HONG KONG (SE): Nearly 100 Chinese permanent deacons from all over the world gathered in Hong Kong from November 13 to 17 for the third International Conference for Chinese Permanent Deacons.
The five-day programme was held at Caritas Oswald Cheung International House and Caritas Community Centre-Aberdeen, and included talks, group discussions, visits to different charity works in Hong Kong, pilgrimage tours, and drawing up plans for the next five years.
The conference was attended by 96 participants, including Chinese permanent deacons and their wives from the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and local communities, along with representatives of the dioceses of Taipei, Beijing, and Macau who were interested in learning more about the permanent diaconate.
Stephen Cardinal Chow, SJ, noted in his opening remarks that women’s ordination as deacons was one of the topics that was discussed at the recent synod and that the Church continued to examine the issue from a theological and functional perspective.
He also stressed the important role of deacons to reach out to society and bear witness to God. “How does our Church support the poor, the orphans, the homeless people, the inmates in the prisons and the sick? It is the way we accompany them and support them that can touch people’s hearts. A permanent deacon’s role should be to live out the gospel and bring about changes in society,” the cardinal observed. He thanked the contributions of the permanent deacons present and their wives.
How does our Church support the poor, the orphans, the homeless people, the inmates in the prisons and the sick? It is the way we accompany them and support them that can touch people’s hearts
Cardinal Chow
During the opening prayer, Deacon Nestor Kwan Chung-wah expressed gratitude to God for the happy gathering and the chance to share their pastoral experiences, strengthen their brotherhood and build up the Kingdom on earth.
Father Dominic Chan Chi-ming, chairperson of the Diocesan Commission for the Permanent Diaconate, expressed his gratitude to God for the opportunity to organise the meeting, as well as to Archbishop Thomas Chung An-zu of Taipei, and priests from Taipei and Macau for their presence. He also thanked the preparation committee and religious communities who prayed for the conference daily.
Father Chan stressed the importance of open sharing for a better ministry in a synodal Church, and the building up of friendships and hearts burning to serve.
On the theme of the conference “New Evangelisation and the Permanent Diaconate,” Father Chan explained that new evangelisation refers to responding to the current needs of society. It implies changing people’s attitudes and innovatively spreading the gospel, which is the diaconate’s mission, established 30 years ago under the instruction of the then bishop John Baptist Cardinal Wu Cheng-chung.
“New evangelisation is very closely related to the ministry of deacons. They need to be aware of the needs of modern people, who may be lonely, they may need company, understanding and human dignity… the spirit is to spread the Good News, just as Jesus instructed us,” Father Chan said.
New evangelisation is very closely related to the ministry of deacons. They need to be aware of the needs of modern people, who may be lonely, they may need company, understanding and human dignity…
Father Chan
A Mass was then concelebrated by Cardinal Chow, with Archbishop Chung, Father João Lau from Macau, Father Chan, and priests from Taipei.
During the Mass, Cardinal Chow said the conference is a journey of searching for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and discernment. In this process, he stressed the importance of a receptive attitude to listening, sincerity, and humility. “We have to believe that it is the work of the Holy Spirit, but not our own work. We cannot limit what the Holy Spirit leads us to,” he said.
Archbishop Chung, while leading the prayer of the faithful, expressed hope that people will be touched by the Holy Spirit and become permanent deacons in Taipei and his wish that a permanent diaconate can be set up there soon.
Archbishop Chung presided over the Mass on the morning of the second day, while Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, ofm, celebrated the Mass on the last day of the programme.
According to Deacon Tom Kung, a permanent deacon from Toronto, both Chinese and English-speaking people have increasingly accepted the role of permanent deacons, but their roles are still poorly understood.
Kung was ordained in 1994 and serves in prison chaplaincy, elderly homes, low-income families, and parish work for Chinese and local communities.
However, Deacon Joseph Yuen Ming-shing, who currently serves in Seattle, the United States, explained that there are few Cantonese-speaking deacons or priests in the region, so he has to travel from time to time to lead retreats and lectures in various parts of the United States and Canada.
He believes that deacons, as married persons, have an advantage as they can share about their daily life experiences in their families from the point of view of faith.
