HONG KONG (SE): The Colloquium of Six Religious Leaders had a Lunar New Year gathering at Shang Sin Chun Tong in Kowloon Tong on February 28, in which the leaders expressed their common hope for peace and prosperity for Hong Kong society in the Year of the Dragon with the support of the faith of different religions.
Cardinal Stephen Chow S.J. expressed his wishes for a new vision and a new hope to emerge through the gathering. “On behalf of the Catholic Church, I express my blessings through the revelations of Jesus Christ in the Bible. When we believe in and live out the Beatitudes of Jesus Christ, we will have a clear mind without attachments, which can help us overcome the painful tribulations and receive heavenly blessings,” he said.
He said that the virtues of God, including unity, justice, kindness, purity, morality, pity, compassion and peace lead a foundation for the spirituality of Christians and will create hope for the era in the blessing of religions.
He urged those present to walk together in synodality and wished them a blessed new year.
Reverend Wong Ka-fai chairperson of Hong Kong Christian Council, also expressed his wishes and prayers on behalf of the Protestant Church. “On a personal level, we ask the Lord to give us wisdom and ability. We pray that we will be able to achieve and contribute in all areas. Especially after the epidemic, we hope that everything will recover as soon as possible. From a social point of view, we hope that society will be harmonious so that we can care for each other and build a better home together. From the national level, our goal is to have a strong and peaceful country. On the international level, we hope that we can see peace without killing,”
He said although the dragon is a symbol of power, Jesus as God Incarnate is the real source of power for Christians.
Zhu Wen, director-general of the Coordination Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government, Hong Kong SAR said the religious leaders present have played an important role in promoting peace in society.
He urged them to continue to express their love for the country as well as for their faith, to help living out the principle of one country two systems, to promote harmony in society and to work for better and deeper cooperation with mainland China.
On behalf of the Catholic Church, I express my blessings through the revelations of Jesus Christ in the Bible. When we believe in and live out the Beatitudes of Jesus Christ, we will have a clear mind without attachments, which can help us overcome the painful tribulations and receive heavenly blessings
Cardinal Stephen
Leung Tak-wah, chairperson of the Hong Kong Taoist Association expressed his joy over the lifting of all restrictions after the pandemic in the vitality of spring. He expressed his hope that the present social peace will to prosperity.
Most Venerable Kuan Yun, president of The Hong Kong Buddhist Association sent his good wishes for the year of the dragon, a symbol of virtue and power in Buddhism. He hopes that it will bring blessing to Hong Kong, a blessed land with people of good spirits. He urged people to greater efforts to create a better future with purified hearts.
Tong Yun-ka, president of the Confucian Academy expressed his wish that prosperity to be achieved with the harmony among differences of Hong Kong people, their creativity and talents.
Tuet Sui-Hong, Ali, chairperson of the Chinese Muslim Cultural and Fraternal Association wished those present to have peace in God and thanked the Taoist Association for organising the event in a beautiful environment.
Father Edward Chau King-fun, chairperson of the Diocesan Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, Father Joseph Chan Wing-chiu, vicar general and chairperson of and the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission as well as around 30 representatives from different Catholic organisations were present.
