By Father Joseph Chan Wing-chiu
Today, I heard many valuable insights, and several contributions from different groups left a deep impression on me, even stirring up strong emotions. When someone mentioned leaving an inheritance or donating to support our work, I felt both envy and gratitude. These resources are essential for sustaining our mission, particularly for many NGOs and independent groups.
However, I want to raise a more profound question: inheritance is not just about money—it is about what each of us possesses and passes on. What we are discussing here is also a form of inheritance. The critical issue is: who is willing to carry it forward? Looking around, our average age is not young. This brings me to a second reflection: have you experienced persistent back or neck pain upon waking? Temporary discomfort is tolerable, but if it continues, it becomes a struggle.
The Church now faces a similar pain: our inheritance is not being passed on. Our greatest concern is who will continue our work. Some priests joke about working into their seventies or even nineties, but the real question remains: where are the successors?
Thank God there are still some young people among us, though they are few. This issue goes beyond vocations; it concerns the entire Church. The younger generation is shrinking, and the number of believers is declining—a common concern for us all.
This pain reminds me of a concept from traditional Chinese medicine: “where there’s blockage, there’s pain.” When circulation is blocked, pain results; when it flows freely, there is no problem. Life is similar—when we lack communication, suffering arises. Each of us is engaged in valuable initiatives to foster healthy communication among diverse groups. However, if we fail to share, collaborate, and communicate with one another, we risk isolation, a shortage of resources and manpower, and ultimately, a lack of successors.
In recent years, the Diocese of Hong Kong has changed its approach to the sacraments, combining First Communion and Confirmation. Some parishes, however, still follow the old system. Regardless of the method, both face the same challenge: after receiving the sacraments, many young people drift away or disappear. This reflects our inability to bridge key stages in youth development. What we are discussing today—the “Catechumenal Pathways for Married Life”—may help address this issue.
While Sunday school covers the seven sacraments, marriage is only briefly mentioned. Most participants in adult catechism classes are already married and believe further discussion is unnecessary. In reality, this creates a void. We must help young people develop a sound understanding of marriage and love from an early age.
We must support young people in understading they can become faithful husbands, wives, and parents. This requires long-term nurturing, with communication at its core. Today’s meeting is just the beginning. I hope everyone will continue to share ideas and collaborate so our youth can find support in parish life, gradually fostering a culture of willing participation and preparing them to be good husbands, wives, and parents.
This is our mission and the true inheritance we should leave behind.
