Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - "Priests should always have their heart and feelings conformed to those of Christ." This was the conviction expressed by participants in the seminar organized by the Diocese of Hong Kong on September 25, which was dedicated to the relationship between the priesthood and society today. According to reports from the Kong Ko Bao (the Chinese version of the diocesan bulletin), some 60 priests, religious, and laity of the diocese took part in the seminar, sharing all the challenges that a secular world of constant change presents to the priesthood: the administrative and social commitments of priests, the relationship between priests and faithful, the recent scandals involving some priests, etc. All the participants confirmed a positive opinion about the pastoral work done today by the priests in the diocese, also offering some useful proposals.
According to Msgr. Michael Yeung Ming Cheung, Vicar of the diocese, "priests must be firm in faith and charity. They are not just names, but are in fact priests, who show their love for the Lord in service to the faithful. Moreover, in a world full of temptations of consumerism and secularism, priests must face the challenges with ongoing spiritual formation."
Fr. Thomas Kwan Tsun Tong stressed that between the priests and faithful there is a reciprocal pastoral relationship, geared towards overcoming loneliness and spiritual deviation, "what priests need are not gifts or fine words, but solidarity and communion." Some lay faithful also described what they were looking for in a priest. According to one of them, "the priest's image and behavior also help in the promotion of priestly vocations." For another participant, "their thousand tasks should not be an excuse for priests not to find the time to listen to the faithful or preside the recitation of Lauds or Vespers. The faithful would prefer to see a priest who refuses a social commitment to lead the Rosary or Vespers." (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 05/10/2010)
