I. APPOINTMENTS

Bishop Joseph ZEN, SDB, has approved the following appointments and transfers:
Rev. Terrance MASCARENHAS, SVD, ceases to be Assistant Parish Priest in St. Mary’s Parish, Hunghom, Kowloon, effective 6 July 2003; he will take a vacation leave and will then be given a new appointment.
Rev. Giorgio PASINI, PIME, ceases to be Parish Priest of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Yuen Long, New Territories, effective 21 July 2003; he will take a vacation leave and will be appointed Parish Priest of St. Andrew’s Parish, Tseung Kwan O, Kowloon, effective 10 August 2003. Rev. Eugene A. ARCO, CICM, will cease to be Parochial Administrator of St. Andrew’s Parish as well as Assistant Parish Priest on 10 August 2003; he will be given a new assignment by his own Superior.
Rev. Luigi CANTONI, PIME, Assistant Parish Priest in the above-named St. Andrew’s Parish, effective 1 September 2003.
Rev. Vincent F. CORBELLI, MM, ceases to be Assistant Parish Priest in St. Jerome’s Parish, Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long, New Territories, effective 28 July 2003; he will be appointed Parish Priest of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Yuen Long, New Territories, effective 1 September 2003.
Rev. Ferdinand BOUCKHOUT, CICM, Parish Priest of the above-named St. Jerome’s Parish in place of Rev. Anselm LAM Wing-kwan, who will take a study leave abroad. Effective 10 August 2003.


II. PASTORAL GUIDELINES IN VIEW OF THE REMOVAL OF HONG KONG FROM THE LIST OF SARS-INFECTED AREAS

Introduction
The World Health Organization (WHO) removed Hong Kong from its list of SARS-infected areas on 23 June. Let us thank God that in our distress we have learnt to trust Him and to love and care for one other. Let us especially thank God for raising our awareness of social responsibility and community concern, and for calling our attention to environmental protection and the significance of personal and public hygiene.
We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to the healthcare workers for their dedication and self-sacrifice. Their spirit of unfailing service under all circumstances is a fine example to everybody.
We pray for those who have died of the viral pneumonia, and for the wellbeing of humankind. Let us commit ourselves further to mutual care and support.
We are deeply grateful to God for the gift of Life, a heavenly gift ever to be treasured. In the future we should show more concern for our neighbours, particularly for the sick and the needy. It is also necessary that we constantly reflect on the ultimate goal of our life with faith, hope and love, put our faith into practice and assume a positive outlook on life.
Although Hong Kong has been removed from the WHO list of SARS-infected areas, the Diocese still deems it necessary (until further notice) for parishes to observe the following provisional pastoral guidelines as preventive and safety measures, as recommended by medical professionals:
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1. Hygiene within the
Church Premises
1.1 No need to wear masks while participating in liturgical functions and the sacraments.
1.2 Keep doors and windows open for the maintenance of good ventilation.
1.3 Regularly cleanse and disinfect the Church floor, furniture such as prie dieux, the Reconciliation Room, especially the screen, and the toilets, using diluted household bleach (i.e. adding a part of household bleach to 99 parts of water), rinse with water and then mop dry.

2. Mass
2.1 For their own safety and that of others, members of the faithful who feel unwell or show respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, difficulty in breathing, or fever, need not attend Sunday Mass. However, in this case, they should practise other forms of piety, such as reading Scripture, saying the rosary or other prayers.
2.2 Holy water may be provided at the Church entrance, but it should be changed weekly and always kept clean.
2.3 The practice of individual faithful placing small bread into the ciborium before Mass may be resumed. However, chopsticks or another instrument should be used, to avoid direct contact of the hand with the bread.
2.4 Liturgy booklets and hymnals may be used in the church. However, they should be kept clean as far as possible.
2.5 The microphone equipment in all its forms should always be kept clean (They should be cleansed with alcohol after each Mass).
2.6 To keep their hands hygienic, Sunday collections should for the time being be taken up from the faithful after the “Postcommunion”.
2.7 The Sign of Peace should for the time being be expressed by bowing heads, instead of shaking hands.
2.8 As a temporary measure, all members of the faithful are to receive Holy Communion only in the hand, and not by the traditional method.
2.9 Holy Communion may be given under both species, the Body and the Blood of Christ. However, only a small portion of the Blood of Christ should be used. The faithful should be reminded to refrain from touching the Blood of Christ with their fingers.
2.10 All priests and Eucharistic ministers should individually cleanse their hands with water or disinfectant before giving Holy Communion.
2.11 If by chance a consecrated host drops onto the floor, it should be picked up by a Eucharistic minister who stands by, to be disposed of properly afterwards, without being given to any faithful.
2.12 Take care of hygiene in cleansing chalices –
a. The minister who consumes the Blood of Christ should himself cleanse the chalice with water and drink it. He should not ask someone else to do it for himself.
b. The chalice should then be washed with tap water before reuse.
c. Purificators should be changed after each Mass and washed before reuse.
2.13 Blessing of children should take place after giving Holy Communion. Laying of hands may be used for blessing.
2.14 All liturgical ministers should wash their hands before and after the Liturgy. Their liturgical vestments and other uniforms should be washes regularly.

3. Visitation and Giving Holy Communion to the Sick and the Elderly
3.1 Priests, Eucharistic ministers and visitors should obtain permission from the authorities of hospitals or homes for the aged before visiting the sick and the elderly or anointing them or giving them Holy Communion.
3.2 Priests and Eucharistic ministers may resume regular home visits and give Holy Communion to the sick or the elderly at home. However, they should immediately wash their hands after visitation. They should change their clothes when they are back home and should cleanse them with care.

4. Sacrament of Reconciliation
4.1 Confessionals and reconciliation rooms may be used, provided they are always kept clean and well ventilated.
4.2 A confessor or penitent who has flu or shows respiratory symptoms should put on a mask.

5. Others
5.1 The diocesan fund-raising campaign in support of frontline healthcare workers has come to a conclusion, now that Hong Kong is removed from the WHO list of SARS-infected areas.
5.2 To foster the spirit of charity and community concern, priests and lay people should always pay attention to hygiene within church premises and maintain good personal and public hygiene.
5.3 The faithful are urged to continue praying for public health and thanking God for His fatherly care.

Given at the Chancery Office,
23 June 2003.




Rev. Lawrence LEE
Chancellor