THESE days Father Richard Ho Lung walks with slow, measured steps. That’s expected of a man on the cusp of his 86th birthday.

However, age has not slowed this Jesuit, who greets everyone with whom he comes into contact with his signature warm smile and twinkle in his eyes, as he continues his endless mission of caring for his fellow humans who are poor and destitute.

True to his nature, when asked what would be his greatest wish for his birthday on September 17, Ho Lung chuckled, then let out, “Oh gosh! For my birthday itself? Let me see; I want to see the brothers just growing [and] more missions opening up.”

The brothers are the more than 500 men living and serving the poor at homes run by Ho Lung’s Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) in Jamaica, Haiti, India, Africa, The Philippines, Indonesia, and the United States.

His wish for more missions, he disclosed, would see MOP in Vietnam and China.

“I want to see people open up to the Christian message of love for the poor. That would make me very happy,” he told the Jamaica Observer last Thursday.

But a more immediate birthday gift, Ho Lung said, would be Jamaicans filling the National Arena in St Andrew for Jesus 2025, the latest stage musical being mounted by Father Ho Lung and Friends from September 23-28 and October 1-5.

The production, which will have four showings on both weekends, was inspired by Pope Francis’ declaration of 2025 as a Year of Jubilee with a papal bull titled ‘Spes non confudit’ (Latin for ‘hope does not disappoint’). It is being celebrated under the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ — hope for a world suffering the impacts of war, the climate crisis and the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s the Jubilee Year of Hope and my struggle is really to get Christ out there to the foundations of our country, which is very, very, very Christian. I don’t think Jamaicans know how Christian we are, but I think all the kindness and the sense of humour, come out of the root of, ‘I believe in Christ. I believe in God.’ People have something to live for, and I want to see that saturate our country, and governments, and justice, mercy, forgiveness,” Ho Lung stated.

Based on Ho Lung’s description, Jesus 2025 is a major production. The cast numbering approximately 55 comprise dancers, singers and actors.

“There’s a sketch of the early days of Christian faith; the very creation of the world is depicted and it’s classical in ways, but [a] strong and powerful opening. And then little scenes are depicted, like for instance, David and Goliath, Moses and the parting of the Red Sea; and then there is the birth of Jesus, right through his life up to the crucifixion and the resurrection and ascension into heaven,” Ho Lung told the Sunday Observer, adding that “the music, which is very Jamaican and very modern, changes according to what’s being depicted”.

“It is really a presentation that’s spectacular, a lot of special effects, a lot of incredibly beautiful dancing and the dances are depicting stories within the story also. And then, of course, the singing is marvellous,” said Ho Lung, himself a songwriter who gained recognition in the local music industry in 1974 with his single Sinner.

“I think people will marvel at the scene where Jesus is crucified and is lifted down from the cross, and when nails go through His hand…and crowns of thorns are put on His head; beautiful and powerful scene,” Ho Lung said.

He is convinced that Jesus 2025 will also impart to audiences “the great compassionate heart that Christ had for any type of suffering”.

All proceeds from the show, which was written by Ho Lung — like the more than 20 others mounted by his group over the years — will help MOP run the eight homes it operates in Jamaica, as the organisation continues to face funding challenges and is in dire need of food and personal hygiene supplies for the people in its care.