HONG KONG (SE): In the run up to All Saints Day on November 1, the Diocesan Pastoral Commission for Marriage and the Family organised a two-day exposition of relics at the Caritas Institute of Higher Education, Tiu Keng Leng, to draw attention to the lives of the saints and their family values.
Held from October 28 and 29, the exposition focused on the stories of more than 30 saints who faced family challenges, or whose journey of sanctification started with in their families. Testimonies of different individuals who experienced difficulties in their families were also presented.
The event began with a prayer service with participants and volunteers led by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing at the chapel of the Caritas Institute of Higher Education.
Bishop Ha pointed out several challenges that threaten Christian family values today, include war, same-sex marriages, and transgender surgery. Despite such issues, Bishop Ha urged the participants to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus and run the race that lies before us [Hebrews 12:1].
“There are many people who took the path before us. We have ‘a cloud of witnesses’,” Bishop Ha said.
Many of the saints experienced difficulties in their families, but they still relied on God and faced their trials. Those are our companions who are close to us and can understand us
Bishop Ha
“Each of their lives tells us that the fullness of life and the joy of life is with God. Men and women, adults and children, transgender or homosexual people—all are his children. We all have to face the challenges of our lives, amid our limitations and difficulties, by following Jesus Christ,” he added.
This is the second relic exposition organised by the commission in cooperation with the Catholic Education Office, following a 10-day exposition in conjunction with Treasures of the Church in mid-July [Sunday Examiner, July 30]. Kevin Lai Yuk-ching, executive secretary of the commission, thanked different parishes and religious institutes in Hong Kong, which lent the relics on this occasion.
“Many of the saints experienced difficulties in their families, but they still relied on God and faced their trials. Those are our companions who are close to us and can understand us,” he said. “We encourage people facing similar trials to solve them with faith, ask the saints for intercession, and get strength from their companionship,” he said.
Peter Ho Man-hong, assistant executive secretary, said the relic exposition in July had reminded people that everyone is called to lead a sanctified life and the commission hopes it will not be a one-off event. “All Saints Day is a good chance for us to continue with the formation in this aspect. Obviously, the scale is smaller this time, and the focus is more on personal growth, family and young people,” he said.
Each of their lives tells us that the fullness of life and the joy of life is with God. Men and women, adults and children, transgender or homosexual people—all are his children. We all have to face the challenges of our lives, amid our limitations and difficulties, by following Jesus Christ
Bishop Ha
The exposition included the relics of St. Louis Martin and St. Zélie Guérin, the parents of five nuns, and that of their daughter, St. Therese of Lisieux; St. Maria Goretti, who fought against poverty, loss of her father and sexual harassment; St. Dominic Savio, the spiritual son of St. John Bosco and the patron saint for boys; St. Elizabeth of Hungary, who raised her children and ran a home for the poor despite the difficulties of widowhood, and so on.
Candy Ng Wai-ling, a pastoral worker at Bishop Ford Memorial School, brought seven students from primary four and six to the event, and she could sense they were interested in learning more about the lives of the saints as she explained that saints are examples to follow.
Ah Wong, a retired person with an emotional health illness, was invited by the commission to give his life testimony. As he suffered from depression, he said he would not physically hurt people, but always think about the negative aspects of things and may lose his temper over the small mistakes of a stranger, such as a passer-by who littered. He began to feel sick when he was around 20-years-old. Now his illness is under control with medication and the support of his faith. Whenever he feels sick, he reminds himself to respect his wife, his life companion.
Others invited to give their life testimony included a woman who suffered from miscarriage, a divorced man and a divorced woman. Some individuals from sexual minorities also gave their testimonies via video.
The second day included a movie screening at which Father Jose Arturo de la Torre Guerrero was invited to speak. Over 600 people attended the two-day event, which culminated with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Ha.
