Since the outbreak of the Omicron-driven fifth wave of Covid-19 infections in Hong Kong, 1.19 million cases and over 9,000 deaths have been recorded. At its peak, 70,000 positive cases were reported on a single day in March. The fear of the spread of the virus is still lingers and the government has been careful in relaxing anti-pandemic measures.
With infections falling since mid-April, social and economic activities have gradually resumed, even dine-in services have resumed in the evenings and entertainment and sports premises have reopened.
After being closed for 70 days, churches are open again and public Masses have resumed. People are happy to return to churches to celebrate physical Masses and receive the Eucharist, gathering to sing and praise the Lord and see one another after such a long time. Many of us were devastated and distressed by the recurrence of the epidemic.
We are also saddened by the deaths of many elderly and patients with chronic illnesses who contracted Covid-19. Since quite a few of them were Catholic, the diocese celebrated a special Mass for them on April 27 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, to allow people to properly mourn for them.
Bishop Stephen Chow Sau Yan, sj, expressed his condolences in his homily while encouraging each of us to keep the faith and trust in the promises of Jesus Christ, that he will truly come again and lead the those who have passed to the eternal home prepared for us in the house of the Father. The Lord will surely welcome and embrace them and we will see our beloved ones in the future.
The bishop particularly encouraged us to actualise their hopes for Hong Kong and the world and to rebuild Hong Kong and the Church to be more hopeful and energetic.
Not have churches reopened, but also Sunday School classes, as well as ministry meetings, group gatherings and other activities in the parish-regulated areas. Many parishes seized the opportunity to administer the Sacraments of Initiation and to extend the Period of Mystagogy.
The faithful are welcome to participate and instill vitality and creativity into the Church and to build up the family of faith together.
This fourth Sunday of the Easter is also Good Shepherd Sunday, wherein the Church especially prays for vocations, hoping that God may send labourers to his harvest.
Vocations are not limited to the clergy and religious. In fact, the act of becoming a Christian is a response to God’s calling. May God help us serve the Church where he plants us. SE
