HONG KONG (SE): Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing has urged people to pray and fast every Friday during this summer holiday in intercession for the present crisis in Hong Kong caused by the now-suspended extradition bill.
 
In a July 12 interview with the online youth forum, Boiling Point, the bishop encouraged people to pray for the city’s young people and to journey with them during the months of July and August. 
 
He urged young people to also pray during the summer; the time when they need to rest and recover physically and spiritually.
 
Bishop Ha said prayer is important because communicating with God, telling him our feelings and listening to his Word can bring us succour in this time of crisis. 
 
“Prayers bring us back to the foundation of our faith. They remind us and confirm to us that we are the children of God, who is the source of human dignity and moral strength,” the bishop said, adding that in prayer we can find hope, mutual support, love, justice and real peace.
 
Bishop Ha stressed that spending time in prayer can give us strength to seek justice and build up peace. “Prayers may not change the external environment but it can help us build up a strong and positive mind,” he said.
 
He also encouraged people to engage in charity work to strengthen their communication with and trust in God.