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.

Leisure Walk at Mai Po Wetland Park

I joined the Walk for Nature with two friends organized by the World Wildlife Fund on a Sunday morning, and had chance to visit Mai Po Wetland Park. The day was sunny and beautiful. This area is famous for wetland and the varieties of birds and plants.

Mai Po is reagrded as wetland under the Convention of Ramsan. To be recognized as wetland, there must be more than 20,000 birds in the area. Wetland is differnt from ocean and land, water is shallow here and suitable for various kinds of animals, birds and plants to stay. Many birds from different part of the world migrate to Mai Po at certain season and then fly to other places. However, due to weather change, temperature becomes higher and higher, thus less birds fly to Mai Pao and stay here for a period of time.

Apart from raising fund for WWF, the walkathon also aimed at raising awareness on the enviromental issues and promoting a sustainable lifestyle. Therefore, there were games and exhibition on certain spots, so as to share information on global warming, saving energy, water-saving, legal lumbering, healthy food and so on.

One interesting game is to calcuate the "Carbon footprint." We can help saving energy and protecting enviroment in our daily lives. For example:

Clothes

- send unwanted clothes to charity groups and buy less unnecessary things

- use less plastic bags and bring your own recycle bag

Eat

- eat less meat and more vegetables

- avoid buying food transparted from afar

Home

- turn off unused appliances

- set the temperature of the air-conditioner 1 degree celsius higher, you can reduce 200kg of carbon dioxide in a month, or just turn off the air-conditioner

Travel

- take public transport

- walk more whenever possible

- take train for travelling instead of by air

I think I am quite enviromental friendly and always remind myself of leading a sustainable lifestyle. But I need to promote this awarness to more people. Otherwise, the earth is till suffering from sickness.

After a few hours walk, I found the place so relaxing and beautiful. If we want to keep the nature like this, we must be proactive to share the message of enviromental protection to other people. We must start doing from ourselves.

Eid Party

I attended an Eid Party today being organized by the Catholic Labor Centre and its ethnic minorty women's group. After fasting for a month, the Pakistani women organized this party to celebrate the end of this religious event and also share their culture with the volunteers of the project who are mainly local Chinese. They prepared delicious Pakistan food for the participants.

When I arrived the Centre, I saw many Pakistani women with their children had already filled the whole room. They were chatting with each other in Urdu, the Pakistan language. I found a seat who was next to a South Asian. He introduced himself as James who was teaching at the Social Work Department of HKU. I asked him whether he was a volunteer too. He said two of his students were interns of the Centre during summer. He told me how he knew this Pakistan project in a rally and was interested in the work they did. That's why he tried to arrange students to do internship in the Labour Centre. As we chat, I found that we met each other long time ago, when I worked in Justice and Peace Commission and attended a meeting on Asian Human Rights Charter. What a coincident that we met again! I also talked with the two social work students and was interested in the workshops they organized for the Pakistani women, helping them to raise their self-awareness, self-esteem and health knowledge. Besides, I also gave pictures which was taken when I visited homes of Pakistani women and conducted interviews with them. They were excited and look happy when they saw the photos.

The most impressive moment was the time when members of the women group shared their feelings and their changes after joining the group. Many of them said that they discovered their value and talents after joining the group and started doing embroidery work.

“Before I joined the group I often thought that I didn’t have value, but after joining this group I know that I can share my talents with others.”

“Before I just stayed at home, but now I join this group and can earn money through my work. I am very happy now and realise my value and talents.”

“I can widen my scope, know more about the society and Chinese by joining this group. I know some friends here and can make something for Chinese people in Hong Kong.”

“Though we have different cultures, Chinese and Pakistani can live in harmony without discrimination.”

We can see many of them undergo changes and gain more self-confidence and self-esteem through the women’s group.

I am very happy that I have chance to join this party, meeting the Pakistani women and their children again, hearing sharing from their hearts, getting to know some volunteers , the social work students and their teacher James, enjoying their delicious food, and so on.

I think it is a valuable time to learn more about their culture and build relationships through this social gathering. For me, it is a moment full of gratitude in which God allows me to appreciate more culture of another country and religion.

非洲之旅 Out of Africa

最近去了非洲肯雅兩星期，旅程中有機會去了內羅比近郊的嘉倫一趟，在那裡的咖啡花園午膳和參觀嘉倫博物館，親臨《非洲之旅》(Out of Africa)一書的作者Karen Bilxen曾居住十七年之久的地方。回港後重看根據原著改編而成的八十年代拍成的同名經典電影(由薜尼波勒導演)，回味旅途中曾經驗的野生動物之旅(safari影片中是野外狩獵)、遇過的馬賽族人(Massai)和古庫尤族人(Kikyku)、非洲人特強的音律和美麗歌聲。當然，還有令人再思考影片中帶出的黑人和白人（非黑人）的關係和相處之道。

　　「非洲之旅」是作者記述自己在肯雅十七年間的經歷和故事。丹麥貴族嘉倫(由梅麗史翠普飾演)與表親婚後前往肯雅購買土地開設農場，僱用了大批當地人工作，時為二十世紀初。由嘉倫母親的家族支持購入的土地佔地四千多畝，嘉倫只開墾了六百畝作為咖啡園，其餘的土地依舊由土著古庫尤人居住。

　　影片展現了一位女子如何在異地面對各種挑戰，包括因丈夫不忠而令自己染上性病、在新環境下適應另一文化的生活方式和處事手法、部族猶長對孩子接受教育的不同取態、與一位英國狩獵者發展感情關係和最終面對他的死亡、咖啡園財政出現困難和最終起火慘遭燒燬等等。可說道出了人生中的愛與恨、起與落、快樂和沮喪。同時，亦反映了一位在異地生活的女子的堅強和勇敢、獨立和能幹。

　　嘉倫返國醫病後再次回到肯雅，可能經歷了在生死邊緣徘徊，體會到人生應有更多追求，並在能力範圍內為其他人做點事，痊癒後的她想到為當地兒童辦學，讓他們讀書識字，所以聘請了一位傳教士充當教師。她的原意是好的，一心將自己認為好的和重要的傳遞給當地古庫尤族兒童，使土著不再愚昧無知，令他們變為有知識的人。當她興致勃勃地與從事狩獵的友人(由羅拔烈福飾演) 分享這計劃時，卻換來一盤冷水，被質疑太主觀和自以為擁有一切。她以為學習西方文化白人的故事是好事，卻被質疑忽略了土人亦有他們的故事，只是沒有被書寫下來罷了；她以為土著無知，希望改變當地人，卻被質疑喜歡改革，欲將非洲土人變成小英國人，即所謂文明人；她以為自己擁有很多，包括農地、瓷器，甚至古庫尤人，並為這一切付出代價，卻被反駁西方人在肯雅並非擁有者，而是過客而已。後來，當嘉倫向猶長提出為兒童辦學時，還向猶長說讀書很有價值，將來兒童必定會紀念他。哪知猶長竟說，英國人也讀書寫字，但對古庫尤族人有什麼好處？言下之意是自以為文明有學識的人不也是用粗暴的手段佔據本屬土人的土地，沒有尊重他們的文化。雖然如此，但最終猶長也准許年幼兒童學習英語。這事反映了嘉倫雖然出於好意，但在初期她與其他白人一樣，有一種白人優越感，還未學習欣賞非洲文化本身的特色。

其實，片中這種白人和土著的關係亦是不少殖民者和殖民地原住民之間的關係。由於歷史中不少傳教士是隨殖民者到發展中國家傳統，天主教和基督教教會亦被指為帶著白人優越感以勝利者姿態「解放」和同化原住民，而不是以平等態度對待他們。傳教士的原意本是將自己認為珍貴的宗教信仰和好的價值觀帶給他人，但若透過不適當的方法則變成強加諸當地人身上，而未有用心聆聽他們的需要和尊重他們的文化。

到了今日，經歷過梵二的改變，天主教會對傳教的使命已有了更新的瞭解，傳教士們在學習當地語言、虛心瞭解當地人的文化和需要，並願意過簡樸生活服務當地人之餘，更探求如何將信仰本地化，以一種適合當地的方式更好地表達信仰，更從地方教會實踐信仰的經驗中再反省，豐富了在不同文化中信仰的表達方式，延續基督的愛人精神。

就如在影片中，經過長時間生活在當地，並與當地人接觸多了，慢慢地嘉倫愛上了這片土地和當地人，更與不少黑人成為好友，亦懂得為他們著想。在她離開肯雅前，更為土著爭取保存居住的土地。當她被政府官員拒絕撥地時，她更直斥官員，土地本屬土人所有，只是英國人強行佔了他們的土地，令土人變的無家可歸。可見當地人的問題已成為嘉倫的問題，她設身處地為他們著想，感到有責任將土地歸還給他們，讓他們有住處容身，最終如願以償。

　　在今次的肯雅之行，筆者有機會探訪了來自不同地方的傳教士，包括來自美國、加拿大、意大利，以及香港的陳倩盈師姐。她們無私地與當地人合作服務貧困者，謙虛地學習當地語言和文化，讓筆者體會到，憑著信念和愛心，人與人之間可以無分膚色種族互相扶持、和諧共處。在旅程中，筆者不只一次聽到不同的傳教士說，不要以為他們為當地人付出很多，其實傳教士們從當地人身上學到和因服務而獲得的回報更多。如果有權有勢的大國和大企業也懷有這胸襟和精神，國與國之間的強弱貧富定必不像現時那樣懸殊，而民族與民族、人與人之間必定更團結互助！

工商界只會自保利益?

立法會選舉已塵埃落定，但有關選舉的新聞並未因而減少。除了不少評論在探討為何社會民主連線這被視為較激進的政黨，當中三位候選人可高票當選，以及同屬泛民的公民黨雖然有四位候選人勝出，但有兩位都是險勝之外，較矚目的新聞要算是自由黨黨員周梁淑怡因在選舉中戰敗，而歸咎於黨友兼鄉議局主席劉皇發未有協助她拉票，她更因自由黨在直選中「全軍覆沒」，而推論選舉結果令立法會失去工商界的代表和聲音，使工商界對直選更有戒心。事件不但令人感到自由黨不作自我反省失敗原因反而諉過於人，埋怨建制派不配票，更令人再思工商界是否真的如自由黨所言不支持直選，以及只顧及工商界一已的利益而不關心社會上其他人的需要？

　　自周梁淑怡的言論一出，不少工商界人士和評論員已站出來指出她言過其實，自由黨既不能代表整個工商界，亦非立法會內唯一的工商界聲音；而自由黨現時所代表的工商界只是一小撮與自由黨領導層友好的財團利益或富豪的利益，而非不同類型和規模的企業、商會或工商團體的意見，又或關注整個營商環境的發展。不少人，包括從前活躍於自由黨內的人士，更直言自由黨已偏離當初的政治理念，甚或完全看不到它的政治理念和定位，那又如何維繫一個政黨，更遑論爭取選民支持。

　　其實，工商界並非鐵板一塊，老是著重大財團的利益，那是自由黨某些領導以至政府現時的傾斜政策，令不少政策未能為社會帶來公平發展，令社會上不同階層未能共享經濟成果。隨著社會發展和人類的思想進步，不少工商界人士和企業已看到要把生意營運成功，必須具長遠目光，建設有利的營商環境，令整個社區健康發展，使僱員有動機和動力投入工作中，令生產更有效，這才符合長遠利益。因此，有遠見的企業會重視社會責任、關心社會、支持環保政策、重視僱員權益，而不是盲目地只追求一己利益。
　　
　　令香港朝著一個健康的社會發展，所有政黨，包括自稱代表工商界的政黨，實有責任促使政府的施政朝向平等的社會發展，使公共利益凌駕於個人或功能組別利益之上，使政府可發揮資源和利益分配的功能；並讓社會上每一個人均有機會參與社會決策，表達對影響自己生活的政策之意見；和享受具質素的生活，包括教育、社區設施、休息和享受閒暇等。而政黨更要監督政府營造一個有利整體經濟發展的環境，令中、小型企業亦有發展空間，創造更多就業機會，令人民能自力更新，但當一些人無能力自顧和當工作條件太苛刻時，政黨有責任促使政府介入，從而保障人民的生活質素。這正是天主教社會訓導思想中致力提倡的社會秩序所應具備的要素，即大眾公益、財物公享、平等參與，及互補原則。
　　
　　觀乎今次的立法會選舉結果，除了自由黨不得選民支持外，社民連受到不同階層支持這現象，既反映了政府的傾斜大企業方向和「親疏有別」態度不得人心，亦顯示市民需要有人敢於指出政府的不公義和欠缺透明度的政策。雖然議會過於兩極化會造成更多爭拗，但在現時政治上缺乏公平參與的情況下，不少市民期望有更敢言的議員代為發言，抒發心中憤憤不平之氣。因此，政黨和政府實有需要多聆聽市民的聲音、瞭解其需要，並提供適合的參與渠道。

(公教報 21/9/2008)

為帶來希望而服務：在肯尼亞貧民窟中作見證的傳教士(上)

清潔的飲用自來水、衛生設施、照明用的電力……這些是現代家庭不能或缺的日常必須設備，但對生活在肯尼亞貧民區的居民來說卻是奢侈品。肯尼亞的首都內羅比的在非洲也算得上是發達城市，市中心內商廈林立，但貧富懸殊的程度實在令人驚訝。貧窮居民的生活足襟見肘，每天能否填飽肚子也成問題，更遑論有剩餘金錢看病或供子女上學讀書。因此，在貧民區內流連街頭的兒童比比皆是。

一位來自意大利的修女、一位來自美國的退休法律工作者和一位來自香港的女教師，三位女性就是因著這處境而在非洲相遇。她們雖來自不同的地方，卻不約而同地在肯尼亞的貧民區從事與教育有關的工作，矢志在發展中國家服務最貧困無助的人。她們都是被所屬的團體派遣到遠方服務的傳教士，為見證基督的愛貢獻自己所長。筆者與兩位教友在香港天主教教友傳信會的安排下，今年七月有機會踏足非洲認識她們，與她們傾談，聆聽她們的信仰經驗，並親身體驗她們身處的環境，實地瞭解她們在肯尼亞的工作。

為貧窮學童提供優質教育
　　
去年年底，肯尼亞總統大選之後發生的暴力衝突令很多人受傷以至喪失財產和性命，事件令原本已夠多問題的貧民窟雪上加霜，暴露出貧民區內其中的潛在危機，就是失業青年很容易聯群結黨，被利用採用暴力手段宣涉不滿。來自意大利的嘉諾撒仁愛會修女Sr. Maria Angela Massenti(下稱「馬修女」)就是看到這問題，毅然放下她從事多年的修會培育工作，決定承擔起鄰近貧民區的一間小型中學的校監工作，為區內適齡入學就讀的年青人提供機會接受正式教育，令青年不至浪費光陰。因著過往的社工經驗，馬修女對社會觸角較為敏銳，認為職務必須配合社會的需要。她認為這正是繼承了會祖瑪大利肋服務貧窮人的精神。

　　這個決定為馬修女帶來不少挑戰。曾在坦桑尼亞從事牧民工作、幾年前才來到肯尼亞的馬修女，指出在貧民區管理一間學校殊不簡單，從找尋財政資源到聘請校長教師到收生等大小事務都要親力親為。「我深信即使住在貧民區的青年亦有接受良好教育的權利。」就是憑著這信念令馬修女克服重重障礙下定決心辦好學校。　　

　　然而，要辦好一所中學所需的營運費用卻不少。「財政來源當然是面對的重大問題，但幸好有很多好心人願意以各種方式捐助，有些企業捐贈書本，有些捐贈學生午膳的食具，亦有不少個人和機構資助學生的部份學費。」現時，肯尼亞政府只為學童提供小學免費教育，對中學會給予一些補助，但必須符合某些條件。
　　講到收取學費問題，馬修女說「即使再貧窮的家庭，也不會完全免費，我會與家長坐下來商討他們可承擔的學費金額，餘下的我會盡力找人支持」，所以這所學校的學費可說因人而異，因為她不想讓家長和學生有乞憐的習慣，她希望學生的家庭也有一份承擔感，讓學校及家長共同為培養學生而努力。
　　除了財政因素，學生紀律亦是馬修女面對的另一難題。處於貧民區，學生之中少不免有家庭問題，馬修女深知要盡力瞭解年青人的心理。要學生守紀律專心上課並不容易，「在接手管理學校初期，我讓學生表達他們的學習動機和目的，以及心目中理想的學校和生活，令他們感到被尊重，珍惜這讀書機會。」　
　　在帶領我們參觀學校臨時校舍的時候，馬修女一邊為我們介紹學校的設施和擴充計劃，一邊與正在小息的學生和老師打招呼。她希望把學生人數由現時的350人增加至六、七百人，讓更多青年可接受正規教育，為日後工作做好準備。
　　面對繁重的工作量和難解的問題時，馬修女可有疲倦和想放棄的念頭呢？「每當我遇上問題，我會向天主祈禱，求天主的助佑。正由於經歷過不少波折，我知道問題始終會解決，天主會時常看守照顧我。」她又補充說，「有些樹因外在的風吹雨打令根部更穩固，好使樹幹屹立不移，對我來說，信仰就像一顆樹的根部，外在的阻力不只不會令信仰動搖，反而令我更堅強面對一切。」經過一席話後，我們更明白馬修女所言，「傳教士不會選擇去哪裡，只要哪裡有需要他們都會去。」

(刊於公教報 2008年9月14日)