ASIA/HONG KONG - Bishop Tong to new graduates of the diocesan Seminary: “Make good use of your talents and commit yourselves to evangelization”

Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - “Make good use of your talents and commit yourselves to evangelization”, is the recommendation by Bishop John Tong of Hong Kong, during the ceremony for the conferral of the degree by the diocesan Holy Spirit Seminary. According to reports from Kong Ko Bao (the Chinese version of the diocesan bulletin), the ceremony was held on 28 November in the parish Church of St Benedict. Of the 26 new graduates, three are from the faculty of theology, six are from the philosophy faculty and 17 from the faculty of religious sciences. Among them were seminarians, deacons from the Diocese of Hong Kong, Jesuits, Salesians, and also the lay faithful. According to Bishop Tong, “the Seminary aims to form future priests and also the lay faithful, because the greater involvement of laity in the life of the Church promotes the full development of the Church itself.” Expressing his sentiments and hopes for the new graduates, he summarized in three words the mission that awaits them: “wonderful, difficult, possible.” He also said that he was very pleased that Christian formation takes place in the diocese, especially with the opening of the Seminary to the laity with the faculty of religious sciences, and he recognized the commitment and hard work of the lay people who, like marathoners, continued with their studies for four years, without neglecting their work and family. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 10/12/2010)