austraLasia #3456
Hot Historic June Days
Hong Kong and Macau
HONG KONG June 23, 2014 -- Nobody who keeps an eye on international news could haqve missed at least two facts affecting life in Hong Kong - and Macau: it has been the hottest June on recent record, and June 22 saw a massive turnout for the People's referendum for Democracy. Earlier in June witnessed a huge turnout to commemorate the Tienanmen Square massacre.
Perhaps not hitting the headlines though, was the ordination to the diaconate of a Macau boy - Carlos Cheung sdb. But it too is important. ...
In Hong Kong and Macau, we have been living historic days during this hot month of June. Hot in more than one sense. Climatically hot, since this June 2014 is one of the hottest Junes recorded in our not-so-long history. Socially hot, since this June 2014 has seen a revival of youth’s interest in social affairs. The lead this time was taken by Macau youth who already in mid-May rose by the thousands in protest against a self-serving law project proposed by the Government.
Next, in both Hong Kong and Macau, we had June 4th Candle Light Vigil in memory of the victims of the Tiananmen massacre 25 years ago. It saw the largest participation ever. In Hong Kong’s Victoria Park there were 180,000. Among them, as for every year, there were also several Salesians. For the first time the retired Bishop of Hong Kong, our Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze Kiun, took part in the Candle Light Vigil from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., as distinct from the preceding Prayer Service from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., organized in the Park Pavilion by the local Justice and Peace Commission and faithfully attended, if at all possible, by Cardinal Zen every year. This time, at the end of the Prayer Service, Cardinal Zen invited all to support the popularly organized June 22 People’s Referendum for Democracy in Hong Kong.
To further promote participation in the Democracy Referendum, Card. Joseph Zen and others (among them, the “father” of Hong Kong’s democratic movement Mr. Martin Lee, a Catholic) organized a 7-day, 84 hour “Exodus for Democracy”. “Exodus” is meant here in the sense intended by Pope Francis, that is, “getting out into the streets”. From 14 to 20 June, for 7 days, for 12 hours a day, Cardinal Joseph Zen and his fellow walkers covered some 20 kilometres a day along the streets of the city, calling on people to support the People’s Referendum. At times the walking party grew to 800-strong. The promotion appears to have been effective, since on 22 June, the voters have been estimated as being more than 1/2 a million, practically 10% of the population of Hong Kong.
22 June was not only Referendum Day. It is was also the Feast of the Body and Blood of the Lord. Cardinal Joseph Zen presided over the Solemn Mass and Eucharistic Procession in the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Park on the Northern shore of Hong Kong Island. The procession stopped several times on the shore-line to allow the Cardinal to bless this great city that has sprung up on both sides of the wonderful Hong Kong Harbour. May His Kingdom of love, justice, and peace come to this beloved city!
Meanwhile, on 21 June, Carlos Cheung was ordained deacon by Joseph Cardinal Zen at St. Anthony’s parish in Sai Wan. Born in Macau in 1983, Cheung’s family had migrated to the then-Portuguese colony from Hainan province in mainland China.
Hot Historic June Days
Hong Kong and Macau
Perhaps not hitting the headlines though, was the ordination to the diaconate of a Macau boy - Carlos Cheung sdb. But it too is important. ...
In Hong Kong and Macau, we have been living historic days during this hot month of June. Hot in more than one sense. Climatically hot, since this June 2014 is one of the hottest Junes recorded in our not-so-long history. Socially hot, since this June 2014 has seen a revival of youth’s interest in social affairs. The lead this time was taken by Macau youth who already in mid-May rose by the thousands in protest against a self-serving law project proposed by the Government.
Next, in both Hong Kong and Macau, we had June 4th Candle Light Vigil in memory of the victims of the Tiananmen massacre 25 years ago. It saw the largest participation ever. In Hong Kong’s Victoria Park there were 180,000. Among them, as for every year, there were also several Salesians. For the first time the retired Bishop of Hong Kong, our Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze Kiun, took part in the Candle Light Vigil from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., as distinct from the preceding Prayer Service from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., organized in the Park Pavilion by the local Justice and Peace Commission and faithfully attended, if at all possible, by Cardinal Zen every year. This time, at the end of the Prayer Service, Cardinal Zen invited all to support the popularly organized June 22 People’s Referendum for Democracy in Hong Kong.
To further promote participation in the Democracy Referendum, Card. Joseph Zen and others (among them, the “father” of Hong Kong’s democratic movement Mr. Martin Lee, a Catholic) organized a 7-day, 84 hour “Exodus for Democracy”. “Exodus” is meant here in the sense intended by Pope Francis, that is, “getting out into the streets”. From 14 to 20 June, for 7 days, for 12 hours a day, Cardinal Joseph Zen and his fellow walkers covered some 20 kilometres a day along the streets of the city, calling on people to support the People’s Referendum. At times the walking party grew to 800-strong. The promotion appears to have been effective, since on 22 June, the voters have been estimated as being more than 1/2 a million, practically 10% of the population of Hong Kong.
22 June was not only Referendum Day. It is was also the Feast of the Body and Blood of the Lord. Cardinal Joseph Zen presided over the Solemn Mass and Eucharistic Procession in the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Park on the Northern shore of Hong Kong Island. The procession stopped several times on the shore-line to allow the Cardinal to bless this great city that has sprung up on both sides of the wonderful Hong Kong Harbour. May His Kingdom of love, justice, and peace come to this beloved city!
Meanwhile, on 21 June, Carlos Cheung was ordained deacon by Joseph Cardinal Zen at St. Anthony’s parish in Sai Wan. Born in Macau in 1983, Cheung’s family had migrated to the then-Portuguese colony from Hainan province in mainland China.
