Agenzia Fides

Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - Being a happy Catholic, to evangelize with a smile, passing on the joy of being Christians, awaiting the Year of Faith: are the recommendations of the Bishop of Hong Kong, the newly-elected Cardinal John Tong, addressed to the Annual Assembly of the Association of Lay Catholics in Hong Kong. According to reports from the Kong Ko Bao (Chinese version of the diocesan bulletin), during the Assembly, which was held on March 1 at the Center of Santa Croce, Cardinal Tong stressed the great increase of baptisms last year, encouraging all to a continuous evangelization and renewal of faith. In addition, Cardinal Tong gave the missionary mandate to the new leadership of the Association of Lay Catholic, who will serve until 2014. According to the new director of the Association, "the promotion of evangelization and faith formation are our priorities, to help the faithful to live the Year of the Laity and to welcome the Year of Faith." Today the Diocese of Hong Kong has 356,000 faithful, equivalent to 5% of the population. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 16/3/2012)