D. Stephen Lee Bun-sang

Bishop of Macao

Stephen Lee Bun-sang is the current Bishop of Macao. He speaks fluent Cantonese, Mandarin, English, and Spanish and intends to learn Portuguese.

Born in Hong Kong in 1956, Lee studied architecture in the United Kingdom, first at Oxford Polytechnic (1976–1977) and then at the London School of Architecture, graduating with a BA in 1981.

Upon his return to Hong Kong, he started working as an architect, but at the age of 22, he decided to attend the international Opus Dei Prelature seminar in Rome, studying philosophy and theology. He had already joined the Opus Dei Prelature in London as treasurer in 1978. Lee then obtained his Canonical Doctorate at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. His thesis was on “Church-State Relations in the People’s Republic of China.”

Ordained a priest on 20 August 1988, in Spain, Lee returned to Hong Kong where he began his pastoral work as a chaplain for local Opus Dei centres and schools. In 1989, he was named Defender of the Faith in the Diocesan Court of Hong Kong by the Bishop of Hong Kong, and in 1994, he became the supervisor of the Tak Sun School.

In 2012, he was appointed regional vicar of the Asia-Pacific region by the Opus Dei Prelature, whilst continuing his pastoral work at retreats teaching Catholic doctrine at the Prelature, the Diocese, in parishes and various religious communities.

Lee was nominated auxiliary bishop of Hong Kong by Pope Francis on 11 July 2014, and ordained bishop on 30 August 2014, where his responsibilities included overseeing laymen, schools, communications, liturgy, and construction projects of the diocese of Hong Kong.

He was appointed Bishop of Macao, again by Pope Francis, following the resignation of Bishop D. José Lai Hung-seng on 16 January 2016.

Lee says that he came to Macao “ready to learn” and with a “missionary spirit.”