天主教香港教區周守仁主教

2022年四旬期牧函

【疫情下的祝福 — 超越自我，患難見真情】

執筆草擬這份四旬期牧函時，香港錄得超過六千宗新型冠狀病毒病確診個案，破了過往的紀錄，而確診個案在接下來的日子預計也會有明顯的上升。因著政府減少社交聚集的措施，教區亦宣布暫停開放舉行公開彌撒的聖堂和小堂，甚至曾經要求要在聖堂或小堂以外的場地舉行網上彌撒。這是我們首次需要採納如此嚴謹的措施，實在令人遺憾。

其實，是我批准教區秘書處發出通告的，當時我心情沉重。對於姊妹弟兄在這困難時刻，卻未能進入聖堂祈禱或朝拜聖體以求內心安寧，那份失落，我感同身受。我同樣感受到，身邊人們沉重的焦慮、他們深感無助，疑問著：疫情何時才會結束？我們何時才能重拾「正常」的生活─若然這一天終會來臨的話！

疫情下我們面對著種種誘惑，可能怪責天主不出手去平息這場疫症；由於未能遏止這場令人惱怒的疫情，我們變得沮喪，又或只能無助地等待情況轉差。要避免陷入以上的各種誘惑，我們還有甚麼選擇？

教宗在今年的四旬期文告中，選取了這段聖經經文：「我們行善不要厭倦；如果不鬆懈，到了適當的時節，必可收穫。所以，我們一有機會，就應向眾人行善。」（迦6:9-10）

這是怎樣的收穫？這收穫就是我們在此世生命之後，由聖神獲得永生賞報的應許（迦6:8），它超出我們的認知和想像。若然沒有這應許，我們對未來的展望便會變得非常暗淡，當然，我們也不能忽視往後疫情會帶來的沉重打擊。然而，永生賞報這應許，能夠給予我們希望和力量，走出這場部份是因爲我們當中的恐懼、猜疑、自私、政治考量等等，所造成曠日持久的疫情風暴。

懷著對這收穫的盼望，我們才有力量繼續行善。我們要幫助社交群體拉近彼此距離，把「小我」提升為「大我」——即公益。這個大我是要擁抱長者、患病、體弱和貧苦大眾。目前，香港有不少長者仍未接種新冠疫苗，眾多市民失去工作，離世者在彌留時沒有親人相伴，我們可以如何幫助人們重拾希望和尊嚴呢？

在政府推出措施紓民解困的同時，我們也蒙天主召喚，善待鄰人，為他們送上護佑和援助，分享我們持守的希望。但如何去落實呢？可以去接種新冠疫苗，除非醫生認為因健康理由而不適合接種。可以鼓勵更多長者，在健康情況容許下接種疫苗。外出時要繼續戴好口罩，著重個人衛生。為有需要的「鄰人」提供靈性、情緒和物質方面的援助。探訪和陪伴那些孤獨或獨自面對生活困境的人。

與此同時，我也呼籲政府在今波疫情放緩後提供更多人道的方便，容許至親探訪安老院舍的長者及醫院內的重症病人。過去兩年，政府的政策以院舍隔離保護了這些長者和病人。可是，他們的情緒和心理健康卻大受影響。請以慷慨和愛心，盡辦法幫助他們。

四旬期是我們深入反省自身陰暗和罪惡傾向的時刻。然而，我們要知道是天主先愛我們。我們是罪人，但天主仍深愛著我們。只要明白這一點，我們對於自己的悔改和皈依，便會有著堅實的信念，為「小我」和「大我」一同指向末世的賞報，堅持不懈地以愛心行善服務鄰人，特別在這個深深令人困擾的時刻，以建設一個更美好的世界。雖然今年的聖灰瞻禮我們不大可能領受聖灰， 我們也可以活出四旬期的悔改精神 – 超越自我，患難見真情。

四旬期也是邀請我們祈禱的時刻。為我們自己的皈依、為我們的教會、為我們鍾愛的香港能夠成為一個團結的社群、為我們的國家以至整個世界祈禱。我們不知道這場疫情何時才會結束，但我們能夠盡力行善，把天主的愛傳遞給香港的更多群體，特別是那些被忽略和弱勢的社群。我們祈求這場疫情不單只是一場悲劇，最終也是一份掩飾著的祝福。讓我們不要低估祈禱的力量，也不要對聖神藉著我們所作的努力失去希望！

主佑香港及全世界！

＋ 周守仁
香港教區主教
二零二二年二月十七日

Bishop Stephen Chow, S.J.,
Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong

Lenten Pastoral Letter 2022

【Blessings Under the Pandemic –
Loving Beyond Ourselves Through Adversity】

As I am drafting this Lenten Pastoral Letter, Hong Kong is reported to have reached a new record of over 6,000 confirmed positive Covid-19 cases. The highest level so far, and the number is expected to increase substantially. Due to the government’s new measures to curtail social interactions, we had announced a temporary closure of all churches and chapels used for public worships for a while. It was advised not even to conduct online Mass at these venues. Regrettably, this was our first time to adopt such a stringent approach.

I was the one to authorize the announcement through the Chancellor’s office, yet my heart was heavy with it. I could feel the disappointment of many sisters and brothers who could not pray in the soothing tranquillity of their churches or before the Blessed Sacrament during such a worrisome time. However, I could also feel the mounting anxiety with a deepening sense of helplessness in the people around me. When would this come to an end? When could we reclaim our ‘normal’ lives back, if ever!

The temptations are to blame God for not helping to stop the pandemic, to let ourselves be in despair, or to wait helplessly for the worst to happen since we could not neutralize this exasperating outbreak. What alternatives do we have if not giving in to these temptations mentioned above?

The scriptural passage chosen for this year’s Lenten Message of the Holy Father is: “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity [kairós], let us do good to all” [Galatians 6:9-10].

What harvest? The harvest promised to us after this life is an eternal reward from the Spirit [Galatians 6:8] that goes beyond our imagination and understanding. If not for this promise, our prospect of the future may well be very grim. Moreover, the possibility of being pounded by further pandemics cannot be ignored either. Yet, the promise of an eternal harvest can give us hope and energy to navigate the prolonged Covid storm, which is partially sustained by our fears, suspicions, selfishness, political motives…

Together with our hope for the promised harvest, our energy is to continue doing good. Helping our social community to come closer to each other while transcending our small ‘self’ for the large ‘Self,’ the common good—the Self that embraces the elderly, the infirm, the weak, and the poor. When Hong Kong has a good number of its elderly population yet to be vaccinated against Covid, when many have become jobless, and the dying are left to depart without their accompanying loved ones, how can we help people regain hope and dignity?

Besides the government, we are called by our Lord to do good towards our neighbours. We render them the essential protection, assistance, and hope:

– By having ourselves vaccinated against Covid, provided no medical advice prevents us.
– By encouraging more elderly to receive the vaccination if their health conditions permit them.
– By following good hygiene practices, including proper use of masks and sanitisers.
– By providing spiritual, emotional, and material support to ‘neighbours’ in need.
– By visiting and affording physical accompaniment to those who are lonely and struggling.

I am also calling on our government to provide more humanitarian options for those elderly ‘sheltered’ at homes for the aged and those seriously ill in hospitals when the current wave of Covid eases its grip, so that they are not left alone and could be visited by their loved ones in person. The government policies protect them with physical isolation. Still, their mental and psychological well-being has deteriorated significantly, as they have been isolated from their loved ones for the last two years. Whatever good we can do for them, let us do it with generosity and love.

Lent is the time for in-depth reflection on our own darkness and sinful tendencies. Yet, we should know that God loves us in the first place. We are sinners yet deeply loved by God. It is with this understanding that we can have trusting faith for our repentance and metanoia, greater hope for a better world for our ‘self’ and the ‘Self’ leading to an eschatological harvest, and untiring love to do good to our neighbours, especially during this deeply distressing time. Although we may not be able to receive ashes on this Ash Wednesday during the pandemic, we will be living in the Lenten spirit of conversion—Loving beyond ourselves through adversity.

Finally, Lent is a time calling us to prayer. We pray for our own conversion, that of our Church, our beloved Hong Kong as one community, our country, and the entire world. We do not know when this pandemic will be over. Nevertheless, we can do our best to do good and introduce the love of God to more sectors in Hong Kong, especially those who are neglected or vulnerable. We pray that the pandemic, an apparent tragedy, will end with blessings in disguise. Let us not underestimate the power of prayers. And let us not lose hope in the efforts of the Holy Spirit through us!

God bless Hong Kong and the world!

+ Stephen Chow, S.J.
Bishop of Hong Kong

17 February 2022

來源：天主教香港教區