Organized by the Associação Católica Cultural de Macau (ACCM) and funded by the Cultural Development Fund of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, the "Via Pulchritudinis: Macao's Catholic World Heritage" Photo Exhibition Opening Ceremony and Photobook Launch Ceremony was held on July 11, 2024 at No. 5 Rua Formosa, Macau. The ceremony was officiated by the Acting Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Mr. Cheng Wai Tong, the Head of the Division for Cultural Heritage Conservation of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, Mr. Ho Cheok Fong, the Chief of the Division of Integrated Support of the Cultural Development Fund of the Macao SAR Government, Mr. Ho Hou Nang, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Macau and Chairman of ACCM, Bishop Stephen Lee Bun Sang, Mr. António Leong, and other prestige guests.
The Associação Católica Cultural de Macau is honored to invite Macao photographer, António Leong, National Geographic Photo Contest Winner, to jointly present “Via Pulchritudinis: Macao’s Catholic World Heritage” photo exhibition and photobook. Through these photographs, readers can view the Cidade do Nome de Deus that has existed for more than four centuries, and experience the unique cultural charm of Macao derived from Catholic culture. We hope that this Via Pulchritudinis will ignite the true light in everyone's heart that leads to the encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ.
During the Ceremony, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Macau and Chairman of ACCM, Bishop Stephen Lee Bun Sang stated that Pope Francis mentioned “Via Pulchritudinis” (the “way of beauty”) several times in his apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium”. Proclaiming Christ means showing that to believe in and to follow him is not only something good and true, but also something beautiful, capable of filling life with new splendor and profound joy, even in the midst of difficulties. Every expression of true beauty can thus be acknowledged as a path leading to an encounter with the Lord Jesus. Through “Via Pulchritudinis: Macao’s Catholic World Heritage” photographs can be the “way of beauty” to reach the people’s hearts and to rekindle attention to beauty in daily life, so that the truth, goodness and beauty of the resurrected Christ can be reignited in the hearts of all people.
In his remarks, Mr. António Leong expressed that photography uses light to write, to shape and reproduce things, and recreates objects and things based on reality. Apart from Catholic churches, there are also numerous Chinese temples and other historical buildings of different styles, as well as eight squares in Macao. Through the exhibition, it was hoped that people could slow down their pace and rediscover this culturally diversified and historical city, and experience Macao’s “way of beauty”.
In addition to the exhibition, the Associação Católica Cultural de Macau also published "Via Pulchritudinis: Macao's Catholic World Heritage" Photobook, which cover two years of António’s hard work, allow the readers to appreciate our Catholic cultural inheritance from a different perspective, and to witness the rich legacy left in this beautiful city by the missionary work of the Catholic Church in the past four centuries.
The “Via Pulchritudinis: Macao’s Catholic World Heritage” Photo Exhibition starts from July 12 to July 28, 2024, at Rua Formosa No. 5, R/C, Macau, with two photography workshops in July 13 and 20, guided by Mr. António Leong, to visit different Catholic Churches in Macao, exchanging photography experience, discovering the beauty in our daily life through the uniqueness of Macao’s culture harmonized with Catholicism.
“Via Pulchritudinis: Macao’s Catholic World Heritage” Photo Exhibition
Date: July 12, 2024 (Friday) until July 28, 2024 (Sunday)
Time: 10:00 to 18:00
Venue: Rua Formosa No. 5, R/C, Macau
FREE Admission
“Via Pulchritudinis: Macao’s Catholic World Heritage” Photography Workshop
Date: July 13, 2024 (Saturday) and July 28, 2024 (Saturday)
Tel: 6526 6768 (for enquiry and reservation)