Hong Kong, China, Mar 10, 2010 / 01:36 am
About 3,000 catechumens will be received into the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Hong Kong. Two of their first Rites of Election were held this coming Sunday.
During his homily at one service in St. Francis Parish, Fides reports, Hong Kong Bishop John Tong spoke on the theme of living water, saying that constant prayer is the best way to receive the “living water” of Jesus.
He encouraged the catechumens to always reflect on the Word of God and to distance themselves from “all things that are incompatible with the faith.”
Only in this manner, he said, can Christians “get closer and closer to Christ and Our Heavenly Father, and bear witness to Jesus."
During the service the bishop handed over the Scriptures to the catechumens in order that the Word of God can become their life’s companion and keep the flame of faith alive in their hearts.
The next Rites of Election will be held March 14 in St. Andrew and St. Benedict Parishes, according to Fides. Two more services will be held March 21 in St. Andrew and Christ the King parishes.
Last year, over 2,700 catechumens took part in Lenten Rites of Election in the diocese.
According to the diocese’s web site, there were about 250,000 Catholics in Hong Kong in 2007. Hong Kong’s population numbers almost seven million people, according to the World Bank’s 2008 figures.