Texts of the synod that highlight the need for Catholic higher education in Hong Kong Catholic Educators

Catholic educators should live up to a profound faith and spread the Gospel by both precept and example. Schools should encourage and subsidize them in continually pursuing religious studies, biblical studies, moral education, catechism, pastoral care courses, etc.

The Catechetical Centre, Catholic Biblical Institute, Holy Spirit College of Theology and Philosophy and other diocesan institutions should offer more short-term, year-long or credit-bearing programmes and courses in theology and philosophy or courses for the teaching of catechism to meet the needs of teachers.

Schools should provide Catholic teaching and non-teaching staff with opportunities for spiritual development and formation. This will help them to instil the Christian spirit into their teaching and administrative work and their daily life so that their good example may have an edifying effect on the students. Schools should arrange spiritual activities for Catholic staff on a periodic basis, including annual retreats, gatherings of small Christian communities (which ought to be established within the school for Catholic staff), biblical sharings, etc. Schools can also invite non-Catholic staff to join these activities.

Establishment of a Catholic University and Community Colleges

The Diocese should develop a Catholic university on the foundation already laid down by Caritas Francis Hsu College and the College of Theology and Philosophy of the Holy Spirit Seminary. With a mission to develop students into persons imbued with the Christian spirit of love and service, the Catholic university will not only provide the faithful with a holistic faith formation and turn out good teachers for Catholic schools, but will also assume the important responsibility of evangelizing the intelligentsia in Hong Kong and the whole of China.

In response to the lifelong learning campaign in Hong Kong, community colleges should be launched as soon as possible. With a flexible admissions policy, such colleges will provide young students and working adults with opportunities for further studies. They should offer extensive extra-mural courses to enrich the spiritual and cultural life of the faithful and the public.