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各位教友： 每年的五月､八月及十一月份﹐「教區工作基金」(Diocesan Works Fund) ﹐簡稱DWF都會三次向大家募捐。這些款項是教區用作實踐普世教會的宗徒使命﹐涉及的用途就如我們日常生活般的廣泛和多元化。 這些使命包括提供社工服務､援助肢體或精神弱能人士､ 禮儀服務､ 教友培育､合一運動､宗教對話､ 社會公義､聖召培育､ 青年使徒訓練､教區法庭和大學團契等等﹐都未能盡錄。 相信你們都能體會教區極其需要大家群策群力﹐才可以維持如此龐大的服務。所以每個堂區都會一年三次呼籲教友慷慨捐助﹐以達成教會的使命。 在靈修方面﹐我想基督徒常要面對同一的挑戰和召叫﹕如何本著憐憫和慈善付諸實質行動﹐來彰顯基督的臨在。早期地方教會已常常捐獻耶京母體教會﹐其歷史比聖經更加古舊。在聖保祿宗徒致迦拉達人書､羅馬書和格林多人書中﹐我們已讀過宗徒們如何收集外邦人信徒的捐獻來幫助耶京教會。保祿宗徒的書信亦帶出了恩典､團契､憐憫和使命的訊息﹐讓外邦人教會了解藉著基督﹐大家分享同一信仰､彼此共融､並以兄弟姊妹相稱。再者﹐從新約文獻中﹐我們了解到早期教會亦需要面對社會和文化的衝擊。 很多學者都曾經研究導致早期教會需要經濟援助的因素﹐現粗略概括如下﹕ 1. 越來越多貧困寡婦需要幫助 (宗6:1-7) 。 2. 絡繹不絕到耶京朝聖的信徒為團體帶來負擔。 3. 早期教會在實驗共有制的團體生活時產生了問題 (宗 4:32-5:11) 。 4. 飢荒帶來了困境 (宗 11:27-30) 。 5. 經濟迫害為個人帶來了壓力 (雅1:9; 2:6-7; 5:1-6) 。 耶京的早期教會與現今教會所面對的需要好像沒有太大分別﹐原因是我們的教會在真摯地回應基督的召叫﹕在最小的弟兄身上尋找他。各位對教會的無私奉獻正正就是向弟兄們傳揚這愛的訊息。 假若你的捐款需作稅務回扣﹐請留下個人資料在捐獻信封背面。 主佑 莫靖龍神父 (此乃莫神父致教友書信之意譯，書信內容以英文為準) |
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Dear Parishioners: Three times a year, in the months of May, August and November, you have noticed we make an appeal to you to help us with the DWF (Diocesan Works Fund) collection. This DWF is the fund that supports the ministries of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Parramatta. The ministries the Diocese provides are as diverse as are the needs we find in our lives. These ministries include the help in areas of social work (Aboriginal People, Family services), services to people with physical or intellectual challenges (disable people, and deaf or hearing impaired) , Liturgy, Christian formation, Ecumenical work, Inter-religious dialogue, Social Justice, Vocations, Youth Apostolate, Tribunal of the Catholic Church and University Chaplaincies to name them just in general. As you can imagine, to be able to maintain all the services run by the Diocese is necessary the help of everybody. Every parish is asked to contribute three times a year to help the Local Church in this important mission to those who need more. From the Spiritual point of view I think is one of the constant challenges and callings in the Christian life to embody Christ’s presence in concrete acts of charity and mercy. The idea of a collection to the mother church is as ancient as the bible itself. In the letters of St Paul (Galatians, Romans and Corinthians) we hear about the famous collection the apostle organized in the gentile world to help the church in Jerusalem. As we read through the places where we hear about this collection the issues of grace, fellowship, mercy, mission, and others all coincide in this important initiative of Paul to remind the churches in the gentile world of the common bond of faith in Jesus that kept them together as brothers and sisters. Even more, tracing the history of the collection through the New Testament documents gives enlightenment on the whole socio-cultural reality faced by the New Testament church. Many authors have tried to suggest the reasons for this collection; the suggestions can be summarized in these few points: 1. The presence of more and more widows needing care (Acts 6:1-7). 2. Pilgrims to Jerusalem who burdened the community. 3. Problems from the early community’s experimentation with communal life (Acts 4:32-5:11). 4. The economic hardships caused by famine (Acts 11:27-30). 5. Personal stresses due to economic persecution (James 1:9; 2:6-7; 5:1-6) As you can see the needs of the Church in Jerusalem are not that different from the needs of the Church now, and the reason is because we take dearly the call of Christ to see him in the person who is in need. Your contribution will help our Diocese to keep the message of Love alive in many different areas. If you wish to contribute to this appeal and you need to ask for a tax refund please fill up the details at the back of the envelops provided. A third collection will be taken for this appeal. Peace in Jesus Fernando Montano MG |