The Hong Kong Diocesan Synod elected the final members of the Synod infra-structure at the plenary session held in the auditorium of the Catholic Diocese Centre on April 8.
Hong Kong Diocesan Synod right on schedule
HONG KONG (SE): The Hong Kong Diocesan Synod members held their second plenary session on Saturday, April 8th in the auditorium of the Catholic Diocese Centre on Caine Road. The Synod is now entering the second phase of its operation.
The first plenary had been held on Saturday, March 4th during which Cardinal John B. Wu, bishop of Hong Kong, officially convoked the Synod.
At that time, a questionnaire had been handed out for the members of the Synod to comment on and prioritize possible topics. They were allowed a month for this task after which Cardinal Wu chose seven areas of concern that the Synod would discuss. All Synod members were then polled as to their interests in reference to these and seven committees, roughly equal in number, were set up to consider and draw up a first action draft for each area of concern.
The seven areas are as follows: (1) the faith formation of the laity and lay ministry; (2) youth and young teenage pastoral care; (3) social concerns -- servant and prophetic roles; (4) evangelisation ad gentes; (5) marriage and family pastoral care; (6) education and culture; (7) vocations and the continuing formation of the clergy.
Each area of concern will be discussed in committee for three months at the end of which time the first action draft must be ready.
The April 8th plenary assembly also completed the work of setting up the infra-structure of the Synod with the election of three lay vice-chairpersons, four scrutineers who will oversee future voting and four recorders who will oversee the production of official minutes.