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各位教友： 在過去的兩三個月，牧民處正在籌組新一屆的牧民議會，任期一如去屆仍然是兩年一任。教區的政策是每兩年牧民議會都要進行改選。 這正好給我一個大好機會，來談談牧民議會。牧民議會雖是堂區架構不可或缺的一部分，但我想不是每個人都熟悉它。 「天主教法典」第536號1項及2項，清楚列明如下﹕
所以牧民議會是教會的建制，其主要功能是為了「促進牧靈工作」。它的組成包括各方信友代表，而本堂司鐸更是必需的。它的運作全賴營造及維持一個良好溝通､協調和諮詢的工作模式﹔一種達致教會有所裨益的合作關係才賦予堂區議會的存在價值。平信徒的參與是極其重要的，因為他們的參與「是基於他們的知識和才幹，他們擁有權利､時而甚至有責任向神職牧者提供意見，以促成他們認為對教會福祉猶關重要的事項。」 有了以上的概念，我們便知道，參加牧民議會的工作不是為了促成個人理念，而是為了協助本堂神父謀求教會的福祉，並維護教會的律法､傳統和教義。 在堂區，有時牧民議會不是眾所周知的。我認為，問題的一部分在於缺乏推廣這一重要堂區架構﹔另一方面亦可歸咎於教友沒有積極參與教會生活，有時只淪為單單參與禮儀，有時參加善會者廖廖可數，更枉論要建立一個工作團隊。 以往我有很多跟不同堂區和民族團體合作的經驗，我深受那些全心全意獻身於基督奧體〔即教會〕的教友所啟發，當然也需要面對人性的軟弱所趨生的爭論和分歧，讓「促進牧靈工作」的道路困難重重。基於上述原因，在新一屆牧民議會改選過程中，我們極需要大家慇切的祈禱。首先，請求上主能感召適當人選參與這方面的教會生活﹔此外，並祈求上主能去除參與者一已的私欲，不要以個人理念強加於團體，這既未能彰顯教會的團結，只能反映我們距離耶穌基督所啟示的天國是多麼的遙遠。 在這重要的時刻，我懇請各位天主選民在信仰的旅途中，為牧民處獻上你們的禱告，以標記著教會的團結。 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: In the last couple of months the Chinese Chaplaincy is going through the process of forming its Pastoral Council for the next two years, as you know the Diocese has a policy that Pastoral Councils should be renewed every two years. I think this gives me a good opportunity to speak about Pastoral Councils a structure in the Parish community I am not sure if everybody is familiar with. Canon Law (536 §1) clearly says that..
The Parish Council then is a recommended structure within the church, whose main concerned will be fostering pastoral activity. In its structure, it has to be a representative body of the faithful and must include the parish priest. The reason for its existence is implied in the idea of helpful cooperation and it has to work in a way where communication, coordination and consultation can be created and maintained. The participation of the Laity is important because they participate in it “in accord with the knowledge and competence which they posses and they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church”. With these ideas we can see that the participation in the Pastoral Council implies help to the Parish Priest to look after the well being of the Church, its laws, traditions and teachings and not only the promotion of personal ideas and disagreements. Sometimes in parishes, Pastoral Councils are not well known. I think that part of the problem can be lack of promotion of this important structure, lack of participation in the life of the Church that sometimes is reduced to mere sacramental participation and sometimes even lack of membership that makes it really hard to even create a team to work with. In my experience in different parishes and chaplaincies, I have had the opportunity to work with a lot of people who have inspired me for their dedication and commitment to the Church of Christ and of course there has been also moments and situations where human weaknesses are present and arguments and disagreements had made it difficult to “foster pastoral activity”. That is why I think, is important to pray during times of elections of the Pastoral Council, first that God may motivate people to participate in this aspect in the life of the Church and also to pray that God may remove any selfish desire to participate just for the sake of imposing ideas who instead of reflecting the unity of the Church just reflect how far we are from the Kingdom of God present in the person of Jesus. As a sign of unity I invite you all to pray for the Chinese Chaplaincy in this important moment in the journey on earth as the chosen people of God. Peace in Jesus Fernando Montano MG |