FEBRUARY 4 WILL mark the first time International Day of Human Fraternity will be observed . The United Nations General Assembly approved the observance last December to promote intercultural dialogue, inviting member states and society at large to organise appropriate activities. It also encouraged the international community to work for a culture of peace and to make efforts to promote tolerance and solidarity.
The resolution noted the efforts of Pope Francis and the grand imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad al-Tayyib, in promoting human fraternity. The two religious leaders wrote to the United Nations in 2019 proposing this special day. A year later, the pope issued the encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, which highlighted the religious dimension of human fraternity.
The Pope Francis pointed out that in an unhealthy society which turns its back on suffering, all of us should overcome personal prejudices and interests and be each other’s neighbour. We all have a responsibility to build a welcoming and inclusive society that comforts those who are suffering.
Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, human fraternity in is indispensable. The Vatican rolled out its vaccination programme in January. In addition to the staff of the Holy See, the Vatican has made special arrangements for a group of homeless people to be vaccinated.
One of the principles of the Church’s mission is inclusiveness that excludes no one. This should also be fundamental to all public policy. A policy that is in the interest of both the public and health protection must also take into account the most underprivileged and those who are unable to take care of themselves.
With Covid-19 rattling the nerves of society, we definitely do not want to see inequity getting any worse. In fact, we are all in the same boat where none of us is the only one needing to be rescued.
The International Day of Human Fraternity aims to encourage people to treat each other as brothers and sisters by promoting intercultural dialogue.
In Hong Kong, the local Church is committed to looking after the ethnic minorities from the Philippines, Indonesia and Southeast Asia. This initiative is worth continuing.
The spirit of fraternity is also a reference point for parish renewal, the pastoral theme of the local Church for this year. This spirit can enable us to re-think the parish model so that the parish can become a venue for promoting interpersonal relationships and dialogue.
When announcing parish renewal as the pastoral theme at the end of last year, apostolic administrator of Hong Kong, John Cardinal Tong, wrote that the parish should not be seen as a building or a series of organisations. Rather, it is “the presence of the Church in a given territory, an environment for hearing God’s word, for growth in the Christian life, for dialogue, proclamation, charitable outreach, worship and celebration.”
Although we cannot, at this moment, take part personally in the liturgy and the activities of the parish, we should make every effort to get the parish deeply rooted in our daily life through mutual care and concern.
Let us start with a smile, a greeting and a simple act of help. SE
