Reshaping the Cradle of Catholic Leaders in Hong Kong: 

An Oral History Research Project for the South China Regional Seminary and the Holy Spirit Seminary 

 About

The South China Regional Seminary (now Holy Spirit Seminary) in Hong Kong was the only one that survived in political movements among the seminaries established in the early 20th century in China. 

During the operation of the South China Regional Seminary, a number of bishops, more than 250 priests and lay leaders were nurtured nationwide. After the regional seminary ended its mission, dozens of clergy were trained in the Holy Spirit Seminary to continue the mission of its precursor. The Catholic Church has a history of more than 100 years in Hong Kong and now has more than 400,000 followers led by bishops and priests. The formation of clergy becomes the key to understanding this religious force, which influences and promotes changes to society. The purposes of this study include:  

1. To study the history of the seminary from the 1930s to 1970s in the 20th century against the background of mainland China and Hong Kong societies. 
2. To reshape the history of the Catholic Church’s formation of Chinese religious leaders; 
3.  And to explore the process of inculturation of Catholicism and its impact on culture and society.