2023年四旬期牧函
救恩的時刻：自由、培育與慈悲的愛

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各位主內的姊妹兄弟：

「『你若俯伏朝拜我，我必把這一切交給你。』那時，耶穌就對他說：『去罷！撒殫！因為經上記載：「你要朝拜上主，你的天主，惟獨事奉他。」』」（瑪4:9-10）

為不少在聖誕節和農曆新年增了磅的人來說，我們實在要讚歎禮儀年的智慧。在慶祝過以上兩個節期後不久，便是四旬期。四旬期是我們減去過量的良機，包括那些令我們遠離天主的「不自由」和不健康的體重。當然，體重不應該是四旬期克己的重點，而是我們與天主、他人、大自然和我們自己之間賦予生命的不同關係。

今年四旬期首主日的福音經文提醒我們，要小心魔鬼以及那些否定上主的世人與事給我們的空洞承諾。他們竭力讓我們相信，他們的承諾極具吸引力，不容錯過、是可行的、合理的，如果我們不接受他們提供的，那我們會損失慘重。

但假如我們採納他們所提供的，便會有所犧牲但又不自知——除非我們願意並能夠以開放的思維和聆聽的心去辨別，並且誠意地與同行者分享我們的抉擇和猶疑之處。此外，在整個過程中，保持一份祈禱的心境會是理想的。

然而以上所提及的，都不是主流文化有所培養的，包括我們的教會文化。可知道，它其實是共議同行的教會、以至和平共處的對話文化，所不可或缺的特質。它催使我們願意把自己重新定位，以歸向引導我們與主基督合而為一的天主聖神。聖神賦予我們力量，讓我們在這個大時代中的香港和世界，見證福音賦予眾生生命的信息。我們的主耶穌召喚我們跟從祂，只要我們願意踏上皈依的轉化過程，歸向我們的主耶穌，我們就永遠不會感到寂寞或迷失。

今年復活節我們將有大約 1,700 人領洗加入教會。這只是我們過去領洗人數的一半。人數減少，有著不同的原因，部分是我們自己造成，但亦有我們無法控制的因素。我們首先會與這些新來的姊妹兄弟一起慶祝，歡迎他們加入我們天主教信仰的團體。他們是天主的寶貴禮物，在這個家庭裡，彼此是姊妹弟兄，我們要珍惜他們。其次，各堂區和信仰團體都應該為他們提供持續的培育和陪伴的團體，讓他們能夠在新擁抱了的信仰中繼續成長。

至於教區，我們會繼續為我們的青年、平信徒和聖職人員籌備和落實培育方案。透過持續的分辨，我們辨識到培育聖職人員和青年的迫切需要。這不是說平信徒相對不重要。反之而言，我們留意到缺乏神父和執事適當的理解和支持，青年和平信徒的培育將很可惜地事倍功半。有了聖職人員的合作和支持，則能夠更好地落實青年和平信徒的培育。

最後，但同樣重要的是，我邀請我們的姊妹弟兄，善用這四旬期來悔過及更新，好讓我們見證天主子民就是傳遞由天主慈悲而來的愛與公義的媒介。當香港和世界在新冠疫情的反覆打擊後要努力再次站起來時，我們得蒙召喚，互相施以援手、特別是為那些經濟困難或處身社會邊緣的人士，好能給予他們幫助。

當我們願意先去幫助別人走向復元、而不是先照顧自己的時候，這就成為了一個救恩的時機。我們有一位良師，他透過虛空自己的愛去教導我們。本著這份精神，我們以慈悲、同理心和慷慨好客的行動，在我們的社會中傳福音，特別是為我們當中的移民、外籍勞工和尋求庇護人士。

祝願大家有一個富意義而又果實纍纍的四旬期！

+周守仁
香港教區主教
2023年2月14日

來源：天主教香港教區

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