I. SPECIAL PASTORAL PROVISIONS TO COPE WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Bishop Stephen CHOW, S.J., has approved the following pastoral measures with immediate effect in view of the current pandemic:
1. According to an updated clarification from the Home Affairs Bureau, Masses or other religious rites celebrated by priests for online purposes may take place in churches or chapels, on condition that the assistants be salaried staff of the parish. If a Mass or religious rites is celebrated outside a church or chapel for online purposes, the assistants may be any volunteer members of the faithful. The number of assistants should be limited to the minimum necessary.
2. ASH WEDNESDAY (March 2) AND SEASON OF LENT Priests serving parishes are to adopt the usual liturgical texts (to be provided by the Diocesan Liturgy Commission) in a church, a chapel or another suitable venue. Ashes and Holy Communion may be given to liturgical assistants only. The other faithful may take part in the rite online and receive Holy Communion spiritually.
On Ash Wednesday the faithful are obliged to keep fast (for those who have reached the age of eighteen but not yet sixty) and/or abstinence (for those who have reached the age of fourteen or above). During Lent they are also obliged to pray more and to perform more acts of penance and charity, such as family prayers, rosary, meditation on the liturgical texts of daily Masses, performing the Way of the Cross and caring for the poor and others who have material or spiritual needs.
3. THE RITES OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS AND INFANT BAPTISM Since the situation of the pandemic has been fluctuating, it is not possible to foresee when public Masses can be resumed. Therefore, the candidates ready for the Sacraments of Christian Initiation this year are dispensed from going through the Rites of Election and Scrutinies.
Taking into consideration their own circumstances and the actual social gathering restrictions enforced by the Government, parishes are to make the following arrangements at suitable venues, in small groups, and at any time during the period between the evening of Holy Saturday and the coming Solemnity of Christ the King —
(a) candidates for the Sacraments of Christian Initiation to receive these sacraments, using the special liturgical texts entitled Sacraments of Initiation (full reception on one single occasion) during Mass, provided by the Diocesan Liturgy Commission.
(b) the students of Sunday Schools and baptized adults, who are duly prepared, to receive Confirmation and First Holy Communion (if not yet received), so as to complete Christian Initiation (the faculty for parish priests to administer Confirmation hereby delegated by the Bishop).
(c) infants to receive baptism.
4. Parishes may approach the Chancery Office or the Diocesan Liturgy Commission for clarifications if necessary.
II. HONG KONG CATHOLIC AD HOC COMMITTEE ON SEXUAL PLURALITY CULTURE
Bishop Stephen CHOW, S.J., has appointed/reappointed the following to be Committee members for a two-year term, effective 1 March 2022:
Bishop Joseph HA, OFM, VG, Chairperson Rev. Dominic LUI Chi-man Ms. Sheena CHAN Mei-yuk Dr. Thomas LAM Chiu-wan Dr. Mona LEE Mo Kit Ms. Cherry LEUNG Mr. Abraham NG Mr. William SO Tsz Wai Mr. Moses TSANG Kai-yin Mr. Andrew WONG Ho Fung Ms. Bonita WONG Man-yin Ms. May YEUNG May-hei