Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) – A course on religion and morality in Catholic schools, to offer an integral education and form good citizens is the proposal of the Catholic schools for the new school year. According to a report from the Kong Ko Bao (the Chinese version of the Diocesan bulletin), in order to offer greater possibilities to the students, the courses will be divided into obligatory and optional. Fr. B. Lepeu, head of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Hong Kong, presided the opening of the school year at the Catholic school in Li Jing, which was attended by 8 Catholic school principles and 70 students who have chosen the Religion and Morality course. The courses include moral material, religious tradition (Catholic), and religious experience, and the student must attend at least 270 classes.
According to Sr. Mary Luck Chung, OSF (Franciscan Missionary of Our Lady of Sorrows), President of the Catholic School Council, “the initiative is the result of collaboration between the Catholic schools – religious and diocesan – and Caritas. It will help the youth to receive a complete formation on the meaning of life.” For example, “for the students studying medicine, a moral and religious formation is essential.” According to Catholic school principal Sr. Anita Kwok FMA, “in a society that is super-communicative and into information technology, we need to transmit moral principles to the youth, such as the role of Catholicism in art, and other topics that are of utmost importance. Knowing salvation history, the history of the Church, having moral discernment...these are the basis for an integral formation. We have the duty to bring Jesus to the youth.” Dr. Francis N.K. Chan, Director of the Center for Courses on Religion and Morality, affirmed: “our goal is to form new generations according to integral principles and raise good citizens.” (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 23/9/2009)
