The 8th of December is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and is also the feast day of the patron saint of the diocese of Hong Kong. Starting from 5th November, the faithful may say the prayer for the “Consecration in Preparation for the Triumphant Victory of the Immaculate Heart of Mary – a 33-day prayer”. For the text of the prayer, please see www.frpeterleung.com. Father Elsinger will preside over the celebrating liturgy on the said date at The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Wanchai, and all faithful are welcomed to join. I have received an invitation to host a retreat for the faithful in Los Angeles in the States scheduled for the 3rd to 10th of December and will not be able to join those of you in Hong Kong in the said ceremony. However, that will not hamper the ecumenical unity of us all in the grace of the Holy Mother.<br/><br/>
From the 3rd to 7th of November, I attended the annual retreat for the clergy in the Hong Kong Diocese. It was held at the convention centre at Hac Sa Beach of the Macau Diocese. The theme was “The Spiritual Aspects of the Diocesan Synod” and the keynote speaker was Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze Kiun.<br/><br/>
The Hong Kong Diocesan Synod went from 04 March 2000 to 30 December 2001. there were 206 participants. Cardinal Zen signed the concluding document entitled “Love Life, the Gift of God” on 31st December 2002.<br/><br/>
Returning to the retreat this year, Cardinal Zen used “Youth Evangelism”, “Family Evangelism” and “Priestly Vocation” as the focal points for sharing.<br/><br/>
There is a strange phenomenon in modern society: the more advanced the human knowledge, the slower the maturity of personality; the more the wealth people own, the wider the distance people have with one another. The reason for this is pretty simple: people have become more and more selfish. People like to use “freedom” and “modernization” to replace the “divine law”. The theological presumption of the “Death of God” advocated some 50 years ago has unfortunately come true nowadays. The “culture of death” -- abortion, divorce and gay marriage etc. -- is what society has inherited from this type of belief. People often mistakenly equate “legalization” with “justification”. This is, indeed, a sad and heart-breaking phenomenon.<br/><br/>
This year marks the 40th anniversary for the Encyclical Letter Humanae Vitae. In response, Cardinal Zen is hoping he can give seminars to promote the virtue of fidelity of marriage in couples before the end of this year.<br/><br/>
(Forwarded from the web page of the Church of the Annunciation at www.annunciation.catholic.org.hk)