About Lumen Orientale #
Lumen Orientale is an independent Catholic publication dedicated to exploring the faith, traditions, history, liturgy, and life of the Roman Catholic Church.
The name Lumen Orientale — “Light from the East” — reflects a desire to discover and share the richness of the Catholic Church’s historical and spiritual heritage, while looking at the Church’s life and mission in the contemporary world.
Through articles, commentary, photography, and other forms of media, Lumen Orientale covers a range of subjects including Sacred Liturgy, the historic traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, ecclesiastical history, Catholic culture, and contemporary Roman Catholic affairs.
Particular attention is given to the beauty and continuity of the Church’s liturgical and devotional traditions, the history of Catholicism in different parts of the world, and the people and communities who continue to live and transmit these traditions today.
Lumen Orientale is an independent project and is not an official publication of the Holy See, any diocese, religious order, or other ecclesiastical authority. Its articles and commentary represent the views of their respective authors and are intended to contribute to informed discussion about Catholic life and culture.
Above all, Lumen Orientale seeks to approach its subjects with respect for the Catholic faith and its traditions, while encouraging readers to discover more deeply the richness of the Church’s history, worship, and mission.
About the Founder and Editor #
Chavez Cyrillus Mariae Poon is a Roman Catholic independent freelance writer and social media content creator, born and raised in Hong Kong and currently based in Walsingham, Norfolk, United Kingdom.
His content creation work focuses particularly on the Sacred Liturgy, the historic traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, ecclesiastical history, and contemporary Roman Catholic affairs.
Chavez currently works with EWTN Great Britain as a Production Assistant, assisting with the filming, interviewing, and media coverage of Catholic events across the United Kingdom. He also participated in the EWTN Summer Academy 2026 in Rome, where he further developed his interest in Catholic journalism, digital evangelisation, and media communications.
Alongside his writing, media, and content creation work, Chavez has more than ten years of ceremonial and liturgical experience, having served as an Acolyte, Sacristan, and Liturgical Master of Ceremonies at Holy Mass and other sacred liturgical celebrations in various parishes and ecclesiastical communities throughout Hong Kong, Macau, and the United Kingdom.
Through his writing, liturgical service, content creation, and social media apostolate, he seeks to foster a deeper appreciation of the beauty of the Church’s worship, the continuity of Roman Catholic tradition, and the faithful transmission of the message of the Holy Gospel. His work seeks, in a modest way, to contribute to the preservation, study, and communication of the Catholic Church’s liturgical and ecclesiastical heritage.