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Cardinal calls for more English Masses

At least one such service per week would be good for immigrants, he says
Cardinal calls for more English Masses
Cardinal Tong at the Mass
Published: March 05, 2012 06:43 AM GMT
Updated: March 05, 2012 09:18 AM GMT

Every parish should celebrate at least one English Mass on Sunday for the good of foreign Catholics, said Cardinal John Tong Hon at a Mass on March 3. Cardinal Tong, bishop of Hong Kong, announced four pastoral concerns in his homily: evangelization, promotion of priesthood and religious vocations, care for non-Chinese Catholics in the diocese and the Church in China. Cardinal Tong said: “The presence of migrants [in Hong Kong] challenges the responsibility of believers as individuals and as a community.” “An effective way is for our parishes to schedule at least one English Mass within the regular Sunday Mass schedule so that migrants can gather for worship,” he told more than 1,000 faithful present at the ceremony at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception. Of the diocese’s 540,000 Catholics, it is estimated that one-third are non-Chinese, with Filipino domestic helpers being the majority. Currently, about 35 out of 51 parishes offer English Sunday Mass. “I always encourage parishes and Catholic schools to make their facilities available for their gatherings on weekends. In this way, we may deepen our friendship and communion with our non-Chinese Catholics,” said Cardinal Tong. Prelates from neighboring dioceses and more than 100 priests concelebrated the Mass. About a dozen Protestant pastors were also present. Related reports Cardinal urges calm amid turmoilPope names Bishop Tong as CardinalWelcome for Blessed Teresa’s relic  

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