It is Advent season—a time of hope, expectation, and preparation for the coming of Christ. It is also a time when countless victims have been affected by wars across the globe, which have unforeseeable consequences. For us Christians, Advent is a time to reflect on the past, present, and future and to renew our commitment to living a life of faith amid the planet’s suffering.
This season of Advent also begins in the context of the recently concluded Synod on Synodality, as well as the 28th Conference of the Parties [COP28] to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change [UNFCCC] that takes place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 30 November to 12 December.
Pope Francis, who was scheduled to attend the opening of the COP28 conference in Dubai from December 1 to 3, has decided to cancel his trip on the advice of his doctors. The pope, in honour of his namesake, St Francis of Assisi, has made caring for creation a hallmark of his pontificate and has repeatedly reminded people that actions speak louder than words. As the Church begins its new year with Advent, the climate conference is a reminder to plan our year ahead for climate action.
We might consider it a coincidence that COP28 happens at the beginning of the Advent season, but God leaves nothing to chance. Can this climate conference deliver the message of hope that Advent is all about for a world plagued by crises?
For the Church in Hong Kong, December 4 also marks the second episcopal anniversary of Stephen Cardinal Chow. In less than two years, Pope Francis also created him a cardinal on 30 September 2023.
In the context of the Church’s mission to walk together, listen to one another, and discern God’s will, the Synod on Synodality has meanwhile provided us with an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of Advent. The final document of the synod reminds us that we are all on a journey together for greater “co-responsibility” in the evangelising mission of the Church. The document provides a road map for this journey, highlighting the importance of caring for the poor and migrants, the importance of digital media in evangelisation, and the need for a renewed emphasis on synodal style and mentality.
The idea of synodality, as outlined in the synodal process, takes that idea of lay people as protagonists in evangelisation and asks what practical application this should have when considering how the laity and hierarchy work together. In his Advent Pastoral Letter 2023, Cardinal Stephen addresses this issue and reminds the faithful, “It is important for us to understand that our Church is not just about hierarchy.”
His pastoral letter also focuses on the search for peace and hope, calling our attention to the Church’s mission to bring these messages to our homes, to Hong Kong society and to the whole world via digital and other media.
As a participant of the synod in Rome in October, the cardinal draws the faithful’s attention to our vocation “to be witnesses of the love of God and to bring hope to those suffering from hurts and pains, disillusionment, hopelessness, and marginalisation within the Church, and by intentional listening and providing some form of relief.” jose, CMF
