Photo courtesy of Joseph Lam
2026年四旬期牧函
「天主拯救了我們，以聖召召叫了我們，並不是按照我們的行為，而是按照他的決意和恩寵：這恩寵是萬世以前，在基督耶穌內賜予我們的。」（弟茂德後書1：9）
親愛的姊妹兄弟和朋友們：
去年將臨期開始時，我與你們寫了一封較長的牧函，今次則會用較短篇幅，邀請大家一起反省與實踐。聖誕節彷彿才剛過去，還記得我們慶祝藉著一個新生命而來的恩賜，讓我們得以擁抱通往永恆的可信盼望。
在這時候，我們再次沉浸於慈悲、盼望與悔改的四旬期。在四旬期內，我們應邀預備自己，全心熱切期待地慶祝與天主完全共融的終極實況。在塵世旅途中，我們確實尚未完全體會到這種毫無瑕疵的共融；但無論是個人還是整個群體，我們正步向那終必會實現的永恆真實：就是與天主和祂之內眾生的全然共融。
事實上，將臨期與四旬期的主題同樣是「預備」。將臨期讓我們預備一顆殷切期盼的心，慶祝我們的上主、厄瑪奴耳的首次降臨；而四旬期則讓我們預備悔改與皈依的心，盡可能地去擁抱同一上主的逾越奧跡之愛。正是這上主，邀請我們一同經歷祂的逾越奧跡；而祂也親臨陪伴，與我們共度生命中種種逾越體驗。
2024年以共議性為主題的世界主教代表會議的第二會期會議後，教會頒布了《最終文件》，勸諭我們務要致力於「共議性的轉變」：
「地方教會應透過諮詢和分辨此共議性的方法論繼續他們的日常生活，界定具體的途徑和培訓計畫，促進在各種教會環境中帶來實質、共議性的轉化。……」（《最終文件》第9段）
「共議性的轉變召叫每個人擴大自己的心靈空間，因為心靈是我們所有關係產生共鳴的第一個『地方』，並扎根於每位信友與耶穌基督及其教會的個人關係中。」（《最終文件》第110段）
故此，我們應藉著聆聽及在聖神內的分辨，格外致力於內心、思維和習慣上的皈依；並須令心靈變得廣闊，能接納那些在我們圈子以外的人，以及那些我們有意或無意間避開的人—不論他們是否教會一員或是否與我們共融。親愛的姊妹兄弟，願我們變得慷慨、包容和開放，與別人建立更深入的協作。
為了更好地評估我們付出的努力，並分辨於本地處境裡共議同行的發展路向，我將於2027年初召開教區大會。教區內各教會單位應當從不同方面推動共議性的皈依，例如透過彼此間的創意協作，進行分辨、規劃與執行。過程中須強調透明度、問責精神與認真地評估，正如《最終文件》第95至102段所載那樣。
我們亦需皈依成為「希望傳承者」— 這是教區八十週年慶典的主題。我們知道，主題很容易變為單純是年度口號。為免墮入這陷阱，我們必須在個人及團體的使命中有意識地實踐這一主題。讓我們再次回顧生命中天主慈愛臨在的種種經驗，藉以深化我們對天主不渝之愛的信德，增進我們對天主施恩並忠信陪伴的盼望。唯有當我們扎根於對天主的望德，才能為別人成為有效的「希望傳承者」。
最後，讓我們重温塔格萊樞機閣下在那蒙福的教區八十週年「祝福香港」活動中所說的話：「天主賜予我們和香港的祝福，就是祂在耶穌基督展現的聖容𥚃。」樞機更勉勵我們當悉心栽培這些「祝福」，因為我們各人皆是蒙召成為「別人的祝福」。因此，作為「希望傳承者」，我們應當日益意識到，須要向我們曾經忽略或社會上處於困境的那些人，展現耶穌具慈悲、同理心而又永存盼望的聖容。這些人可以是孤獨的長者、渴求理解與希望的年青人、身處弱勢的外傭、難民、性小眾，以及那些在經濟或心靈上匱乏的人。
願這四旬期成為你和我真正皈依而又帶著希望的恩寵時期！
周守仁樞機
天主教香港教區主教
Lenten pastoral letter 2026
“He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began.” (2 Timothy 1:9)
Dear Sisters and Brothers, and Friends,
As I shared a rather lengthy pastoral letter with you at the beginning of last Advent, I will keep this a shorter letter this time, for your reflection and action. Christmas seems like a recent past, when we celebrated the gift of a new life through which we can embrace a credible hope for eternity.
Once again, it is time for us to immerse ourselves in another Lenten Season of mercy, hope, and repentance. Throughout the Season of Lent, we are invited to prepare ourselves to celebrate, with full anticipation, the ultimate reality of complete communion with God. It is true that we have yet to experience such impeccable communion, while we remain wayfarers in this world. Individually and collectively, we are moving towards that awaiting eternal reality of total communion with God and all life in God.
In fact, both Advent and Lent share a common theme of preparation. Advent prepares our hearts with eagerness for the first coming of our Lord, Emmanuel. Lent, however, prepares our hearts with repentance and conversion, so to embrace, as far as possible, the paschal love of the same Lord. It is he who invites us to journey with him throughout his paschal mysteries, and he with us throughout our various paschal experiences in life.
Our Church has exhorted us to commit to a ‘synodal conversion’ through the publication of the “Final Document” after the Second Assembly of the Synod on Synodality in 2024:
“The local Churches are asked to continue their daily journey with a synodal methodology of consultation and discernment, identifying concrete ways and formation pathways to bring about a tangible synodal conversion in the various ecclesial contexts….” (Final Document #9).
“Thus, synodal conversion calls each person to enlarge the space of their heart, the heart being the first place where all our relationships resonate, grounded in each believer’s personal relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church.” (Final Document #110).
Hence, we are called to make extra efforts in the conversion of our hearts, minds, and habits through listening and discernment in the Spirit. We must also enlarge our hearts to include those who are outside of our circles, and those whom we have been avoiding, consciously or subconsciously – whether they belong to our Church or are not part of our communion. My sisters and brothers, please be generous, inclusive, and open to deeper collaborations.
In order to better evaluate our efforts and to discern further synodal development in our local context, I will convene a Diocesan Assembly in the early part of 2027. It is important that the different ecclesial units in the diocese take the initiative to engage in different aspects of synodal conversion, such as discernment, planning and implementation through creative collaboration with others. Such a process should pay close attention to transparency, accountability, and serious evaluation as highlighted in paragraphs 95 to102 of the “Final Document.”
Also needed is our conversion to become “Messengers of Hope,” the theme of the Diocese’s 80th Anniversary celebrations. We know that it is tempting to keep the theme merely a slogan of the year. Therefore, to avoid falling into that trap, we must consciously put the theme into practice in our personal and communal missions. Once again, we can recall the various loving experiences of God in our lives. With that, our faith in God’s unfailing love deepens, and our hope in God’s blessed and faithful companionship grows. Only when we ourselves are rooted in hope in God can we be effective messengers of hope to others.
Finally, we recall the blessed occasion when His Eminence Cardinal Antonio Tagle enlightened us at the “Blessing Hong Kong” event marking the 80th Anniversary of the Diocese, that the “blessing that God gives us and to Hong Kong is His Holy Face in Jesus Christ.” He further encouraged us to foster these “blessings,” because all of us are called to become “a blessing to others”. So, as Messengers of Hope, we should be increasingly conscious in showing the compassionate, empathic, and ever-hopeful face of Jesus to those we may have neglected or who are struggling in society. These may include the lonely elderly, young people longing for understanding and hope, vulnerable overseas domestic helpers, refugees, sexual minorities, and those who are economically or psychologically deprived.
May this Lent be a Season of genuine conversion as well as hope for you and for me!
+ Stephen Cardinal Chow, S.J.
來源：天主教香港教區
