ASIA: CHINA: CARDINAL ZEN CALLS FOR PRAYER AND REPENTANCE GATHERING

UCAN REPORT- 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.

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Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun
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.

The organizing committee suggests participants bring water and bread for a penance supper.

Through prayers and penance, Cardinal Zen hopes God will help Chinese Catholics follow their conscience and to share the difficulties and pain of the Church in China.

http://www.ucanews.com/2011/01/06/prayer-gathering-to-repent-for-china-church/

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