2023年將臨期牧函
成為共議同行的天主子民

「吾主上主的神臨到我身上，因為上主給我傅了油……宣布上主恩慈的喜年」。（依撒意亞先知書61:1a, 2a）

主內親愛的姊妹弟兄：

今年的將臨期來得稍晚一點，但由這個充滿期待和希望的節期經已來臨。感謝天主，我們總是有具體的理由抱持希望。我們作為教會和子民結伴同行時，可以心懷希望期待著厄馬奴耳的應許逐漸展現在我們面前。

我們要明白，教會不只是關乎聖統制。根據梵蒂岡第二次屆大公會議的教導，「天主子民」的概念包括了平信徒、修會會士和神職人員，它是教會非常基本的特質。我們天主子民是受傅者，洗禮時便領受了基督徒的尊嚴（《教會憲章》，第 2 章）。對，受傅和尊嚴——作為天主子民的尊嚴，以基督為首成為一個身體。

我們尊嚴的另一個幅度關乎使命。因著我們的洗禮，我們分擔了天主在世的使命。這使命並不複雜、不用研究多年才會明白。它關乎天主所愛和恩待的眾生，回看禧年免除債務的教導便可得知（肋未紀 25:10-11；依撒意亞書49:8）。這是免受被罪奴役的自由，讓我們恢復蒙召時的身份——天主子民。

以上這一點特別有意思，因為現今世界無疑是沉浸在仇恨、暴力和破壞當中。眾多心靈都變得躁動不定、迷茫，甚至想報復。我們需要平安和希望。我們需要好消息。簡言之，我們需要天主！

平安和希望從哪裡開始？從我們自己開始，使我們的內心和意念皈依，成為福音的真正信徒。天主的恩惠臨於我們、上主的受傅者身上。把這些應用到本地處境當中，我們作為在香港的天主子民，不但可以把好消息帶給本地人，還可以透過數碼媒體把好消息傳遍整個世界。

作為天主子民，我們被召喚成為共議同行的教會。 「共議同行」（Synodality）是我們的使命，要向人們見證作為夥伴的意思，並蒙召在天主永恒的愛內一起朝著我們的共同終向走去。在天主的愛內，我們可以得到真正的平安。有意思的是，共議同行既是一項使命，也是一個向社會和世界傳遞天主眷顧的方法。

因此，為要去履行共議同行的使命，我們就必須先被培育成為共議同行的天主子民。在去年的將臨期牧函中，我提到有需要為聖職人員、修會會士和平信徒——特別是我們的年輕人——提供知識和靈性上的培育。我們仍然有賴信仰小團體和禮儀，支持我們學習和實踐如何成為共議同行的子民。

要廣泛培育大家認識最近世界主教代表會議所採納「在聖神內交談」的方式，它會幫助建立一個聆聽和分享的群體。我們要學會成為懂得尊重和具備同理心的聆聽者，以及真誠的分享者，好能在群體內建立信任。 「愛情不可是虛偽的……應與喜樂的一同喜樂，與哭泣的一同哭泣。」（羅馬人書 12:9, 15）

然而，我們幾乎可以肯定，大家的意見不會時常相匯。可以預期分歧衝突會帶來張力。那麼，我們該如何應對這些張力呢？

比較好的方法是，不要趕急地或輕率地去除張力，因為弱勢者會有著被迫妥協的危險。重要的是，要學習如何托由分歧而來的張力，同時著眼於相通處或共同點，以幫助我們共同前進，這會更為可取。

我們蒙召成為共議同行的子民，好見證與我們同行的天主的大愛。我們透過以同理心傾聽那些遭受傷害和痛苦、幻滅、絕望和教會內的邊緣人士的聲音，與他們同行，為他們提供某些援助，就是給他們提供了見證和希望。我們知道無法解決他們的問題。但可以透過與他們同行，成為夥伴，與他們分享天主的恩惠。

最後，教宗方濟各早前公布2024年為「祈禱年」，聚焦於《我們的天父》（《天主經》），為2025年「希望的朝聖者」禧年做好準備。願天主父的和平、公義與仁愛的國度，在我們致力成為共議同行的天主子民時，逐漸臨現於世。願天主的恩惠在「祈禱年」與你們同在！

＋周守仁樞機
香港教區主教
2023年將臨期

Advent Pastoral Letter 2023
Becoming A Synodal People of God

“The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me…. To announce a year of favour from the Lord” (Isaiah 61:1a, 2a)

My dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

Advent comes a little later this year, but the season of anticipation and hope is here. Thanks be to God that we always have a solid reason for our hope. We anticipate with hope the promise of Emmanuel to continue unfolding before us as we journey together as a Church and a people.

It is important for us to understand that our Church is not just about the hierarchy. The concept of “the People of God,” including laity, religious and clergy, is very much an essential character of the Church according to the Second Vatican Council. We are the anointed People of God with the dignity received at our baptism (Lumen Gentium, Ch. 2). Yes, anointing and dignity — the dignity of being the people of God, forming as one body with Christ as its head.

Another dimension of our dignity is its connection to mission. By virtue of our baptism, we share the mission of God in the world. The mission is not so complex that it requires years of studies to comprehend. It is about God’s favour for all God’s loved ones, recalling the jubilee year of release from debts (Leviticus 25:1011; Isaiah 49:8). That is freedom from the slavery of sin that enables us to be who we are called to be — the people of God.

This is particularly meaningful as our world today is unmistakably immersed in hate, violence, and destruction. The hearts of many have become unsteady, confused, and some have even become vengeful. We need peace and hope. We need good news. In short, we need God!

Where to start for peace and hope? With ourselves so that our hearts and minds are converted and become true believers of the Good News. The favour of God is on us, the anointed ones of God. Applying this to the local context, we as people of God in Hong Kong can bring the Good News not only to the locals, but to the entire world through the digital media.

As a people of God, we are called to become a synodal Church. “Synodality” is our mission, witnessing to others what it means to be companions, called to journey together to our common destiny in God’s eternal love. In God’s love, we can have true peace. Synodality is, interestingly, both a mission and a means to communicate God’s favour to our society and the world.

Hence, in order to carry out our synodal mission, we must first be formed into a synodal people of God. In my last Advent Pastoral Letter, I announced the need for intellectual and spiritual formation for clergy and religious, and lay people — especially for our young people. And we will still rely on small faith communities and liturgy to support our learning and realisation as a synodal people.

Large-scale formation for the “Conversation in the Spirit” adopted by the recent assembly of the Synod of Bishops will be necessary to build a listening and sharing community. We must learn to be respectful and empathic listeners, as well as sincere sharers, to build trust within the community. “Let love be sincere…. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:9, 15)

However, we can almost be certain that our opinions will not always be converging. Tensions arising from conflicting divergences should be expected.  So, how do we treat these tensions?

The better way is not to handle tensions quickly or haphazardly, for the danger of compromising the weaker parties is real. More importantly, learning how to hold tensions generated by divergences, while focusing on the convergences or commonalities for helping us to move forward together is more desirable.

We are called to be synodal people and witnesses of the love of God who journeys with us. By intentionally listening with empathy as companions to those suffering from hurts and pains, disillusionment, hopelessness, and marginalisation within the Church, and by providing some form of relief, we give witness and hope to them. We know that we cannot solve their problems. But we can share with them God’s favour through our companionship and journey with them.

Finally, Pope Francis recently announced 2024 as the Year of Prayer with a focus on the “Our Father.” Its objective is to prepare for the Jubilee Year for the Pilgrims of Hope in 2025. May the kingdom of God the Father with peace, justice, and charity be a growing reality in our efforts to become a synodal people of God. And may God’s favour of the Year of Prayer be with you all!

+ Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J.
Bishop of the Diocese of Hong Kong
Advent 2023