HONG KONG (SE): The Diocese of Hong Kong submitted its report on its synodal priorities to the Vatican on May 5.
The report, prepared by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Ching-shing OFM, and Cardinal Stephen Chow S.J., brought together the sharing and discernments of seventeen councils, associations and groups from the diocese who participated in the process. These included the Diocesan Curia, the Council of Priests, the Diocesan Pastoral Council, the Association of Major Superiors of Male Religious Institutes and Congregations and the Association of Major Superiors of Female Religious Institutes and Congregations, migrant workers, principals of diocesan secondary schools, the Hong Kong Catholic Commission for Labour Affairs, the Marriage Issues Group as well as the eight deaneries of the diocese.
The Curia went through a discernment process to choose three proposed priorities deemed particularly relevant to Hong Kong, out of 20 from the three parts of the Synthesis Report from the first session of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality held last October at the Vatican.
These were sent to each group of participants prior to their sharing sessions, along with the “Possible Worksheet” of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences.
Using the synodal method of conversation in the Spirit during their sharing and discernment process, each group chose their own three priorities out of the 20 in the Synthesis Report—one for each of the three parts.
I think they are totally sensible … We need to have the different groups in the diocese—laypeople, religious, clergy—understand what synodality is about; being a synodal Church
Cardinal Stephen
These were then collated and the top three priorities that emerged are: Synodality: Experience and Understanding; Women in the Life and Mission of the Church; and A Synodal Approach to Formation—which is important for new converts, clergy, young people and laity in general.
In its report, the diocese said that it “endorses the priority of promoting experience and understanding of synodality for the clergy, religious, and laity.”
It went on to say, cTogether with the increasing role of women in our Church in the management of the diocese, the Church will need to learn how best to respect and honor our sisters in their synodal role. In order to better assume these two priorities, proper formation of our clerics and religious, young people and laity for a synodal Church is simply a must.”
Speaking to the Sunday Examiner on May 14, Cardinal Stephen said he was not surprised at all, saying, cI think they are totally sensible,” adding, “We need to have the different groups in the diocese—laypeople, religious, clergy—understand what synodality is about; being a synodal Church.”
He is happy about the proposed priority to encourage the participation of women in the administration of the Church. “Our people of God here see that women should have more involvement, and not just at the grassroots.…grassroots is important, we are not trying to downplay the grassroots, but they should have more say at other levels,” the cardinal said.
Together with the increasing role of women in our Church in the management of the diocese, the Church will need to learn how best to respect and honor our sisters in their synodal role. In order to better assume these two priorities, proper formation of our clerics and religious, young people and laity for a synodal Church is simply a must
“For the legal framework and the ecclesiastical structures, the Church will need to revisit them to see how to make that possible,” he continued.
He gave an example where in a diocesan consult women are not included on a regular basis because at the moment this should come out from the Council of Priests, or from the Curia unless it has women, but he stressed that those are not regular posts unless changes are made.
“Yes, technically I can co-opt women members on an ad hoc basis, but not an established basis,” the cardinal explained. He added, “I think it would be better if Canon Law would allow a regular presence of women in diocesan consults and other areas—not the Council of Priests for different reasons.”
Cardinal Stephen said he is also glad to see that the synodal method of Conversation in the Spirit has given the Church an opportunity to learn how to listen and how to give feedback. “This is already one way of helping the Church to move on in a synodal fashion; we need to listen to each other. And it’s going to permeate in the Church here. But it is not going to be a quick process,” the cardinal said.
However, he sees that in the places he has visited and the groups he has met, people are getting more accustomed to this method of sharing and discernment. “It’s a good sign,” he said.
I can envisage that after Pope Francis has issued his letter, we will have diocesan synod ourselves, or something equivalent to that
The cardinal pointed out he does not think that the Church will experience radical changes right after the second session of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality in October, even though the journey toward a synodal Church has started.
He observed that we would have to wait until after the October assembly for Pope Francis to issue something, perhaps by 2025, that will really set the tone.
However, Cardinal Stephen said that the Diocese of Hong Kong will not wait until then to do anything. He noted that the synodal process has been ongoing since 2021.
cI can envisage that after Pope Francis has issued his letter, we will have diocesan synod ourselves, or something equivalent to that,” the cardinal said, to “study, understand and have more substantial feedback” concerning decisions made for the diocese.
He remarked that whatever the universal Church decides, “Each diocese, each area or region, you have your own context and you need to adapt to your own context.”
The cardinal explained that a diocesan synod would be about “how to understand the document, the theology, the direction and how to contextualise this for Hong Kong.”
Cardinal Stephen reiterated that a synodal Church does not mean a uniform Church. “It’s not about uniformity, it’s travelling together. We need to learn the art of travelling together yet respecting differences and plurality,” he said.
“Hong Kong people are pragmatic,” the cardinal observed, adding, “We will try to see what is synodality, how is it beneficial, how is it good? And we will try to do what is good, what is beneficial for us in the spirit of synodality with the Universal Church.”
