By Father Paul Kam Po-wai
I officially participated in the Diocesan Vocation Commission meeting as its chairperson in January this year. I learned that a few years ago, a high school teacher had done a painting of the Mother of Vocations for the commission in the hope that it would be an image brought on visitations to different parishes to promote vocations. After several meetings, we decided to organise the Walk for Vocation 2.0 in May, under the theme of Mother of Vocations and our Journey of Hope. I believe that brothers and sisters who have read the diocesan newspapers or visited the commission’s Facebook page already know about this.
The journey began on May 7 and ended on June 4. It started from Holy Spirit Seminary, passing through Visitation Church in Tung Chung, Rosary Church in Tsim Sha Tsui and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Caine Road, and finally returned to the Holy Spirit Seminary. Each of the four weeks had different themes connected with the events of Our Lady’s life.
The first stop was themed Journey of Grace, which was a journey with Our Lady of Hope, and included meditations on Our Lady’s Annunciation. The second stop was The Blessing of Encounter, a journey of blessing with meditations on her visitation. The third stop was The Hymn of Life, a journey of mystery with meditations on the miracles of the Rosary. Finally, the fourth stop was The Eternal Love, a journey of commissioning with meditations on the mission of Our Lady.
The content of the journey was designed and conceived by Sister Rosalia Kong Sze-wai, executive secretary of the commission. Participants were not involved in the whole journey and could only experience a part of it. However, they were the ones who helped to form the content of the journey through their participation.
In addition to the four Sunday Masses for vocations at the Holy Spirit Seminary, the Visitation Church, the Rosary Church, and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, there were ceremonies welcoming the image of the Mother of Vocations at each stop, as well as the online rosaries for vocations in Boiling Point led by young people. The most important feature of the programme were the gatherings organised by the youth groups for parishioners to promote vocations in the week while the painting of the Mother of Vocations stayed in their parish.
Due to the pandemic, most parishes had no choice but to cancel their activities for parishioners. Thank God, the image of the Mother of Vocations and this journey of hope touched the people of these three parishes, especially the young people, and led them to conceive, arrange and promote some gatherings for vocations, encouraging, reminding and inviting the parishioners to pray for vocations. Throughout the journey, I felt the commitment and enthusiasm of the young people who participated. I believe that God sowed the seeds of vocation in them during this journey.
Let us pray that God will make these seeds sprout and grow, so that young people will have the courage and grace to respond to God’s calling in their lives, either by joining the priesthood or consecrated life, or by joining those who promote vocations together with Our Lady.
.
