Blog of Fr. Peter Leung

Press Conference Previews Themes of 5-Day Trip

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE, APRIL 15, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says that it is hard for him to understand how sexually abusive priests could have so betrayed their mission, and promised that the Church will do everything possible to ensure that such a situation never happens again.

The Pope affirmed this today on the Alitalia Boeing 777, “Shepherd One,” that carried him to the United States for an approximate 4 p.m. arrival at Andrews Air Force Base.

Some 70 journalists were on board the flight.

“Really, it is a great suffering for the Church in the United States and for the Church in general and for me personally that this could happen,” the Pontiff said. “If I read the histories of these victims, it’s difficult for me to understand how it was possible that priests betrayed in this way their mission to give healing, to give the love of God to these children.

“We are deeply ashamed and will do all possible that this cannot happen in the future.”

The Holy Father affirmed that the Church must select candidates for the priesthood who are healthy and balanced. He said it is more important to have good priests than to have many priests. “We will absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry,” the Pope added.

The Pontiff responded for about 20 minutes to five questions from the journalists. According to L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican’s semiofficial daily, the interchange gave an inside look into the themes the Holy Father will discuss while in the United States.

Benedict XVI highlighted the eminently religious and pastoral nature of his trip, and his hopes for his meetings with U.S. Catholics and representatives of Judaism and other religions, and with leaders from other Christian confessions. He also mentioned his visit to the United Nations, which will mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Finally, he analyzed the increasing number of Latin American immigrants in the United States. He emphasized that the Church’s challenge is to accompany them with pastoral solicitude, especially aware of the risk their famililes run of being broken apart.

Praises US Model of Faith-Secular State Relationship

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Maryland, APRIL 15, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI was welcomed to the United States today in an unprecedented reception by President George Bush. Bush, accompanied by his wife and daughter Jenna, went to Andrews Air Force Base to receive the Pope — an honor the president has never given to a visiting head of state.

The Holy Father, aboard an Alitalia Boeing 777, called Shepherd One, landed at the base under blue skies around 4 p.m., local time.

He was greeted by 800 students, members of military families, and parishioners from four Washington-area parishes.

During the flight, the Holy Father had a short press conference with some 70 journalists on board.

Responding to their questions, the Pope said that the secular state’s relationship with faith as it exists in the United States is a “fundamental model” that should be imitated in Europe.

The Bishop of Rome praised “the positive concept of the secular” in this country because it exists to give “authenticity and liberty” to the faith.

While the simple arrival ceremony did not include any public addresses, Sergeant Heidi Ortiz of Langley Air Force Base, said she wouldn’t have missed the Pope’s arrival for the world. Having won a ticket to come to the event in a lottery of military personnel, Ortiz told ZENIT that she feels like the Pope is a true representation of Jesus, and that just his presence was enough.

Others who welcomed the Pope were Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the U.S. episcopal conference; Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington; Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Military Services; and the new U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, Mary Ann Glendon.

After the welcome ceremony, the Pope went by car to the residence of the apostolic nuncio, where he will stay until he leaves for New York on Friday.

The Holy Father will start off the day on Wednesday, his 81st birthday, with a private Mass in the nunciature chapel, followed by a morning reception at the White House and a private meeting with the president.

The five-day U.S. trip has the theme “Christ Our Hope” and includes two cities — Washington and New York — a stop at ground zero and an address to the United Nations.

Spokeswoman Expects Leaders to Discuss Shared Values

WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 15, 2008 (Zenit.org).- A White House spokeswoman said President George Bush plans to tell Benedict XVI that millions of Americans have been praying for his visit and that their hearts are open to his message.

Dana Perino affirmed this at a press briefing today in the nation’s capital, just a few hours before the Pope landed at Andrews Air Force Base. Bush and his wife and one of his daughter greeted the Holy Father at the tarmac.

Perino said that when Bush receives the Pope Wednesday at the White House, he will “say to the Holy Father that millions of Americans have been praying for his visit. He will also say to the Holy Father that the nation he will visit is a nation of prayer that welcomes the faithful. He will tell him that the hearts of the American people are open to the Holy Father’s message of hope.

“And he will hear from the president that America and the world need to hear his message that God is love, that human life is sacred, that we all must be guided by common moral law, and that we have responsibilities to care for our brothers and sisters in need at home and across the world.”

Perino characterized the trip as a “wonderful, historic” visit and said that the president and his wife “feel great respect, love and friendship for Pope Benedict. And the White House staff, across the board, we are all very excited.”

Wednesday’s arrival ceremony at the president’s residence will be “one of the largest arrival ceremonies ever held at the White House. And the weather conditions are expected to be spectacular, so that will make it even more special, since this time of year can be dicey in that regard,” she added.

Rights and dignity

The spokeswoman said she expects the president’s address Wednesday to consider some of the areas where Benedict XVI and Bush “have a shared commitment and shared values, such as human rights and individual dignity, their work together to combat extremist ideology, especially in the Muslim world that — obviously, the Pope has been no stranger to criticism by extremists, as well — and so the president and the Pope have shared a desire to work together to combat terrorism.”

Perino also confirmed that Bush is interested in the Pope’s work to establish interreligious dialogue, saying “that’s something that the president welcomes, especially as we are confronting these issues of extremist ideology around the world.”

“I think they will talk about religious freedom,” she added. “They will also probably touch on Africa and the shared commitments that they have for helping the human rights crisis there, helping combat and eradicate disease and hunger, among other issues there in Africa. And I also expect they will probably talk a little bit about Lebanon.”

Iraq

Reminded of the Holy Father’s recent statement that “nothing positive comes from [the conflict] in Iraq,” Perino said she did not expect a prolonged conversation between the two leaders on the issue.

“Well, they have a relationship that is based on trust and they are able to have frank conversations,” she said. “Obviously there was a difference of opinion back in 2003 and beyond, in subsequent years. But now I think that there is an understanding that with the strategy that’s working in Iraq right now, the most important thing we can do is help to solidify the situation, root it into freedom and democracy so that people […] of a religious faith who are minorities in their countries can practice freely and be free from persecution.

“And that is something that they share. I expect them to touch on that a little bit.”

Later Perino said that she expected the leaders to discuss “the root issue of terrorism and extremism,” adding that “the president will thank Pope Benedict for deciding to go and visit ground zero and pay his respects there, and the president thinks that’s a very important gesture.”

Perino further acknowledged that the Holy Father and Bush do not share the same outlook on the death penalty: “And so there’s a place where there’s a divergence. But I would caution you that there is much more agreement between these two leaders than there is disagreement.”

PIME Superior Says Occasion Time for Gratitude and Analysis

HONG KONG, APRIL 15, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions celebrated its 150th anniversary in Hong Kong this week with a thanksgiving Mass.

The missionary agency was begun with the support of Pope Pius IX in 1850. Just eight years later, the first PIME missionaries arrived in Hong Kong, initially working with the few local Catholics and the British soldiers stationed in the colony.

Their missionary work eventually enabled the founding of the Diocese of Hong Kong. Today’s bishop of the diocese, Cardinal Joseph Zen, presided over the thanksgiving Mass.

On the occasion of the anniversary, Father Gianbattista Zanchi, PIME superior-general, sent a letter to the territory’s missionaries.

“From the beginning of its history Hong Kong has always offered great challenges and presented great difficulties to the work of evangelization because of its status as a ‘British colony’ founded primarily for economic and political reasons with a predominantly Chinese population but with the presence of groups of various nationalities,” he said.

“Life was hard [for the first missionaries] and the means at their disposal very limited,” Father Zanchi affirmed. “Life for the brothers who toiled in Hong Kong city or on the mainland required undoubtedly a great spirit of self-sacrifice and constant involvement.

“It was this spirit of theirs, shared by Chinese priests and nuns as well by members of other congregations and missionary institutes, that led to the gradual but worthy creation and development of the Hong Kong Mission so that by 1968 it could be handed over to the local clergy on solid foundations and with good institutions.”

“The celebration of the 150th anniversary of PIME’s presence in Hong Kong must therefore not only be a motive for rejoicing and thanksgiving,” he said, “but should also be an important moment in which to reflect and analyze the current tasks that your local community is called to perform, so that it can pursue them in a renewed spirit and adopt more appropriate methods to meet the challenges that Hong Kong society now has in store for you.

http://zenit.org/article-22303?l=english

(Source: USATODAY.com)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/pope-visits-usa.htm

Pope Benedict XVI is making his first U.S. trip, landing in Washington, D.C., April 15. Over the following six days he will tour the capital and New York, addressing the nation’s 67 million Catholics.

Papal visit provokes array of protests

By David Crary, AP National Writer

Pope Benedict XVI may not see them or hear them, but aggrieved Roman Catholic activists hope his U.S. visit this week will help them draw attention to issues ranging from the ordination of women and gay rights to sex abuse by priests and the Vatican ban on contraception.

Pope visit balances access, security

By Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

When Pope Benedict XVI arrives for a six-day U.S. visit Tuesday, his every public move from “Popemobile” motorcades to stadium Masses will be choreographed according to an elaborate security plan that began taking shape when the trip was announced in September.

Pope visit balances access, security

By Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY

When Pope Benedict XVI arrives for a six-day U.S. visit Tuesday, his every public move from “Popemobile” motorcades to stadium Masses will be choreographed according to an elaborate security plan that began taking shape in September.

Papal visit provokes array of protests

By David Crary, AP National Writer

Pope Benedict XVI may not see them or hear them, but aggrieved Roman Catholic activists hope his U.S. visit this week will help them draw attention to issues ranging from the ordination of women and gay rights to sex abuse by priests and the Vatican ban on contraception.

Pope to avoid election politics during U.S. visit

Organizers of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States next week have taken great pains to keep him out of presidential politics.

No partisan politics for pope in US

By Rachel Zoll, AP Religion Writer

Organizers of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States next week have taken great pains to keep him out of presidential politics.

Popemobile route offers public peek at Benedict

By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY

Pope Benedict XVI will make public appearances in a bulletproof “Popemobile” on two days during his first U.S. visit next week, the Roman Catholic archdioceses of New York and Washington, D.C., announced Tuesday.

Vatican: pope will speak on abuse crisis

By Victor L. Simpson, Associated Press Writer

Pope Benedict XVI recognizes the damage and pain caused by the clergy sex abuse crisis and will seek to heal wounds during his U.S. trip next week, the Vatican’s No. 2 official said Tuesday.

Vatican hopes for healing from sex abuse scandal

Pope Benedict XVI will seek to heal wounds during his U.S. pilgrimage next week, the Vatican’s No. 2 official said.

Pope to visit New York City synagogue

By Verena Dobnik, Associated Press Writer

When Pope Benedict XVI enters a U.S. synagogue for the first time, it will be an emotional encounter between a Holocaust survivor and the German pontiff — bonding over their suffering in the same war.

ASIA/CHINA – The prominent Chinese periodical “Nan Fang Weekly” publishes an article by a learned Chinese man recalling John Paul II on the third anniversary of his death

Rome (Agenzia Fides) – The April 4th issue of the Nan Fang Weekly, a prominent Chinese newspaper contained an article remembering John Paul II on the third anniversary of his death, written by “a learned Chinese man living in the United States of America.” The author remembers the Pontiff as a “very beloved” Pope, who “changed the face of the Catholic religion and of the world.”
Here are some excerpts taken from the article: “Many of our ‘contemporaries’ maintain the position that Christianity is a Western religion. However, the reality is that Christianity is above all a religion of the third world. The face of Catholicism at the Vatican [making reference to the internationalization of the Roman Curia] has changed thanks to the efforts of the great deceased Pontiff who passed away on April 2, three years ago, John Paul II.” “Nowadays it is difficult to define Catholicism as a Western religion. Likewise, it is hard to define Buddhism as an Eastern religion.” “According to statistics, of the over 1 billion Catholics in the world, 490 million are in South America, 120 million in Africa, and 110 million in Asia. That means that 70% of Catholics live in third world countries.” “Over 75% of those baptized in 1998 were from developing countries.” “After so many years, we can finally say that Christianity is our religion.” “In many Western countries, a great number of the Catholics are immigrants from Asia, South America, and Africa.”
“John Paul II, thanks to this great attractive character of his soul, was able to maintain the unity of the Catholic Church, as well as improve relations with Protestants, Jews, and Muslims. Religion is a worldwide phenomena; Christianity is also a worldwide phenomena. And this is the ‘new color’ that this Pope left to the world, so much so that when we refer to religion, we now have a completely renewed vision. Following the principle that one should always draw the line between politics and religion, what can stop us from telling our fellow Chinese Christians, con generosity, that this is our religion and it forms a part of our modern Chinese culture? And in our relationship with foreigners who share this same faith, what is to stop us from saying that this is our religion and that it forms part of our modern culture of global exchange?” (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 11/4/2008; righe 28, parole 390)

http://www.zenit.org/article-22279?l=english 

“Christian Marriage Is Also a Missionary Vocation”

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 13, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the greeting Benedict XVI gave today before praying the Regina Caeli with several thousand people gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

* * *

Dear brothers and sisters,

On this Fourth Sunday of Easter, in which the liturgy presents Jesus to us as the Good Shepherd, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is celebrated. On every continent, church communities are united in invoking the Lord to ask him for numerous and holy vocations to the priesthood, the consecrated and missionary life, and Christian matrimony, meditating on the theme: Vocations at the Service of the Church on Mission. This year, the World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2008 is framed within the perspective of the Pauline year, which will begin next June 28, to celebrate 2,000 years since the birth of the Apostle Paul, the missionary par excellence.

According to the experience of the Apostle to the Gentiles, who the Lord called to be a “minister of the Gospel,” vocation and mission are inseparable. He is, therefore, a model for all Christians, in particular, for the “ad vitam” missionaries, that is, those men and women who dedicate themselves totally to announcing Christ to those who still have not known him: a vocation which continues to maintain all of its validity.

This missionary service is carried out, in the first place, by priests in offering the Word of God and the sacraments, and in manifesting the healing presence of Jesus Christ with their pastoral charity for everyone, above all for the ill, the little ones and the poor. We give thanks to God for these our brothers, who give themselves without reserve to pastoral ministry, sometimes sealing their fidelity to Christ with the sacrifice of their lives, as happened yesterday to two religious assassinated in Guinea and Kenya. To them we direct our thankful admiration, as well as our prayers for their souls.

We pray also that there be an increasing number of those who decide to radically live the Gospel through the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience — men and women who have a primary role in evangelization. Some of them dedicate themselves to contemplation and prayer, others to a multifaceted educational and charitable work. All of them, nevertheless, are united in the same objective: to give witness to the primacy of God over all and to spread his Kingdom in every sphere of society.

Many of them, as the Servant of God Paul VI wrote, “are enterprising and their apostolate is often marked by an originality, by a genius that demands admiration. They are generous: Often they are found at the outposts of the mission, and they take the greatest of risks for their health and their very lives.”

Finally, it mustn’t be forgotten that Christian marriage is also a missionary vocation: The couple, in fact, is called to live the Gospel in the family, in the workplace and in parish and civil communities. In certain cases, moreover, they offer their valuable contribution to the missions “ad gentes.”

Dear brothers and sisters: Let us invoke the maternal protection of Mary for the many vocations that exist in the Church so that they are developed with an intense missionary character. To her, Mother of the Church and Queen of Peace, I also commend the special missionary experience that I will live in the next few days with the apostolic trip to the United States and the visit to the United Nations, as I ask all of you to accompany me with your prayers.

[Translation by ZENIT]

[After praying the Regina Caeli, the Pope greeted the people in several languages. In English, he said:]

I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors here today. This Tuesday I leave Rome for my visit to the United Nations Organization and the United States of America. With the various groups I shall meet, my intention is to share our Lord’s word of life. In Christ is our hope! Christ is the foundation of our hope for peace, for justice, and for the freedom that flows from God’s law fulfilled in his commandment to love one another. Dear brothers and sisters, I ask you all to pray for the success of my visit, so that it may be a time of spiritual renewal for all Americans. Upon each of you present, I invoke the protection and guidance of Jesus the Good Shepherd.

(Source: Zenit, and Libreria Editrice Vaticana)

VATICAN – Benedict XVI asks for prayers “for the many vocations that exist in the Church, so that they are developed with an intense missionary character,” recalling the two religious killed in Africa and commending his apostolic trip to the United States, to the Virgin Mary

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The liturgy of the Fourth Sunday of Easter focuses on Christ as the Good Shepherd and is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. “In every continent, the Church joins in praying to the Lord for many holy vocations to the priesthood, consecrated and missionary life, and to Christian marriage.” The Pope affirmed this on Sunday, April 13, before he led the praying of the midday Regina Caeli with thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
The Pope focused on the fact that this Day is appropriately placed in anticipation of the Pauline Year that will begin June 28, “in celebration of the 2,000 anniversary of the birth of the Apostle Paul, missionary par excellence.” For the Apostle to the Gentiles, “vocation and mission are inseparable,” the Holy Father said. “He becomes, therefore, a model for every Christian, especially for the ad vitam missionaries, that is, for those men and women who dedicate themselves totally to announcing Christ to those who still have not known him: a vocation which continues to maintain all of its validity.”
This missionary service is carried out, in the first place, by priests “in offering the Word of God and the sacraments, and in manifesting the healing presence of Jesus Christ .” The Pontiff encouraged the faithful to give thanks to God for our brothers who give themselves without reserve to pastoral ministry, sometimes sealing their fidelity to Christ with the sacrifice of their lives.” He also remembered the two religious who were killed in Guinea and Kenya, to whom we offer “our grateful admiration, as well as our prayers for the repose of their souls.” The Holy Father encouraged the faithful to pray for an ever-growing number of religious men and women who have a primary role in evangelization.” Although some of them dedicate themselves to contemplation and prayer, while others are dedicated to a multifaceted educational and charitable work, “All of them, nevertheless, are united in the same objective: to give witness to the primacy of God over all and to spread his Kingdom in every sphere of society.” The Pope also pointed out that “Christian marriage is also a missionary vocation: the couple, in fact, is called to live the Gospel in the family, in the workplace and in parish and civil communities. In certain cases, moreover, they offer their valuable contribution to the missions ‘ad gentes.’”
At the end of his address, the Pope invoked the maternal protection of Mary “for the many vocations that exist in the Church so that they are developed with an intense missionary character.” “To her, Mother of the Church and Queen of Peace, I also commend the special missionary experience that I will live in the next few days with the apostolic trip to the United States and the visit to the United Nations, as I ask all of you to accompany me with your prayers.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 14/4/2008; righe 36, parole 486)

http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=13128&lan=eng

VATICAN – World Day of Prayer for Vocations – The Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle supporting 83,767 seminarians in 962 seminaries of the younger Churches

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle, one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies, was founded in Caen (France) in 1889, by Ms. Jeanne Bigard and her mother, Stephanie. The main mission of the foundation is to provide spiritual and economic support to seminaries and religious formation houses in missionary territories. The Society currently offers support to 83,767 seminarians who study in 962 seminaries in mission territory. They also support novices from various religious congregations in their formation.
In particular, the Society maintains: in Africa, 17,110 major seminarians and 213 seminaries; 34,992 minor seminarians and 266 minor seminaries. In Asia, 9,942 major seminarians and 126 seminaries; 14,915 minor seminarians and 200 minor seminaries. In America, 4,418 major seminarians and 90 seminaries; 1,307 minor seminarians and 41 minor seminaries. In Oceania, 441 major seminarians and 12 seminaries; 282 minor seminarians and 6 minor seminaries. In Europe, 193 major seminarians and 4 seminaries, 167 minor seminarians and 4 minor seminaries.
The Universal Solidarity Fund of the Society is maintained by the collections from the faithful all around the world, through the National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies, in order to support the native vocations among the younger Churches that are continuously increasing in number. A large part of the Fund is set apart for “extraordinary grants” for building new seminaries, general maintenance, additions and renovations of structures (as some seminaries were built over 50 years ago), and the formation of the professors. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 11/4/2008; righe 21, parole 247)

http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=13091&lan=eng

VATICAN – World Day of Prayer for Vocations: Message from Benedict XVI: the “missionary dimension is associated in a special and intimate way with the priestly vocation.”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – “Vocations at the service of the Church on mission” is the theme that was chosen by the Holy Father Benedict XVI for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations that will be celebrated on April 13, 2008, Fourth Sunday of Easter, also known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” In his Message on the occasion, the Pope recalled the fact that “The Church is missionary in herself and in each one of her members. Through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, every Christian is called to bear witness and to announce the Gospel, but this missionary dimension is associated in a special and intimate way with the priestly vocation.”
The Holy Father continues, saying: “Among those totally dedicated to the service of the Gospel, are priests, called to preach the word of God, administer the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, committed to helping the lowly, the sick, the suffering, the poor, and those who experience hardship in areas of the world where there are, at times, many who still have not had a real encounter with Jesus Christ. Missionaries announce for the first time to these people Christ’s redemptive love.”
In his Message, the Pope notes that vocations to the ministerial priesthood and to the consecrated life only flourish “in a spiritual soil that is well cultivated,” and he adds, “The Church prays everyday to the Holy Spirit for the gift of vocations. Gathered around the Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles, as in the beginning, the ecclesial community learns from her how to implore the Lord for a flowering of new apostles, alive with the faith and love that are necessary for the mission.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 11/4/2008; righe 20, parole 278)

http://www.fides.org/aree/news/newsdet.php?idnews=13089&lan=eng

資料來源: 公教報

http://www.miraclerosarymission.org/adore.htm

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 10, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today to the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square when he led the praying of the midday Angelus.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Today’s solemnity of Corpus Domini, which in the Vatican and other nations was already celebrated this past Thursday, invites us to contemplate the great mystery of our faith: the most holy Eucharist, the real presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in the sacrament of the altar.

Every time that the priest renews the Eucharistic sacrifice, in the prayer of consecration he repeats: “This is my body & this is my blood.” He does this giving his voice, his hands, and his heart to Christ, who wanted to remain with us as the beating heart of the Church. But even after the celebration of the divine mysteries, the Lord Jesus remains living in the tabernacle; because of this he is praised, especially by Eucharistic adoration, as I wished to recall in the recent postsynodal apostolic exhortation, “Sacramentum Caritatis” (cf. Nos. 66-69).

Indeed, there is an intrinsic connection between celebration and adoration. The holy Mass, in fact, is in itself the Church’s greatest act of adoration: “No one eats this food,” St. Augustine writes, “if he has not first worshipped it” (Commentary on Psalm 98:9; CCL XXXIX, 1385). Adoration outside holy Mass prolongs and intensifies what happened in the liturgical celebration and renders a true and profound reception of Christ possible.

Today, then, in all Christian communities, there is the Eucharistic procession, a singular form of public adoration of the Eucharist, enriched by beautiful and traditional manifestations of popular devotion. I would like to take the opportunity that today’s solemnity offers me to strongly recommend to pastors and all the faithful the practice of Eucharistic adoration. I express my appreciation to the institutes of consecrated life, as also to the associations and confraternities that dedicate themselves to this practice in a special way. They offer to all a reminder of the centrality of Christ in our personal and ecclesial life.

I am happy to testify that many young people are discovering the beauty of adoration, whether personal or in community. I invite priests to encourage youth groups in this, but also to accompany them to ensure that the forms of adoration are appropriate and dignified, with sufficient times for silence and listening to the word of God. In life today, which is often noisy and scattered, it is more important than ever to recover the capacity for interior silence and recollection: Eucharistic adoration permits one to do this not only within one’s “I” but rather in the company of that “You” full of love who is Jesus Christ, “the God who is near us.”

May the Virgin Mary, Eucharistic Woman, lead us into the secret of true adoration. Her heart, humble and silent, was always recollected around the mystery of Jesus, in whom she worshipped the presence of God and his redemptive love. By her intercession may there grow faith in the Eucharistic mystery, the joy of participating at holy Mass, especially on Sunday, and the desire to bear witness to the immense charity of Christ.

Pope Benedict XVI

亞洲/香港 – 每年平均逾四千人領洗進教香港實際教友人數令人關注

香港（信仰通訊社）—據香港教區週刊《公教報》報道，近十年來，香港教區每年近四千人領洗，教友人數激增。今年復活節期間，全港領洗人數達兩千七百人。為此，牧者和信徒認為，全港天主教徒人數應有所上升，推算約為三十萬至三十五萬。根據教區近十年的資料顯示（見下表），每年領洗人數逾四千人（包括成人、兒童和嬰孩）。一九九七年，全港有二十三萬九千多本地天主教徒；二OO七年為二十四萬八千多人。此外，還有約十萬來港當家務助理的菲律賓籍天主教徒。
教區副主教陳志明蒙席於復活節前告訴《公教報》記者，“教區近年推行的戶籍登記系統中。共有三十七萬天主教徒的紀錄。即使估計紀錄中有兩萬人是外遷、移民或離世後沒有通知教區或堂區，現時香港教徒人數共約三十五萬”。他說，”此信徒人數屬初步推算，歡迎其他具相關專業的教徒提供意見”。而三十五萬教徒人數的推算，同樣未包括當家務助理的菲律賓籍教徒。對於依戶籍登記系統推算得的三十五萬天主教徒，比過去一直宣稱的二十四萬八千教徒多出十萬人。為此，陳志明副主教認為，”這是近二十年教徒人數每年遞增的增長人數”。而且，”全港天主教徒人數增多，既反映了近年教會致力福傳的成果，但也顯示出教會有需要加強牧民和培育工作”。
協助推行教友戶籍登記系統的葉嘉安教授認為，部份信徒沒有在戶籍系統中登記，實際的本地天主教徒人數，可能不止於三十五萬。天主教徒葉嘉安，是香港大學城市規劃及環境管理研究中心講座教授。他介紹說，”定期分析有關數據，對教會發展是相當重要的，有助教會安排牧民和培育資源”。教友總會執行秘書關愛華於三月中告訴《公教報》，”近年信徒的福傳意識提升，帶領更多人入教”。所以，她認為六年前本地天主教徒人數已可能超越三十萬。關愛華表示，”培育員要為堂區信徒提供適切關顧服務”。“過去幾年，每年有四千多人領洗，但不是所有教友都慣常上教堂”。為此，就更要求培育員努力維系信徒。未來，”教友總會將多加關懷不常上教堂的信徒，鼓勵他們重返教會”。聖文德堂主任司鐸陳滿鴻神父表示，”梵二後，本地教會的上教堂人數至今改變不大。堂區內有信徒跟教會疏離，這抵消了新領者洗的增長”。陳神父繼續指出，”過去有本地神父的調查發現，半數成年教友領洗後一年，已沒有每周參與主日彌撒”。”教會團體的成長，需要有良好的教友配合”。教理中心主任劉彤萱表示，“近年新領洗人數有所增長，期望教會團體進一步提供更全面的教友培育，以減少流失”。”若單以成人復活節領洗計，每年便約有兩千位新教友加入教會。教友領洗後第三、四年，若搬遷或沒有加入善會，這時候便較容易流失”。為此，談到讓教會健康成長時，她鼓勵培育者和信徒加強祈禱生活。除了全港天主教徒人數外，另一項有用資料是每主日參加彌撒的信徒人數。據八十年代末一項推算．全港每主日上教堂的人數約為八萬人。

據香港教區出版的《天主教手冊》，過去十年領洗人數資料如下：
2007年：4720人
2006年：4288人
2005年：4107人
2004年：3739人
2003年：3655人
2002年：3784人
2001年：3903人
2000年：4116人
1999年：4178人
1998年：4236人
（NZ）（Agenzia Fides 2008/04/08 – 字數：1,276；行數：49）

ASIA/HONG KONG – There are currently 350,000 Catholics in Hong Kong, compared to the 239,000 in 1997

Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) – “The current number of Catholics in Hong Kong is now close to 350,000.” This is what Monsignor Domenico Chan, Vicar General of the Diocese of Hong Kong, told Kong Ko Bao (the Chinese language version of the diocesan bulletin). This past Easter, 2,700 people were baptized in this diocese alone. In the last 10 years, an average of 4,000 people are baptized every year. Among them are adults, children, and newborns. Although many Catholics have immigrated to other countries or have passed away, the number of Catholics in the Diocese of Hong Kong is today close to 350,000, not counting the Filipino immigrants who are another 100,000. In 1997, the year Hong Kong returned to China, the Catholics were 239,000; reaching 248,000 in 2007. According to Msgr. Chan, the increase of Catholics in Hong Kong “is very encouraging, but it is also a challenge for the future.” (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 8/4/2008; righe 11, parole 151)

梵蒂岡 – 教宗在帶領教友頌念天皇后喜樂經前指出”願每一名基督信徒和每一個基督信仰團體，在重溫厄瑪烏門徒們的感受時，重新發現了與復活救主相遇的恩寵”

梵蒂岡（信仰通訊社）—四月六日復活期第三主日，教宗本篤十六世在梵蒂岡帶領聚集在聖伯多祿廣場上的世界各國朝聖者們頌念天皇后喜樂經前，闡述了當日的福音。
本主日的福音，記述了厄瑪烏的門徒與復活的救主相遇的一段：“兩位沮喪而失望的門徒離開了耶路撒冷，到不遠處的厄瑪烏去。……耶穌與他們一起進了家門，和他們一起坐下，拿起餅來、降福了、擘開。這時，他們才認出了耶穌。但耶穌已經從他們的視線中消失了。只留下面對著分開的餅、面對耶穌再次臨在於他們中間的標記而驚訝不已的門徒。他們隨即起身返回耶路撒冷，把在路上發生的事告訴了其他門徒們”。
教宗在講解這段福音時突出強調指出，迄今，尚未明確厄瑪烏的準確地點。由此，”使我們想到，事實上，厄瑪烏代表了任何一個地點：每一名基督信徒，確切地說是每一個人所走的道路。在我們的生活道路上，復活的耶穌始終伴隨著我們；以便在我們的內心重新點燃信德和望德的熱火；分食永恆生命的食糧“。此外，教宗強調了厄瑪烏門徒們的”災難”。其中一人甚至說，“我們原本希望……”。這個過去式的動詞，代表了一切。“我們曾經相信、曾經追隨、希望……。但是，一切都結束了。就連在言行上都展示出是一位強大先知的耶穌也都失敗了，我們也就只有失望了。厄瑪烏門徒們的災難，似乎再現了我們這個時代的許多基督信徒的處境。同樣的信仰，因令人遠離了上主的消極經驗而陷入了危機。但是，這條我們所走的通往厄瑪烏的道路，可以成為凈化和成熟我們在天主內信仰的道路”。
為此，教宗指出，即便是今天”我們也可以在聆聽天主聖言的同時與耶穌對話。即便是在今天，他也為我們分餅、將自己變成了我們的食糧“。最後，教宗又強調，這段福音包含了彌撒聖祭的框架，“第一部分中，我們通過聖經聆聽天主的聖言；第二部分，我們通過聖體禮儀與臨在於聖體和聖血聖事內的基督共融”。所以，我們祈求至聖童貞聖母瑪利亞，”願每一名基督信徒和每一個基督信仰團體，在重溫厄瑪烏門徒們的感受時，重新發現了與復活救主相遇的恩寵”。
（SL）（Agenzia Fides 2008/04/08 – 字數：963；行數：33）

（梵蒂岡電臺訊）教宗本篤十六世四月五日上午接見三百位參與“爲傷口傅油”國際會議的人士，他告訴他們：墮胎和離婚是重大罪過，但是教會必須本著愛心和細 心接近罪人。“爲傷口傅油”國際會議是聖座羅馬拉特朗大學若望保祿二世婚姻與家庭研究學院主辦的，宗旨在討論墮胎和離婚的嚴重問題，以及教會如何對待進行 人工墮胎和離婚者。

在今天的社會中，個人主義和享樂主義到處蔓延，社會越來越缺乏關懷的精神和對有需要者的支持。面對這種生活上的困難， 人的自由往往因著人性的脆弱而做出痛苦的决定，這些决定包括墮胎和離婚。這兩者都是重大的罪過。教宗向覲見他的人士說：“墮胎和離婚的痛苦能够在福音慈悲 的光照中找到安慰，因爲福音之光所照耀的是具體的人和罪人，爲使他們從任何跌倒中站立起來，並他們的創傷獲得痊愈”。

教宗指出教會面對墮 胎和離婚者的態度說：“面對他們，教會的首要義務是懷著愛心、細心、關切之情和母性的關注接近他們，向他們宣報天主在耶穌基督身上所彰顯的慈悲的臨近。事 實上，就如教父們所教導的，真正善良的撒瑪黎雅人就是耶穌基督，他成了我們的近人，他在我們的傷口上傅油上酒，把我們帶到旅棧，也就是教會，接受照顧治 療，把我們托給他的僕人神父們，幷親自事先為我們的痊愈付了賬”。

教宗說明教會對墮胎和離婚行爲的判斷說：“對離婚和人工墮胎，教會的倫 理判斷衆人皆知，那就是嚴重的罪過，傷害人性尊嚴，在人際和社會關係上造成嚴重的不正義，得罪婚姻盟約的保證者和生命的創造者天主。然而，教會效法它的神 聖導師耶穌基督，他面對的都是具體的人，尤其是軟弱無辜的人，這些人是不正義和罪惡的受害者，也面對那些因爲墮胎和離婚而身染重罪的，內心帶著如此創傷的 人，他們設法尋求良心平安與復原的可能性”。

教宗强調，即使心靈最深痛的創傷，也能够在天主慈悲的愛中獲得治愈，他說：“本著天主的慈 悲，教會對人懷著不屈不撓的信心，相信人有能力重振心靈。教會知道，靠著天主聖寵的幫助，人的自由有能力一言定終身地忠實地奉獻自己，使男女緣定終生、不 能拆散的婚姻盟約成爲可能。而且，人的自由也能够在最困難的情况下，有能力做出非凡的犧牲和關懷，以接納新生命的來到”。

http://www.radiovaticana.org/ci1/Articolo.asp?c=197471 

(資料來源: 公教報)

(註: 溫立光不是神父。)

韓國和新西蘭的神師和協調人聯同香港區的神師和代表，在港舉行四天會議。
東亞區區會議約每兩年舉行一次，本年會議議題包括反省團體的靈修祈禱生活和討論新會規的修訂事宜。「我們的會規是三十年前寫成的，溫立光神父於年前退休了，也是個時候要修訂。」來自韓國的神師安利達神父（Edward Whelan）說。
香港區會協調人黃荷馨對本報說，為使會友有機會和遠道而來的嘉賓相聚，特於三月一日假海星堂舉辦新春團拜日，邀請一眾嘉賓出席。當晚除了介紹各團體成員與嘉賓見面外，更準備了餘興，有話劇及唱歌，全部由弱能人士擔任演出。自助餐後，嘉賓們亦各自用自己的方言獻唱，熱鬧非常。
香港區地區神師方叔華神父三月一日對本報說，香港的「信和光」在胡娟的熱心籌畫下，於一九八一年建立。當年胡娟出席法國露德大會回港後，致力協助成立香港的「信和光」團體。現時香港共有四個分會，分別在紅磡聖母堂、海星堂、聖瑪加利大堂和進教之佑堂。「信和光」是一國際性團體，總部設於法國。「信和光」的起源，要追索到一九七一年，當時溫立光神父 (Jean Vanier）在法國露德為弱能人士舉辦集會，有四千個家庭約一萬二千人出席。是次聚會給與會者留下難忘的經歷。為能將是次的美好經驗讓更多人可以分享，便於集會結束後，各地與會者回到自己的地區和國家後，成立「信和光」團體。現時，全球共有一千五百個「信和光」的團體，分佈於世界各地。（阮）

資料來源： 信德網 – （溫長清）溫州教區黃嶼天主堂于2月2日隆重舉行了祝聖開堂典禮，來自教區各堂口約2000餘人參加典禮。由教區朱副主教主祭祝聖剪彩，并有16位神父共祭。該堂區原建平屋僅200餘平米，現不适應目前衆多教友集會祈禱所需，經政府有關部門同意批準拆建，現有面積1500平米，堂面二鍾樓顯示，共三層樓房。一層爲會場，可容納500餘人，二樓爲聖經學習室及辦公室，三樓爲聖堂，共耗資450餘萬元。