Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - “The local families who hosted the young people and all the participants at 4th Asian Youth Day gave a wonderful testimony of hospitality, availability and faith” said Bishop Leo Cornelio of Khandwa, India and Bishop Moses Costa of Dinajpur Bangladesh were among the bishop participants at the 4th Asian Youth Day held in Hong Kong.. The Bishop was addressing the local community at the end of the major church event held from 30 July to 5 August. The hosting Bishop of Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen also voiced gratitude and appreciation for the great effort made by the parishes and local families to make the event a success, according to Kong Ko Bao Hong Kong diocesan bulletin. Bishop Leo Cornelio and Bishop Moses Costa were offered accommodation by families whereas four other Bishops stayed in parish houses. The Bishops said they had communicated easily in English and that the local people had been very kind and helpful. They found the small Catholic community in Hong Kong very devout and anxious to take part in the life of the Church and “they young people were wonderful”. The bishops shared local family life, prayed with the hosting family, sat on the floor and played and watched television with the children.
During the closing ceremony of the 4th Asian Youth Day the Final Declaration was read aloud in English by 9 representatives of about 800 young people from 25 different countries. The statement said that young Asian Christians must strive to be messengers of hope in situations of poverty, migration, political disorder, natural and environmental disasters. Family members are encouraged to share and communicate, to pray together, to help the ‘seeds of faith’ grow. The statement lists five recommendations: Recommendations: We urge the local Church: To help and support our young people in their faith journey and prayer life. Conduct echo programmes on the theme of "Youth, hope of Asian Families" to help youth become "hope givers" in their families.To develop youth friendly parishes utilizing appropriate processes for reflection and inputs to inspire young people to strengthen family relationships. To use the internet effectively to provide assistance and guidance to young people who look for 'answers' while surfing the net.To simplify the social teachings of the Church so as to make them more readable and widely known to the youth.. (Agenzia Fides 01/09/2006 Righe: 37 Parole: 406)
