Bishop Joseph ZEN, SDB, has appointed/reappointed the following to be Deans for a two-year term, effective 15 October 2003: (1) HONG KONG EAST DEANERY Rev. Philip CHAN Tak-hung (in place of Rev. Joseph MAK King-hung) (2) HONG KONG SOUTH-WEST & ISLANDS DEANERY Rev. Joseph LEE, SDB (3) (3) EAST KOWLOON DEANERY Rev. Giorgio PASINI, PIME (in place of Rev. Ferdinand BOUCKHOUT, CICM) (4) CENTRAL KOWLOON DEANERY Rev. Paul VALLAT, MEP (in place of Rev. Henry NG Kwok-po) (5) SOUTH-WEST KOWLOON DEANERY Rev. John B. TSANG Hing-mun (6) NORTH-EAST NEW TERRITORIES DEANERY Rev. Francis LAU Tak-kwong (7) SOUTH-WEST NEW TERRITORIES DEANERY Rev. Edward YU Fook-min (8) NORTH-WEST NEW TERRITORIES DEANERY Rev. Franco CUMBO, PIME (in place of Rev. John KWAN Kit-tong) II. INTRODUCING THE YEAR OF EVANGELIZATION In order to encourage the faithful to take an active part in the Year of Evangelization (Mission Sunday 2003 – Easter 2005) as one of the top priorities set by the Diocesan Synod, Bishop Joseph ZEN, SDB, is asking all parishes to adopt”Year of Evangelization” as the main theme for Masses on 26 October this year (30th Sunday of the Year). In particular, this can be done through the homily, faith sharing and parish announcements. Reference materials will be provided by the Preparatory Committee for the Year of Evangelization. III. ALL SOULS DAY (2 November, Sunday) Religious services for the commemoration of all the faithful departed will take place at three Catholic cemeteries as follows: St. Michael’s Cemetery, Happy Valley, Hong Kong: Rev. Joseph Mak will officiate at 3:00 pm. Holy Cross Cemetery, Chai Wan, Hong Kong: Rev. Andrew KIM, KMS, will officiate at 3:00 pm. St. Raphael’s Cemetery, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon: Rev. Stanislaus Loh, SDB, will officiate at 3:00 pm. Notes: (1) The Persons-in-Charge of the above cemeteries and the Parish Priests in whose territories the cemeteries are located are requested to provide all necessary requirements and assistance for the eucharistic celebration on 2 November. (2) A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, is granted to the faithful who fulfill the conditions (either on the same day that the indulgenced work is performed, or within about 20 days before or after the indulgenced work) of confession, Holy Communion and prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions (such prayer may be fulfilled by reciting one Our Father and one Hail Mary), and who – (i) devoutly visit a Catholic cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed on any day from 1st to 8th of November, OR (ii) piously visit a church or oratory on 2 November and recite one Our Father and the Creed during the visit. IV. GUIDELINES ON PARTICIPATION OF PARISHES AND CHURCH ORGANISATIONS IN ELECTION ACTIVITIES To help parishes and Church organisations (diocesan institutions, Catholic schools, Catholic social centres, etc.) to take an active part in the second District Council Election of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region on 23 November 2003, Bishop Joseph ZEN, SDB, has promulgated the following diocesan guidelines: (1) In keeping with the social teachings of the Catholic Church (cf. Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, no.75; John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on the Vocation and the Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World, no.42; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter on the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum, nos.46-47), the faithful should take part in the elections under the guidance of their Christian conscience and with the enlightenment of the Gospel. Before voting, they should assess the personal qualities and platform of each candidate. They should avoid a narrow-minded outlook and a choice based on self-interest. Instead, they should have a comprehensive examination of the positions of the candidates. In other words, they should, on the one hand, take into consideration the various issues facing our local society and the various needs posed by the common good, and, on the other hand, scrutinise the personal integrity of the candidates, their scale of values, their philosophy, their talents and weak points, the way they go about their business, their sense of responsibility, their past contribution to the local community and Hong Kong society at large, as well as their political stance. (2) Parishes and Church organisations should exhort the faithful to pray for just and fair elections, and to fulfil their civic obligation and exercise their civil right by registering as electors and taking an active part in voting and in standing for elections. In choosing responsible and capable candidates, the faithful will contribute towards building up our society and enhancing the well-being of the human family. (3) In order that the faithful may receive adequate formation, parishes and Church organisations should, as far as possible, organize talks and seminars on the social teachings of the Catholic Church, on the political system of Hong Kong and on social analysis. To enable the faithful to become acquainted with the candidates and their platforms, it is fitting for parishes and Church organisations to take the initiative to organise election forums attended by all the candidates concerned. Other members of the local community may be invited to all the above activities. (4) With the permission of the Parish Priest or the Head (person with proper authority), the premises of a parish or Church organisation may be used for election forums at the request of the candidates. This availability should be open to all candidates concerned, but may not be reserved for particular candidates or political parties/groups. The premises of social centres or social service units run by the Catholic Church may also be used for other electioneering purposes, provided they are made available to all candidates or political parties/groups concerned. If it has been decided to allow a particular candidate to hold an election forum or conduct other electioneering activities in the aforementioned premises, other candidates concerned should be informed and given the opportunity to do the same, so that no unfair advantage will be accorded to or obtained by any candidate over others. (5) With the permission of the Heads, election advertisements may be made available or displayed in social centres or social service units run by the Catholic Church. Such materials may be made available in the premises of other Church organisations or parishes with the permission of the Heads or Parish Priest, but they may not be displayed, except during the periods when election forums are being held. The same principle of fair and equal treatment for all candidates applies here [see no. (4) above]. With the permission of the Parish Priests or Heads, election materials printed by the Government may be made available or displayed in the premises of all parishes or Church organisations. The contents of the election advertisements of candidates made available or displayed in premises under the Catholic Church do not necessarily represent the position of the Catholic Church. (6) Lest the mission of the Church to preach the Gospel be misinterpreted (cf. Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, no.76; Encyclical Letter on the Hundredth Anniversary of Rerum Novarum, no.47), parishes and Church organisations may not publicly, either directly or indirectly, lobby for or endorse any particular candidate or political party/group in the name of an organisation of the Catholic Church, by way of opposition or support. (7) Clergy and religious, like other citizens, should fulfill their civic obligation by registering as electors and by taking part in voting. However, they should avoid causing misunderstandings about their role as representatives of the Church, and should refrain from exercising their religious authority in the political field, in which they have neither special authority nor professional knowledge. Accordingly, they may not stand for elections, nor may they in their own name or as a group, publicly, either directly or indirectly, lobby for or endorse any particular candidate or political party/group, by way of opposition or support. (8) Apart from the foregoing guidelines, the faithful are also required to follow the”Guidelines on Election-related Activities in respect of the District Councils Elections” (with 19 chapters), issued by the Electoral Affairs Commission on 22 September 2003 and available at District Offices, the Registration and Electoral Office and the website for the 2003 District Council Election (http://www.elections.gov.hk). (9) Catholic schools have to comply with the following specific guidelines - (i) Any principal or teacher who wishes to stand for elections must give a prior undertaking in writing to the School Management Committee that he/she will continue to perform his/her normal duties efficiently notwithstanding that he/she might be engaged in campaign activities or the performance of additional responsibilities consequent upon his/her election. Where applicable, prior approval for “Outside Duties" under the respective Code of Aid (1994 edition) for Primary Schools [no. 61(b)], Secondary Schools [n. 60(b)] and Special Schools [no. 70] must be obtained. (ii) With regard to Catholic schools, the”Head" mentioned in nos.(4) and (5) above refers to the”School Management Committee" concerned. (iii) No student, staff personnel or school facilities may be utilised for the campaign or promotion activities of any particular candidate or political party/group. (iv) Catholic schools should also comply with the “Guidelines” of the Electoral Affairs Commission [see no. (8) above], Chapter 12: “Electioneering Activities Conducted in Schools or Participated by School Pupils”. (10) In case of doubt regarding the interpretation or observance of the foregoing diocesan guidelines, the Chancery Office should be consulted. Given at the Chancery Office, 13 October 2003. **************** Parish Priests and the Heads of Church organisations are asked to post the foregoing diocesan guidelines on noticeboards for public information. Given at the Chancery Office, 13 October 2003. Rev. Lawrence LEE Chancellor |