1/6/11 Vietnam (UCAN) – Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun is inviting Catholics in Hong Kong to a seven-hour prayer
gathering to repent and do penance for recent Church “failures” in mainland China.
The retired Hong Kong bishop told ucanews.com that the illicit bishop’s ordination in Chengde
and the Eighth National Congress of Catholic Representatives were “tragedies” for the Church.
Those participants who acted against communion with the Pope did so because they have
forgotten the nature of the Church and did not respect Pope Benedict XVI’s letter to Chinese
Catholics, he said.
“These tragedies were beyond our control. Though we knew things would happen, we did not
expect total calamity,” he said.
Hoping the Hong Kong faithful can repent and do penance for what happened, he explained that
“we are in the same mystery of Christ. Our brothers fell because we did not pray hard enough
and give sufficient support to them. So we should share the failure.”
The gathering to be held on Jan. 14 at the Mary Help of Christians Church will feature
adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, reflections, prayers and a Mass.
…
