HONG KONG (SE): John Cardinal Tong Hon, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Hong Kong, will open the diocesan process for the Synod of Bishops on Synodality with a Mass on October 17. Pope Francis inaugurated the two-year process for the 2023 synod on October 10 in Rome.
The diocesan process, which begins with the Mass on October 17, will be held at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Caine Road, at 11.30am. The theme for the 2023 Synod of Bishops is: For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission.
The synodal process consists of three stages: the first was the launch the process on October 9 to 10. The bishop of every diocese will then start the process in his diocese on October 17. The general secretary of the Synod of Bishops will prepare documents and questionnaires to help dioceses worldwide to carry out consultations. This stage will end in April 2022.
The second stage, summarising the results of the consultations, runs from September 2022 to March 2023. In the third stage, the Synod of Bishops will be officially held in Rome in October 2023.
As for Hong Kong, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing has been assigned as the coordinator of the preparation process. He will follow up the consultation work of the diocese and draft a report. The diocese will supply relevant prayers to different parishes so that people can pray for the synod during Masses on October 17.
Bishop Ha invited the faithful to pray for the synod, to pay attention to its development as well as to participate in it by raising their views. He said the diocese will seek the opinions of as many people as possible but it also encourages different individuals, including those who have been absent from Masses, to take the initiative to give comments to the diocesan coordinator so as to make the consultation more comprehensive.
Bishop Ha said the preparation process of the synod can be more important than its result. “In the process we need to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and let ourselves be guided. It is a chance for all parties to let their views be listened to,” he said.
As for the theme of synod, Bishop Ha said a synodal Church is in line with the spirit of the Second Vatican Council which requires the Church to journey with the people and encourage the participation of the people of God.
