In a homily delivered during a Mass celebrated at the Hong Kong Mission Sunday on October 17, Bishop John Tong expressed regret and was embarrassed by the scandalous news concerning clergymen in Hong Kong. The bishop said that he believes that we have to acknowledge our human weakness and added, "It is my hope that this will prove to be a purifying experience in Hong Kong diocese." He requests the support and prayers for the priests from the community of Catholic followers.

His speech was received in a positive manner by the media as transparency and recognition of one's faults is a wise administration practice.

In the routine of our daily lives, we inevitably make mistakes as due to our feeling of pride, it results in a lot of unnecessary disputes.

Recently I was appointed as the Chairperson of the HK Diocesan Ecumenical Commission. In December, there will be two international meetings and we need to send representatives to participate. During the process of delegation, naturally there will be different views. As the Chairperson, I have the full authority to deal with it, but the key is that I have to learn to listen with humility.

This weekend I am going to Singapore to give sermons to the local Chinese community. I went to the same place to visit Bishop Jose Lai Hung-seng around thirty years ago. At that time he was still a priest. When he was teaching biblical knowledge in the local school, many non-catholic students already knew how to live out "God's Holy Words" as their living model.

Please pray for the Chinese community in Singapore, so that the seeds of the gospel can produce a life influenced by Christianity.