By Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, OFM
How would parish communities look if preservation was their main concern? Taking a look at the parish council membership, the majority of new or departing members are from the same group, and there aren’t many young people or new blood. What is the pastoral direction? This is probably something that has never even been considered!
There is a week-to-week calendar of events, and it’s pretty much the same every year. A parish of this type can also be very busy, but its activities are mostly ritualistic and social, and with little outreach to its target group.
Do not take that as an insinuation against any Hong Kong parish community; all parish communities are more or less similar. In addition, we should consider how to transform the parish community from preservation to evangelisation so that the Church does not exist for its own sake but to share God’s love and provide evidence of his grace.
Change begins with how we perceive ourselves. If we see ourselves as parishioners or friends of the same religion, the parish community will likely be limited to interpersonal relationships. But if we see ourselves as disciples, the parish community’s direction is much different, and it is easier to change from preservation to evangelisation.
Our relationship with Jesus and our relationship with our brothers and sisters in him are crucial to discipleship since we are all members of a community following him. We must therefore respond to his invitation to teach the nations and take up the mission of evangelisation, and not simply maintain the community or remain static.
Even though the Canon Law of the Church divides parishes geographically, the parish community has always been focused
on people, a group of disciples called by the Lord, their teacher. Physically present in the community, they demonstrate the invisible love of God to their neighbours, living their faith as a sacrament.
Having received our discipleship from Jesus, it is only natural that we would come to him, be with him, and deepen our relationship with him. Consequently, both a personal and a communal spiritual life are essential.
We should ask ourselves this question: how much time do we spend praying and reading the Bible each day? Do you read the Bible and share your faith with others from time to time? Are you accustomed to taking an overnight retreat every year? How important is it to the parish community to nurture the spirituality of its members? Do members of pious associations meet only to discuss their business or do they also share their faith? Does the parish hold overnight retreats every year? What percentage of the parish community attends such retreats?
Inward spirituality equips us for outward evangelisation, for when we have an intimate relationship with Jesus, we will inevitably experience being sent by him and empowered to go out. From preservation to evangelisation, we move from thoughts to actions through the process of moving from the inside to the outside.
Which stage are you in this process? And at what stage is your parish community?
