HONG KONG (SE): “Every time we have a meeting, we feel the witness of the unity of the Church. Our hope is that through this meeting for frontline workers working with youth or serving them, we can pass on the spirit of unity to the next generation,” says Father Joseph Chan Wing-chiu, chairman of the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission, at an ecumenical gathering of youth pastoral workers on March 18. The gathering gave a chance for pastoral workers in both Churches to share their experiences and renew their faith so that they could be better involved in their missions.
The gathering was organised by the Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission, the youth committee serving in the diocese of Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui and the Diocesan Youth Commission of the Catholic Church.
It was attended by Bishop Matthias Clement Der Tze-wo of the diocese of Hong Kong Island of the Anglican Church, as well as a number of religious persons and around 20 youth from both sides who are involved in youth pastoral work.
Father Chan, as a member of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission, also said the active participation of Bishop Der and other Anglican pastors in the gathering was a good witness for the close relationship between the two denominations.
Father Chan told the Sunday Examiner that he was full of hope about ecumenism as the confrontation among denominations decades ago has gradually developed into a spirit of cooperation, as proved by various ecumenical activities recently. The commission also organised a Passover meal on March 30 to promote communication
Every time we have a meeting, we feel the witness of the unity of the Church. Our hope is that through this meeting for frontline workers working with youth or serving them, we can pass on the spirit of unity to the next generation
Father Joseph Chan
Bishop Der, on the other hand, reminded those present that the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church have a long history of a close relationship, as shown by a pastoral ring given by Pope Paul VI to the then Anglican Primate, Michael Ramsey, on 23 March 1966, during his historic visit to Rome, and such spirit of unity facilitated the establishment of the commission in 2001, and the meetings of Pope Francis with leaders of the Anglican Church in the Vatican.
Those present were encouraged to act as yeast to bring the spirit of unity to other regions and people.
Holly Mok Ching-yee, executive secretary of the Catholic Diocesan Youth Commission, said the spiritual gathering is the first of three activities for the year. The participants plan to take part in a spiritual ecology encounter at the Holy Spirit Seminary, Aberdeen, in September, in which Bishop Der and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing will join. Later at the end of the year, a spiritual ecology camp will be held at the Precious Blood Spiritual Garden in Fanling.
Mok said the gathering in March was part of the plan to organise the ecumenical ecology camp, after the communities had a similar activity in the Diocesan Youth Day a few years ago. While preparing for it, we discovered that both of us deal with various challenges as youth pastors. So we thought it was good to start our cooperation with a spiritual activity first before working together,” she said.
She recalled that participants had a meaningful morning as they had a spiritual conversation session at the Xavier House and then reflected in a labyrinth in Hong Kong’s Sheng Kung Hui (Anglican) House of Prayer in Cheung Chau. In the afternoon, they shared their experiences in youth services, their thoughts and feelings. The gathering ended with vespers led by the Anglican community.
“It was a beautiful experience of unity because although we work in different Churches, the traditions of spirituality, or the challenges we face, are in fact, very similar. We have a strong feeling of journeying together through prayers and sharings,” Mok said.
