With churches closed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Hong Kong’s Christian community will have to observe Holy Week without being able to gather. The liturgical year reaches its high point with the Easter Triduum, but we will celebrate it under stringent social distancing regulations for the third consecutive year. In the days before the pandemic, Holy Week was a public celebration. These days, it is—for the time being—a personal one.
As part of our Holy Week commitments, we can follow the liturgy online, meditate on the passion narrative and do good works. Compliance with government regulations on social distancing, vaccinations and vaccine-passes can also be included—because these are imperative in the fight against the pandemic and ultimately for the reopening of churches.
According to the latest government figures, over 76.7 per cent of the city’s population has been fully vaccinated. Both Pope Francis and Bishop Stephen Chow SJ have repeatedly urged the faithful to get vaccinated, to protect ourselves and, more importantly, to protect those around us.
However, many devout Catholics are not totally convinced about the ethical and moral sanctity of vaccines that have been either tested or manufactured with cell lines that were isolated from the remains of an aborted foetus. Despite the detailed study and recommendations from the Diocesan Committee for Bioethics, many prefer to be “prophetic witnesses” by refusing to be vaccinated with these “morally controversial” vaccines.
Their courageous decision must be respected and appreciated. However, such an act can only become morally perfect when these individuals decide to withdraw themselves from all social activities, including grocery shopping, taking public transport and visiting loved ones, to avoid the risk of exposing others to Covid-19.
Unless a medical condition certified by a doctor prevents it, one has the moral responsibility to get vaccinated. Of itself, forgoing inoculation is not an act of prophetic witness. Regardless of our good intentions, it could actually be an unjust act that would imperil the lives of those around us.
In normal times, one of the traditions Catholics observe during the Holy Week is undertaking pilgrimages to churches. The faithful visit seven churches offering their prayers, meditating on the seven last words of Jesus on the Cross as recorded in the gospels, or on the seven holy wounds of Jesus. Some visit 14 churches, praying and meditating on the 14 Stations of the Cross.
Given the current restrictive measures, one could make online pilgrimages to the various churches in Hong Kong. Details about the local parishes can be found at catholic.org.hk.
The Hong Kong Pilgrimage Services Centre has created a series of short videos in English and Chinese on YouTube, introducing various parishes and Mass centres in Hong Kong [https://bit.ly/3j3ZCPP].
Perhaps, this Holy Week is an appropriate time to make a virtual pilgrimage to the various churches and pray for Hong Kong’s continued recovery from the terrible afflictions of this pandemic. jose, cmf
