Final open forum on synod held

Seven synod groups present

second draft of reports to mixed crowd of laity, clergy and Religious

HONG KONG (SE): The final public forum of the Diocesan Synod drew about 250 people to St Margaret's Church on February 25.

At the forum, each of the seven synod groups presented their reviewed reports and gathered reactions from the crowd of laity, priests and Religious. The groups' second draft reports contained points raised by ordinary Catholics during the first series of open forums on the synod topics held in 2000. Participants were divided up into groups to discuss the seven synod categories and reflect on their reviewed papers.

Directing the forum were: Bishop John Tong, Father Dominic Chan, Dr John Chen and Lina Yan.

Teresa Tsang of Group 1 (Faith Formation of the Laity and Lay Ministry) said some Catholics had suggested that the Diocesan Catechetical Centre be transformed into a “Ministry Support Centre”. Group 1 also proposed that subjects such as spiritual training and inter-personal skills be included in the training of lay ministers and that laity formation for parish council members should be strengthened. It was also suggested that TV and radio be used for evangelisation work.

Paul Yau of Group 2 (Youth and Young Teenage Pastoral Care) said that some Catholics felt youth should be encouraged to have a better attitude towards the church. Catholic schools should better co-ordinate with parishes in pastoral work. Some members of the group, however, said that the proposals in the second draft were too vague and that the diocese should develop a more comprehensive plan regarding pastoral work.

Dr. Chan Kwok-keung of Group 3 (Social Concern) said that some Catholics felt the section on “prophet and the servant" should not be overlooked but promoted. Moreover, the group thought the problem of ageing priests and overworked clergy needed to be urgently addressed.

Purple Kwong of Group 4 (Evangelization) said that members of group 4 had questioned the real meaning of the Gospel on Evangelization and whether it was attractive enough.

Louise Wong of Group 5 (Marriage and Family Pastoral Care) said that in general people today have more liberal views on pre-marital sex and co-habitation. Group 5 suggested that a Diocesan Commission for Marriage and Family Pastoral Care be set up but that its relationship with its counterpart on the parish level should be clearly defined. Sunday school classes should be organised according to age and that the curriculum for each age group should include subjects on marriage formation.

Sister Mary Lucy Chung of Group 6 (Education and Culture) reported that the group had suggested training in Catholic education for 'front line' Catholic teachers be strengthened. Another proposal was that Catholic schools should further promote holistic education and promote the role of spiritual directors in schools in order to ensure a truly a Catholic 'spirit'.

Father Peter Leung of Group 7 (Vocations and the Continuing Formation of Priests) said that there should be a mechanism to monitor the performance of priests.

In conclusion, Father Dominic Chan said that all the groups would now concentrate on their final reports. It is hoped, he said, that the each group will have completed their final reports by November 2001. The final synod report will then be presented to Cardinal John Baptist Wu as a Christmas present.