Macao (Fides Service) – Christians in Macao started the Week of Prayer for the Unity of Christians with an inter-confessional meeting. Organised by the local Catholic and Anglican Churches, the meeting was held on Sunday 18 January at the Baptist College in northern Macao where people are mostly immigrant workers recently arrived from mainland China. The event was led by the young people. Boys and girls of all ages led prayers and reflections on the theme: "May young people be illuminated with the Spirit of Christ in order to live as true Christians in the world today”. Tangible during the prayers, a profound longing for unity among all Christians in Macao and in the world
Speaking to the Macao press about the event, Rev. Pedro Chung Chi Kin, Catholic vicar general, and Anglican priest Rev. Michael Poon, the organisers, underlined the difficulties encountered. In fact only 13 of the 60 different Christian communities present in Macao accepted the invitation to participate. Nevertheless there is great determination to continue to work for unity and this is seen in the growing number of initiatives to promote understanding and acceptance. Small but concrete steps on the path to reach the full unity and fulfil the desire of Christ for all to be one. (S.L.) (Fides Service 20/1/2004; lines 16; words 223)