HKSE: HK Pastoral Letter for Advent 2014
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Robert Carbonneau
Dec 10, 2014, 4:32:04 PM12/10/14
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Hong Kong Sunday Examiner
http://sundayex.catholic.org.hk/
Pastoral Letter for Advent 2014
Dear brothers andsisters in Christ
Wishing you the peace of Christ! The season of Advent is upon us, when the Church marks the beginning of a new liturgical year! People may wonder: what new directions should the Church take in the new liturgical year?
During the celebrations of the universal Church marking the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II, at the end of last year the Diocese of Hong Kong launched a Year of Learning to run throughout 2014.
The pastoral focus of the year was to provide an opportunity to review the documents of Vatican II, as well as coming to a deeper knowledge and understanding of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
In October 1965, the recently beatified Pope Paul VI signed and promulgated the Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life (Perfectæ Caritatis), one of the 16 documents of the Second Vatican Council.
In 1996, Pope John Paul II, who was canonised a saint this year, issued the apostolic exhortation, The Consecrated Life (Vita Consecrata).
At the end of last year, Pope Francis declared a Year of Consecrated Life to be celebrated throughout the world from 30 November 2014 to 2 February 2016.
I have adopted the valuable suggestions made by the Board of Diocesan Consultors and decided to celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life in the diocese together with the universal Church.
A task force, with Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing as chairperson, has been set up. It will plan and promote activities concerning the consecrated life for the whole year.
We thank God for the gift of great love that the diocese has received through the members of religious institutes for both men and women over the past 170 years. Through their sacrifice and cooperation, the diocese has developed a good foundation on which to continue to grow.
There are 14 religious institutes of men and 28 of women, as well as two secular institutes currently working in the diocese. At present, their numbers continue to increase.
In the Year of Consecrated Life, I sincerely hope that all our brothers and sisters, as well as religious communities and parishes, will respond enthusiastically to the activities planned by the diocese. In this way, we will deepen our faith and promote vocations to the priestly and consecrated life, as well as develop the evangelical dimension of our diocese.
Let us pray for one another, and may God bless you,
John Cardinal Tong Hon
Bishop of Hong Kong
21 November 2014,
The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lady
http://sundayex.catholic.org.hk/
Pastoral Letter for Advent 2014
Dear brothers andsisters in Christ
Wishing you the peace of Christ! The season of Advent is upon us, when the Church marks the beginning of a new liturgical year! People may wonder: what new directions should the Church take in the new liturgical year?
During the celebrations of the universal Church marking the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II, at the end of last year the Diocese of Hong Kong launched a Year of Learning to run throughout 2014.
The pastoral focus of the year was to provide an opportunity to review the documents of Vatican II, as well as coming to a deeper knowledge and understanding of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
In October 1965, the recently beatified Pope Paul VI signed and promulgated the Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life (Perfectæ Caritatis), one of the 16 documents of the Second Vatican Council.
In 1996, Pope John Paul II, who was canonised a saint this year, issued the apostolic exhortation, The Consecrated Life (Vita Consecrata).
At the end of last year, Pope Francis declared a Year of Consecrated Life to be celebrated throughout the world from 30 November 2014 to 2 February 2016.
I have adopted the valuable suggestions made by the Board of Diocesan Consultors and decided to celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life in the diocese together with the universal Church.
A task force, with Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing as chairperson, has been set up. It will plan and promote activities concerning the consecrated life for the whole year.
We thank God for the gift of great love that the diocese has received through the members of religious institutes for both men and women over the past 170 years. Through their sacrifice and cooperation, the diocese has developed a good foundation on which to continue to grow.
There are 14 religious institutes of men and 28 of women, as well as two secular institutes currently working in the diocese. At present, their numbers continue to increase.
In the Year of Consecrated Life, I sincerely hope that all our brothers and sisters, as well as religious communities and parishes, will respond enthusiastically to the activities planned by the diocese. In this way, we will deepen our faith and promote vocations to the priestly and consecrated life, as well as develop the evangelical dimension of our diocese.
Let us pray for one another, and may God bless you,
John Cardinal Tong Hon
Bishop of Hong Kong
21 November 2014,
The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lady
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