HONG KONG (SE): Since February this year, the Diocese of Hong Kong has adopted parish renewal as its pastoral direction for the next three years in response to document, The pastoral conversion of the Parish community in the service of the evangelising mission of the Church, issued by the Congregation for the Clergy in July 2020.
The Central Council of Catholic Laity, which is spearheading the programme for parish renewal, brought together members of parish councils from 20 parishes to share their pastoral plans.
In a session at St. Mary’s parish, Hung Hom, on August 1, the situations in parishes were discussed and a plan of action proposed.
Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing called on the parish councils to pay attention not only to changes in the activities of the parish, but also to their spiritual renewal so that people can come closer to God. He invited laypeople venture outside of their parishes to talk to people on street and to try understand their views about the Church.
Bishop Ha encouraged those present to help their respective parishes be creative and reach out.
Tai Shuk-yan, the Sunday school principal at St. Mary’s parish, said that in response to the Amoris Laetitia Family Year, the parish organised a family cooking day for children above five-years-old with their parents at the end of July. During the game session, parents wearing a blindfold were invited to pick up food with chopsticks under the instructions of their children. Tai said the game helped to remind family members of the importance of communication and understanding.
Tai also talked about the lack of teenagers in the parish and noted that they seem to have disappeared after completing Sunday school. Therefore the parish plans to set up more pious associations for them, such as a teenage lectors’ group and a choir group, to encourage participation in parish life.
Kenneth Law Kai-lit, president of the parish council of the Star of the Sea parish, Chai Wan, said that parish life changed under the Covid-19 pandemic because people normally leave after Mass to reduce social contact. He said the parish plans to organise more activities, such as guided tours, to increase participants’ understanding of the parish, or visits to cleaning workers to bring the Good News to the community.
Law added that it is necessary to encourage the catechumens to experience parish life even before baptism. The parish set up a group two years ago in which around 60 members were assigned to journey with catechumens. They support them by acting as a companion in classes, Masses and faith groups.
