Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) – Cambodia and Africa are becoming the goals for evangelization formation for young Catholics in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong diocese, religious missionary institutions active in Hong Kong, and the Association of Lay Catholics have together launched a project to train lay people, especially young people, abroad. The course would run from January 31 until May 30. According to reports from the Kong Ko Bao (the Chinese version of the diocesan bulletin), each month has a specific theme such as: various calls to the mission, the Church's missionary commitment, the mission of St. Paul, and an awareness of different religions. The project encourages young people to go to Africa or Cambodia, where the diocese has missionary contacts, sending the diocesan priests and lay people as missionaries.
According to Fr. Paul Kam Po Wai, the first diocesan priest in Hong Kong to have done missions in Africa, "this project helps young people to increase awareness of their missionary responsibility." During the meeting on the project, held in recent days, Fr. Franco Cumbo PIME said that "all these years of mission in Hong Kong, we have always focused on local evangelization, but now we want to develop and promote the mission abroad" as a province of the PIME in Hong Kong. "Our missions in other Asian countries are ready to welcome these young people," added Fr. Cumbo. Moreover, the priest also shared his missionary experience: "There is no reason to be afraid. I consider the mission in Hong Kong as a grace. Today's young people must listen to the Lord and He will make them happy for sure." Also, the first lay missionary in Hong Kong, who went to do missions in Zimbabwe, shared his experience and confirms that "evangelization has completely transformed me." (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 26/03/2010)
