Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) – The celebration of World Mission Sunday in the Diocese of Hong Kong will focus on the sharing of the mission by priests and laity, and encourages priests to be faithful to their mission, especially after the recent celebration of the Year for Priests. According to reports from the Kong Ko Bao (the Chinese version of the diocesan bulletin), Msgr. Dominic Chang, the Diocesan Vicar, announced that “the diocesan celebration of World Mission Sunday will be held Sunday, October 17 at the stadium in Hong Kong. The Bishop of Hong Kong, Bishop John Tong, will preside at the solemn celebration along with all the diocesan priests." In the general context of this time in which we are living, in which the priesthood is often questioned or even under fire, the Diocesan Vicar said that "we also want to encourage priests, as a follow up to the message of the Year for Priests, centered on the fidelity of priests."
Bishop Chang then said that "the diocese is also celebrating the Year for Priestly Vocations. Thus, the priests will renew their vows during the ceremony of World Mission Sunday to reaffirm their choice of vocation." The newly baptized of this past Easter were also invited to the celebration, "so as to celebrate the fruits of evangelization. The offertory procession will be composed of faithful from different countries, as a sign of the plurality of the single Body of Christ, the Church." The Diocesan Vicar hopes that "all participants will now live out the spirit of evangelization, bearing witness through their life." During the celebration of October 17, there will also by an official announcement of the Diocesan Year of the Laity in 2011 as "evangelization is the best way to live out the Year of the Laity." (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 11/09/2010)
