HONG KONG (SE): The Diocesan Ecumenical Commission, the Hong Kong Christian Council, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia called for “a change from our past misconceptions and values” in a joint statement as Christians around the world observed the week of prayer for Christian Unity from 18 to 25 January.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is held annually between the original day of the feast of the Chair of St. Peter on January 18, and the feast of Conversion of St. Paul on January 25.
The theme for the week of prayer in 2023 is “Do Good; Seek Justice,” taken from Isaiah 1:17. Marking the occasion this year, an English prayer gathering was held at All Saints’ Cathedral of the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, Mong Kok. It is the first among a series of activities marking the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
The joint statement called on people of different Christian denominations to commit themselves to the path of growth and justice. “We need to change from our past misconceptions and values, from self to others, learn to respect each other, take the dignity and value of human nature seriously, raise the awareness of care, speak up for the weak, the excluded and neglected communities, love and help each other, and ameliorate the disparity between the rich and the poor in society today,” the statement says.
Divine Word missionary Father Joseph Tan Lei-tao was invited to share his reflections on the theme “Do good, seek justice.” Quoting the example of St. Arnold Janssen, the founder of the Society of Divine Word, Father Tan shared that many people did good works with a strong determination and lots of sacrifices for the love of God. “Seek justice” does not imply a punishment for the wrongs committed by a person, but instead, “the reward from God, our eternal life,” Father Tan explained.
Around 70 people attended the service, including leaders and the laity from Catholic and Protestant denominations.
During the prayers led by Reverend Samson Fan Chun-ho of the Anglican Communion and Father Paul Tam Wing-ming, the participants were invited to write down a key word on a stone as a reminder of their commitment to do good and seek justice.
Reverend Baraily Raju, a pastor of the Nepali Union Church, told the Sunday Examiner that he wrote “better world in Christ” on the stone to wish that people could work together for some changes. Serving the Nepali community in Hong Kong, he sees the discrimination, language issues and job security problems that make their lives difficult.
We need to change from our past misconceptions and values, from self to others, learn to respect each other, take the dignity and value of human nature seriously, raise the awareness of care, speak up for the weak, the excluded and neglected communities, love and help each other, and ameliorate the disparity between the rich and the poor in society today
PIME Sister Anitha Eddula said she put the word “peace” on the stone together with a cross underneath to show that different churches can unite for peace and unity.
Simon Fung Siu-hung, honorary general secretary of the Hong Kong Christian Council, shared with the Sunday Examiner his joy at participating in the event as it showed Christian denominations are determined to seek unity. “These activities in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity are meant to help us know and understand each other and to reduce our disparities. This is an important witness not only in the Christian Church but also in a big city like Hong Kong. We are good brothers and sisters,” he said.
He recalled the milestones of ecumenism in recent years, such as the first ecumenical pilgrimage to Rome joined by the leaders and laity in 2017, the second pilgrimage joined by theological students in 2018, the Chinese ecumenical version of the Nicene Creed completed in 2016, as well as the concert promoting this version in November 2022.
According to Fung, another ecumenical pilgrimage to Rome in 2024 is being planned as one of the activities to mark the 70th-anniversary celebration of the Hong Kong Christian Council, and an ecumenical art exhibition is scheduled in September at the Caritas Institute of Higher Education.
A Joint Ecumenical Communion Service was celebrated on January 19 at the Chinese Methodist Church, Wan Chai. An ecumenical prayer meeting is scheduled for May 20 at St. Benedict Church, Sha Tin.
