Bishop John Tong Hon of Hong Kong has announced a Year of Priestly Vocations for the diocese to address the problem of shortage of priests.Speaking at the April 30 Mass to mark his succession as the head of the diocese, Bishop Tong, 69, said it was necessary to mobilize all local Church members to deal with this issue.
He told about 160 priests and about 1,500 local and foreign Catholics who attended the Mass at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception that the special year will run from July 1 till the end of 2010.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and his wife, both Catholics, were among those who attended the event.
In his homily, the prelate appealed to his priests to “participate actively in ongoing formation programs” and urged all parishes to establish at each parish a special committee for vocation promotion.
“Committee members will pray for vocations, offer spiritual and material support, and make every effort to search for new vocations,” he noted.
He also expressed a wish to work closely with “everybody in society to promote the common good of our city.” He added he would spare no effort in following Pope Benedict XVI’s directive that the diocese act as a bridge to the Church in mainland China.
He said he hopes to see fellow Catholics in mainland China “enjoy full religious freedom as early as possible, so that they can make greater contributions to society.
”The bishop also reached out to bishops and pastors from Christian denominations including the Orthodox, Anglican, Methodist and Lutheran Churches, who attended the Mass.
He promised to “make even greater efforts to deepen friendly relations” with both other Christian churches and other religions.
At the beginning of the Mass, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, Bishop Tong’s predecessor, invited the new prelate to take the bishop’s seat, the cathedra.
“As you have accepted me, please also accept Bishop Tong in the same way by obeying him, supporting him and cooperating with him in faith and love,” Cardinal Zen said.
The congregation applauded Cardinal Zen, 77, for nearly two full minutes to thank him for his 12 years of service to the diocese.
Cardinal Zen was appointed coadjutor bishop in 1996, the same time as Bishop Tong ordained as auxiliary bishop.
Bishop Tong then embraced and exchanged the sign of peace with diocesan and Religious priests, permanent deacons, representatives of Religious orders, laity and youth who vowed to respect and accept his leadership in the spirit of unity.
The youths then exchanged “high-fives” with Bishop Tong, and wished Cardinal Zen good health.
Bishop Jose Lai Hung-seng of Macau concelebrated the Mass to show support from the neighboring diocese.
Sister Louise Lam, executive secretary of the Diocesan Vocations Commission, told UCA News that the diocese initially planned to launch a Year of Vocations when the Year of Saint Paul ended on June 29.
Diocesan officials decided to launch instead the Year of Priestly Vocations to correspond with Year for Priests that Pope Benedict XVI said would start June 19.
The commission has proposed to the diocesan curia a range of initiatives to increase vocations. These include establishing a vocation promotion committee in every parish and formation programs for youths, Catholic parents and pastoral workers.
The commission also suggests holding prayer meetings, vocation camps, special days for people to visit the seminary and convents, and publishing prayer booklets, CDs and books on the topic.
Sister Lam added there are six young men and four young women regularly attend the commission’s monthly meetings to help them to discern their vocations.
Diocesan seminarian Cyril Cheung Lok-tin, 24, said cooperation from parish priests is crucial, as they have frequent and direct contacts with laypeople.
The Diocesan Youth Commission should attach more importance on spiritual formation when organizing activities for young Catholics, he suggested. Evangelizing to non-Catholics and laity formation are also indirect ways to boost vocations, he said.
The Holy Spirit Seminary currently only has four diocesan seminarians including Cheung.
Bishop Tong had told UCA News that promoting priestly vocations would be one of his top priorities.
Materialism has reduced priestly vocations, especially in affluent places, he said, “and Hong Kong is no exception.”
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Source (UCAN)
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