ASCLA EAST Bible Conference in Hong Kong

Stanley, Hong Kong. In the afternoon of Monday, May 13, 2019, the ASCLA East Bible Seminar organized by the General Bible Commission for ASCLA East started with the enthronement of the bible led by Fr. Alejandro Gobrin, CMF of the Philippine Province. Persons in-charge of bible apostolates and of the biblical animation of pastoral ministries from ASCLA East (Independent Delegations of East Asia, Korea, Indonesia-Timor Leste, and the Province of the Philippines), lay and CMFF, are currently gathered together at the Diocesan Retreat House in Stanley, Hong Kong SAR for the said seminar with the theme: “Biblical inspiration of our life and ministries as listeners and servants of the Word”.

General Consultor and Head of the General Bible Commission, Fr. Henry Omonisaye, CMF is animating the group. Several sessions are lined up to be discussed until the 18th of May: Claret and the Bible / Bible and Transformation / Bible Ministry in the Congregation (Fr. Henry Omonisaye, CMF); Bible Ministry in Asia / Biblically Inspired Pastoral Ministry (Fr. Alejandro Gobrin, CMF); Bible Ministry and the Media (Fr. Louie Guades III, CMF); Bible Ministry and Publication Ministry (Fr. Alberto Rossa, CMF); and last but not the least, Biblical Apostolate in Youth and Vocations Ministry (Br. Carlos Verga, CMF).

The ASCLA West Bible Seminar which was originally scheduled on the 28th of April to May 2 was rescheduled to October 2018 due to the bombings that happened in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.

At the end of the five-days seminar, the participants selected a core group for the biblical apostolate in Asia East conference of the Claretians which will be coordinated by Fr. Alberto Rossa. The Seminar has proposed a resolution for the final approval major superiors of the various organisms in the Conference. The following is the draft of the proposals:

The sharing, discussions and lectures during the assembly enlightened us to identify the
strengths, challenges and the transformations needed in the Biblical Apostolate of the
Conference in general and that of the different organisms. The discussions have been
guided by the 8 directives of the XXV General Chapter, (MS 42-45). The assembly recognized
the need for goals and structures proper to the Conference in order to animate and
empower the Biblical Apostolate. The members of the seminar resolve to collaborate in the
biblical animation of their life and ministries in the following areas.

Pastoral Bible School
1. Establish a Pastoral Bible School at the Conference level to deepen the biblical
formation of the members of the Congregation and Lay people.
2. Begin the first biblical course by 2020 for the Claretians and collaborators.
Formation
1. conduct bible study week, promote lectio divina, bible based conferences, retreats
and recollections at all levels of formation
2. nurture the word of God through ‘Bible Forge’ at Conference level for our
missionaries
3. intensify and multiply lay evangelizers with a biblical orientation through Bible
courses, retreats, conferences and recollections.
Youth Ministry
1. qualify youth gatherings (AEYG) with biblical dimension and animation
2. encourage growth of vocations and lay evangelizers with biblical-vocational-
hermeneutics in engaging with the youth
Apostolate
1. animate all our pastoral ministries through biblical encounters for parish priests, lay
organizations, educational institutions, JPIC, and others within the organisms

Publication and Social Media
1) appoint lay experts in media ministry
2) content production of biblical materials for different ministries
3) training of personnel for the apostolate beginning with the early stages of formation
who can handle both the business and ministerial part of it
4) Sharing of biblical resources with the entire Congregation
5) Facilitate publication of the bible where such help is required

Bible Translation
1) collaborate with the translation work in other organisms of the Congregation
2) assist in the formal training for translation to cater to the needs of the Conference
and even the whole Congregation
3) appoint a translation expert to the Biblical Animation Team of the Conference
Biblical Animation Team
In order to coordinate and animate the execution of the objectives we resolve to
constitute a Biblical Animation Team at the Conference level.
Dated: 17-05-2019
drafted by Jijo Kandamkulathy

Claretians to take care of Cheung Chau Parish

Since 2007 Claretian Missionaries have been present  in Hong Kong as three priests from India came to study Cantonese in the Chinese University. After the competition of their two years of language studies, the diocese assigned two of them to two different parishes as assistant pastors in 2011. Four years later, on 1 November 2015, Epiphany Parish in Lantau island was entrusted to the care of the Claretians. Fr. Jose Cherukara and Fr. Alberto Rossa resided in Mui Wo while caring for the Mass Centers in Tai O and Peng Chau.  Fr. Ezakias joined the parish a year later in 2016.

Fr. Jose with some of the parishioners of Fatima Parish in Cheung Chau 

In May 2019, Fr. Ezakias was appointed the parish priest in Mui Wo while Fr. Jose moved to Our Lady of Fatima Church, Cheung Chau. Fr. Ezakias and Fr. Rossa are joined by Fr. Piotr as the new assistant parish priest in Mui Wo.

Our Lady of Fatima Church is situated in a quiet and serene location near the waterfront of Chueng Chau Tung Wan. Cheung Chau is an offshore island about 10 knots southwest of Hong Kong. With a population of 30,000, it is considered the most densely populated island. Being centrally located amongst the neighboring islands, it enjoyed a strategic position thus attracting residents even 3,000 years ago.  Cheung Chau was already a vibrant rural center in the 17th century, with many shops serving the needs of the neighbouring fishing fleets.  There was a custom house during the Ching dynasty, guarded with garrison and soldiers.

Our Lady of Fatima Church has experienced a long history of development and is now an independent parish, more so, a famous destination for pilgrims of local worshippers.  Pilgrims each year include the third day of the Chinese New Year fpr Chiu Chow and Swatow Catholics, May for the glorious cross and Our Lady of Fatima parade, and October for the Feast Day of patron saint.

People come, notwithstanding inclement weather, to pay tribute to our Lady, to say rosary, to pray for true repentance and peace for the world with whole hearted sincerity and dedication.

Other Catholic Organizations in Cheung Chau

In the 1950’s, the Jesuits and the Salesians have established language centres in Cheung Chau for training of their priests and students.  The Jesuits have also set up their own primary seminary, while the Salesians have developed their institute of philosophy and the Don Bosco centre for the young people.  From 1960’s onwards, Caritas provided community work and youth services in Cheung Chau. 

In respect of education facilities, the Sacred Heart Primary School and Kindergarten was completed together with the chapel. The Caritas Vocational Training Institute was founded in 1973 to fulfill the mission of evangelization through education.  All these efforts by various Catholic organizations have taken root and flourished in the quiet and peaceful island of Cheung Chau. 

The social services provided expand rapidly throughout the years, while at the same time complementing each other in achieving their objectives to serve the community, alongside the spiritual leadership under the Church of Our Lady of Fatima.

Together and working hand in hand, we can see the growth of religious life and spiritual worship being enriched through dedicated social and education services, making Cheung Chau a unique area of Catholic blessing.