145th anniversary of St. Vincent de Paul Society 聖雲先會慶祝145周年

今年是香港聖雲先會成立145年，國際總會會長來港參與慶典，並選了我的堂區聖猶達堂探訪，瞭解我們的工作和出席我們的會議．　　　　　　　　　　

不經不覺加入聖雲先會已經兩年，我所屬的堂區的聖雲先會於2007年初才成立，起初見有人在堂區派單張呼籲教友加入，我便主動上前表示有興趣．過往我主要參與的社會牧職主要是倡議政策和培育，比較少做直接服務．自從在美國讀書期間透過Care Through Touch Institute做了兩年義工服務，在三藩市和柏克萊的不同社區中心服務無家者，回港後我希望一邊繼續正義和平關社事工，另一方便親身接觸貧窮社群，服務他們與他們同行，這也跟我在美國修讀的兩科有關，這兩科都是有關靈修生活與倫理生活／解放行動．

參與聖雲先會的兩年間，除了探訪老人院外，亦跟進了幾個個案，長期與受助者接觸，瞭解他們的需要和進展，同時與他們建立朋友關係．其實，知道了他們的處境後，真的不能不佩服他們的堅強和樂觀面對現實，雖然有時也有氣餒和挫敗感的時候．但願透過與他們建立關係，我（與其他會員）能將天主的愛帶給他們．

Celebration of Fr. Hurley's 50th Anniversary of Ordination

This year is Fr. James Hurley's 50th anniversary of ordination. The Justice and Peace Commission organized a celebration with him and I attended the dinner, sitting next to him.

Fr. Hurley was the eccelesiastical adviser of JP from Dec 1990 to September 1996, that is, just before the handover of sovereignty of Hong Kong from Britain to China. Six years is not a short period. That period was the first six years when I worked in JP, and I got quite acquaintance with Fr. Hurley. Since that period was the political transitional period of Hong Kong, many social issues became very sensitive. Very often, Fr. Hurely acted as a bridge between JP and the Diocese, especially when the relationship between JP and the Diocese was not that close at that time.

I was especially impressed by an event in 1996 about the political structure of the transitional government. JP held a different opinion from the Diocese and the issue was put on the mass media. Finally, Fr. Hurley help us to communicate with the leaders of the Church and arranged a special meeting to discuss the issue. An agreement between the two parties was reached after the dialogue. I think Fr. Hurley contributed a lot in this issue and also gave me much encouragement to continue to work at JP.

Fr. Hurley has been involved in social justice issues long before joining JP as our adviser. He has been the chaplain of the Federation of Catholic Students in the 60s and 70s. He also involved actively in Amnesty International and has been a factory worker so as to experience the life of the workers' class. He also set up a justice and peace group in the parish where he was a parish priest. I appreciated his enthusiamism in social justice a lot.

The next day after the dinner, Fr. Hurley called me twice to thank me. He left voice message to me but I missed the call. Then he called again. When I was able to contact him, he said he just wanted to say thank you. He is such a considerate person! He is a priest who makes you feel being respected whenever you talk with him. I can feel the sincere attitudes from what he does.

I remember a Benedictine monk once said, "I want to treat everyone I meet as if I meet Jesus." I think that's also what Fr. Hurley has put into practice all these years.