ASIA/HONG KONG - New Cardinal Zen tells delegates of Catholic parishes and associations: “parishes must give more attention to the formation of the laity”

Hong Kong (Fides Service) - “Difficulties and scarcity of funds must not prevent us from restructuring the diocese’s system of formation which must be simplified and made more effective” said Bishop Joseph Zen of Hong Kong, to be made a Cardinal in Rome this week. The Bishop was speaking to delegates of parishes and diocesan associations about the need to improve formation programmes all over the diocese and to simplify the office for lay formation. According to Hong Kong’s Catholic bulletin Kong Ko Bao , Bishop Zen said: “We intend to intensify our efforts in the sector of formation and consolidate awareness of this task in parishes. Moreover all the diocesan structures should see the formation of laity as a duty for which all must assume responsibility. Catholic Lay Associations are called to assume a role of medication among all the members of the community”. (Agenzia Fides 21/03/2006 Righe: 21 Parole: 214)