By Father Paul Kam Po-wai
The annual retreat for the clergy of the diocese took place from November 10 to 14 this year, with the theme, “Disciples of Jesus, Missionaries of the Kingdom of God.” The spiritual advisor was Bishop Josep Maria Abella Batlle, a Spaniard who currently serves as the bishop of the Diocese of Fukuoka in Japan. Over 50 clergy took part in the retreat, including Cardinal Stephen, Cardinal Tong, and Bishop Ha.
It is a beautiful thing for brothers to put aside their heavy work, pause, and sit together in prayers, gratitude, learning, reflection, and shared life. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” [Psalm 133:1]
For those of us engaged in pastoral work and the mission of evangelisation, it is crucial to establish a deep relationship with the Lord and remain in communion with our bishop. Only in this way can we respond fully to the Lord’s call and sending. Therefore, our daily prayer life, the celebration of the Eucharist, monthly retreats, and annual retreats are all essential.
While I know many fellow priests cherish personal spiritual practices, gathering as brothers and living and praying together also holds great importance and extraordinary value.
This retreat was deeply enriching and prompted me to reflect further on the gathering of brothers and communal life:
“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit” [Luke 10:1].
“Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves” [Luke 10:3].
“The 72 returned rejoicing, and said, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name’” [Luke 10:17].
The spiritual advisor reminded us that we are sent into the world to evangelise, like lambs among wolves, facing many challenges and difficulties. We must return to God’s Word and enter the world illuminated by it. He emphasised that he believes the 72 not only joyfully reported back to Jesus, but also shared their experiences with their brothers. This reminds us that in fulfilling God’s mission, we must not only be accountable to the Lord, but also engage in conversation with our brothers—learning, listening, and exchanging ideas.
The Eucharistic celebration, in which we give thanks, is the centre of our daily lives and shapes our daily direction. The Eucharist is a communal sacrament. We celebrate the same Eucharist in different places, at different times, and in different languages—forming the basis for unity and communion within the entire Church, the body of Christ.
Bishop Batlle mentioned that we should experience the joy of brothers gathering together, as community is a gift given by God—a precious gift. Within the community, each person becomes a sacrament to others, reflecting the Father’s infinite love for his children. The community is a new symbol of the Kingdom of Heaven, representing the new relational dynamics established when people centre their lives around the Kingdom.
In community, we tangibly learn the significance of being part of Jesus’ discipleship group. The community makes us more human and prepares us to stay close to others—especially those who need warmth and companionship in order to live with hope. Within the community, we are called to live out the core of the Christian faith: the mystery of love. Devoting ourselves to the Christian community that accompanies us is a vital need in our pastoral work.
Thanks be to the Lord for allowing us to gather as brothers, to pray, to communicate, and to continue our commitment to pastoral work and evangelisation through the mystery of love.
