Kong and Wah Lan, Kowloon; honorary assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong (2008-2015) and Jesuit trainer (2009-2017). Since 2009 he has served as chair of the Commission for Education of the Jesuit Province in China, and since 2012, part-time professor of psychology at the Holy Spirit Diocesan Seminary of Hong Kong; from 2012 to 2014, member of the Presbyteral Council of the diocese of Hong Kong; from 2013 to 2017, provincial consultor, and since 2017, member of the Diocesan Council of Education.
From 1 January 2018 until his appointment as bishop he served as Provincial of the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus, and from 2020, deputy secretary of the Association of Religious Superiors of Male Institutes of Hong Kong.
In May 2021 he was appointed bishop of the diocese of Hong Kong, China. The see had been vacant since 3 January 2019 when Bishop Michael Yeung died after less than two years in office. He was consecrated on 4 December 2021.
In April 2023, Bishop Chow visited the archdiocese of Beijing. He met Bishop Joseph Li Shan, and visited various churches and the cemetery of Zhalan, where the tomb of Matteo Ricci is preserved. It was the first visit to by a bishop of Hong Kong since 1985.
Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 30 September 2023, of the Title of San Giovanni Battista de La Salle.
Member of:
- Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.