HONG KONG (SE): Archbishop Chung An-zu of the of Taipei, said he was happy to join the third International Conference for Chinese Permanent Deacons to learn from the sharing of experiences by permanent deacons worldwide in preparation for the setting up of the permanent diaconate in Taiwan.
The archbishop said he has often heard priests or laypeople ask why there is no permanent diaconate in the Archdiocese of Taipei. “So after hearing the voice of God’s people, I thought attention should be paid to this issue,” he said adding that the archdiocese began to study how to set up a permanent diaconate years ago.
He said the five-member delegation from Taipei is helping to gather information, as the archdiocese is working on a proposal to be presented later to the bishop’s conference in Taiwan. He hopes that the proposal will be supported and will be sent to the Vatican for approval so that the formation of permanent deacons can start in Taiwan.
Father Augustine Hsu from Taipei, explained that the Holy See requires the concurrence of all seven dioceses in Taiwan for the establishment of a permanent diaconate.
Ninety-six people from all over the world gathered in Hong Kong from November 13 to 17 for the third International Conference for Chinese Permanent Deacons, a journey of listening and sharing at the Caritas Oswald Cheung International House and Caritas Community Centre-Aberdeen. The conference, held every five years, included talks, group discussions, visits to different charity works, pilgrimage tours and drawing up plans for the next five years. The conference brought together Chinese permanent deacons from the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and local communities, as well as representatives from Taipei, Beijing, and Macau who were interested in learning more about the permanent diaconate.
Ninety-six people from all over the world gathered in Hong Kong from November 13 to 17 for the third International Conference for Chinese Permanent Deacons
Deacon Louis Wong Chin-to, presently serving at St. Anne’s Church, Stanley, expressed his gratitude at seeing deacons from different countries who share the same Chinese culture and face similar challenges, such as the relationship with priests and the lack of understanding from family.
He shared that the lack of knowledge about the role of permanent deacons among laypeople can also contribute to problems. In some cases, permanent deacons may be requested to perform sacraments that they are not entitled to perform, such as the anointing of the sick or the sacrament of reconciliation, and misunderstandings may result if they refuse to comply.
Another misconception, he added, is that sometimes laypeople may perceive that deacons are often absent from the parish, so they must explain that they are serving at hospitals and prisons in order to secure assistance for those in need from members of the parish. “The conference acts as a platform for us to share and offer support for one another on these issues,” he said.
Deacon Wong said he is grateful for the firm determination of John Cardinal Wu Cheng-chung to set up the permanent diaconate in Hong Kong three decades ago and develop systematic formation. So today, deacons from Hong Kong can share their experiences with dioceses that do not yet have the ministry of the permanent diaconate.
In Spokane, Washington, Deacon Patrick Cheung serves Our Lady of Fatima Church, which has a primarily American population. His ordination as a deacon took place in the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston, which has over 300 permanent deacons.
Ninety-six people from all over the world gathered in Hong Kong from November 13 to 17 for the third International Conference for Chinese Permanent Deacons
He regarded the gathering of the deacons as an excellent opportunity to refresh their calling and get more energy for their parish work, and to get acquianted with other permanent deacons throughout the world. Furthermore, he was impressed by their discussion of various ministry-related topics.
Cecilia Ng, the wife of Deacon Edwin Ng Wing-hung, who has been ordained for nearly 20 years, said she was particularly impressed by the joyful sharing of different deacons during the conference and the discussion on new evangelisation in which deacons said their evangelisation work should be without borders or regional boundaries, giving participants a lot of room for reflection.
As a deacon’s wife, she said she encountered difficulties in their family life, particularly time management. She recalls that, during his early years as a deacon, Deacon Ng would miss some family events, such as the traditional New Year’s Eve dinner, as he may be required to attend a funeral, which upset her.
She shared that it took time for her to adjust to similar problems. But she reminded herself that being a deacon’s wife is a calling from God and her role is to support him when he meets difficulties and to pray for him. The process brought her closer to God and helped them live a sanctified life together.
At the conclusion ogf the conference, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing celebrated a Mass on November 17, at which he urged the deacons to follow the example of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, whose feast fell on that day, especially her dedication to the poor and sick.
