CHANCERY NOTICE

COMPOSITION OF THE DIOCESAN SYNOD

Cardinal John B. WU, having conferred with the Board of Diocesan Consultors, the Council of Priests, the Diocesan Pastoral Council and the Preparatory Committee for the Diocesan Synod, has approved the following composition of the coming Diocesan Synod:

A. The total membership will be around 200 Church members.

B. There will be six categories:

1. Ex officio members - around 25 (see no. 3 of Part 2 of the Instruction on Diocesan Synod, promulgated by the Congregation for Bishops and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples on 19 March 1997).

2. Members elected from among "those who have the care of souls", including all diocesan priests and priests of religious institutes / missionary societies officially appointed to parishes - around 45.

3. Representatives of men religious / missionaries - around 20. The procedure for election is to be decided by the Association of Major Superiors of Religious Men in Hong Kong.

4. Sisters - around 30. The procedure for election is to be decided by the Association of Major Superiors of Religious Women in Hong Kong.

5. Lay people - around 78, as follows:

(a) One representative from each parish - total 58. One member from the parish is to be elected by office-bearers of the parish Council/Parish Pastoral Council during a meeting.

(b) Ten representatives from the Diocesan Commissions and Diocesan Bureaux as listed in the Hong Kong Catholic Church Directory 2000. Each Commission and Bureau elects one representative and these representatives at a meeting on a fixed date elect ten members from among themselves.

(c) Ten representatives from the Associations of the Laity as listed in the Hong Kong Catholic Church Directory 2000. Each Association elects one representative and these representatives at a meeting on a fixed date elect from among themselves ten members.

6. Ten members freely nominated by the Cardinal.

C. The Preparatory Committee will arrange the dates and other details of the elections.

Given at the Chancery Office,

24 December 1999

Rev. Lawrence Lee

Chancellor