Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - “The sacrament of marriage: before marriage, after marriage, pastoral questions and marriage” was the theme of the second day of a Seminar for diocesan priests in Hong Kong held 2 - 4 January to revise the diocesan Pastoral Handbook. According to the diocesan bulletin Kong Ko Bao the priests discussed the sacrament of marriage, the life of the priest, parish pastoral work, parish administration, the sacrament of the Eucharist and Christian Initiation. Priests and deacons in Hong Kong are giving special attention to pastoral care of married couples, this being the Diocesan Year of the Family.
Diocesan chancellor Fr Lee Len Lawrence, said: “special pastoral care is need to face a concerning situation of increasing numbers of: weddings celebrated because the wife is pregnant, couples living together before marriage, mixed marriages….”. Between September 2006 and August 2007 a total number of 1,174 weddings were held in the diocese of Hong Kong and 80% were mixed marriage. Rev Xie Jiang Cheng, “there are weddings for interest, to obtain state housing…the couple have little or no preparation and therefore pastoral for marriage is a priority in our diocese”. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 21/1/2008 - righe 19, parole 228)
