Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) – “The world today is in urgent need of evangelization. And of Catholic laity to assume their responsibility as evangelizers. So, when the call comes, respond and go out to the mission!” These were the words of Bishop John Tong, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Hong Kong, in encouraging the Catholic Laity Association in the Mass held in honor of their 50th anniversary, on September 21. According to a report from Kong Ko Bao (the diocesan bulletin in Chinese), Bishop Tong used the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope John Paul II, Christifideles Laici, in order to point out the importance of the mission of the laity: evangelization, participation in the parish, helping priests, solidarity, charitable works, catechism, and various services...
The Association’s spiritual guide, Father Liu De Guang said: “after 50 years of service, we should be working for a collaboration effort among Catholics and parishes. The laity should be very active in the life of the Church. We should make it known that the Association is for all Catholic laity.” In the celebration for the 50th anniversary, some of the lay members have also shared their experience: “we have carried out a role of coordination. Many times, the parishes are not prepared for managing such a great evangelization effort. So, it is up to us. We can coordinate all the parishes and do things together, as we have done in the past.” In fact, in the days beforehand, they organized an encounter with the Legion of Mary and with the respective parishes, in order to re-launch the Association and re-launch their evangelization effort, in light of Christifideles Laici. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 02/10/2008)
