HONG KONG (SE): The diocesan clergy of Hong Kong gathered together to listen, discuss and discern the approaches “Towards a Synodal Community of Faith” during the annual study camp held at the Holy Spirit Seminary from January 9 to 11. In his opening remarks on January 9, Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., reminded the clergy that discerning a community’s mission is crucial for building up a synodal Church.
Cardinal Stephen pointed out that the key to living out the spirit of synodality is a strong sense of mission, which can, in turn, help to develop unity and encourage participation in a community. “When we know the mission of every parish, every diocese, every group and every congregation, when we know clearly or discern what our mission is, then we will continue to think about what to do, how to fulfil our mission and how to participate,” the cardinal said.
He said he understands that many do not fully know the meaning of a synodal Church and wonder if there is a model way. “The model way is to discern together. That is why we have to learn how to make conversations in the Holy Spirit, and the basic element of it is to listen to one another, to share and to discern together. This is a basic skill. It is only with this skill that we can discern our mission and talk about our participation,” he explained.
“Every diocese has different ways to live out synodality in the Church as they face different situations, culture as well as social needs… There is thus no definite answer,” he said.
He told the priests present that the discernment starts with themselves as well as members of lay communities. “We also need to help them to start to discern. They need the support of the clergy, without which it will be difficult to work together,” he said, reminding them to be careful not to discourage anyone in the process.
The cardinal said he believes having a mission is especially critical for youth communities because without a mission, young people are more likely to feel bored, and if they see that what they can make a difference in the lives of others, they will feel especially motivated. He urged them to be united to form a Church with vitality, which can give the faithful a purposeful life and mission and help to create a better world.
The three-day camp was structured to provide a combination of listening, experiencing, and discussing. Representatives of two social action groups and a church restoration group shared their experiences of mobilising their communities to participate in reaching out to the most needy in society.
We also need to help them to start to discern. They need the support of the clergy, without which it will be difficult to work together
Cardinal Stephen
In his presentation, Deacon Stephen Kwok described the Little Sheep Fold Community Centre, an initiative of the Mother of Christ Church, Sheung Shui, established in 2021 in response to the difficulties faced by low-income families due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Alice Ong Kwan-fung, the representative of the Diocesan Working Committee for “Following Thy Way”, shared about the project of tracing the footprints of pioneering missionaries in Hong Kong. The committee was established in 2018 for the restoration, conservation and management of the historic chapels of the Diocese of Hong Kong on the Sai Kung peninsula.
Eddie Chan Chi-kong, director of MercyHK spoke about the generous support and contributions from people across Hong Kong for the cause of the poor, living in the margins. The MercyHK group is based in Temple Street, supporting the homeless, drug addicts, foreign domestic workers and other marginalised people.
Vanessa Cheng Siu-wai, a participant of the Synod on Synodality in Rome, moderated the panel discussion. During the second day, the participants visited one of the three project sites in order to gain a deeper understanding of their activities.
Members of the clergy and representatives from Caritas were also invited to share how they work towards a synodal community of faith through communion, participation, and evangelisation. Father Timothy Wan and Claretian Father Jojo Ancheril spoke about involving the people of the locality to participate in the life of the Church and how they overcome challenges, and what their synodal experiences are like in their parishes.
