Hong Kong – “Be open to the Holy Spirit and give the mission of catechists a new, multifaceted, and profound meaning,” said Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan, Bishop of the Diocese of Hong Kong, in his address to the first seven catechists appointed and sent by the diocese in accordance with the “Antiquum ministerium,” the Apostolic Letter in the form of a Motu Proprio with which Pope Francis officially established the lay ministry of catechism in May 2021.
The missionary mandate of the Hong Kong catechists took place on April 19 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. As reported by the diocesan weekly magazine “KungKaoPo,” the ceremony, presided over by Cardinal Chow, was concelebrated by Diocesan Vicar Joseph Choi Wai-man, Chairman of the Diocesan Commission for the Ministry of Catechists, and numerous priests. During the presentation of the silver Cross, the new catechists of Hong Kong, like all catechists throughout the universal Church, confirmed to the bishop their desire “to contribute to the building up of the local Church, especially in the parishes, by growing as witnesses of the faith, guides, interpreters of the mystery of God, companions on life’s journey, and educators.”
In his homily, the Cardinal referred to Jesus’ encounter with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus and emphasized that those who encounter Jesus are called to receive the Lord’s revelation with open hearts and to share the faith through relationships: “You catechists can live out your vocation through the various ministries, constantly renewing yourselves and deepening your knowledge, your experience of faith, and your spiritual life.”
The catechists are to carry out their ministry in various areas of the diocese: in parishes, in the Catholic Students’ Association, and in the Pastoral Commission for Marriage and Family. After a year of intensive training, upon receiving their mandate, the catechists expressed their hope that in the future, more and more people would follow God’s call and join the group of catechists, guided by the Holy Spirit, to place their personal charisms at the service of the Church.
According to Diocesan Vicar Joseph Choi Wai-man, the diocese will evaluate the experiences of the first catechists over the next two years and then decide on further development.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.