以信望愛面對疫情

各位兄弟姊妹，香港目前正面對著疫情嚴峻的挑戰，相信大家在這段時間為了自己及家人的健康都非常焦慮及擔心。作為基督徒，讓我們在任何境況之中，都不忘投奔天主，信靠祂的眷顧，從祂那裡得到靈性的力量。

讓我們為在疫症中逝世的亡者祈禱，求主賜他們永享安息，並安慰他們的親人；我們也為所有感染了病毒的兄弟姊妹及他們的家屬祈禱，求主施展大能，恩賜他們身心痊癒，分享到基督死而復活的喜樂；我們更為前線醫護人員祈禱，願主偕同他們，使他們體會到自己並不孤單。願我們整個社會都能發揮守望相助的精神，和衷共濟，一心一德，克服當前的難關。

各位兄弟姊妹，保祿宗徒在羅馬書中教導我們說：「靠著那愛我們的主，我們在這一切事上，大獲全勝。」(羅8:37)  讓我們懷著這樣的信德，即使在恐懼與不安之中，仍然願意承擔基督徒地鹽世光的使命，在能力範圍內，多講一句問候的說話，多發一個鼓勵的短訊，與社會大眾一起同行，懷著信望愛三德，跨越困境！主佑大家！

† 湯漢樞機

天主教香港教區宗座署理

二零二零年一月卅一日

Facing the epidemic with faith, hope and love

Dear brothers and sisters,

Hong Kong is currently facing the severe challenge of the epidemic, coronavirus.  I believe that you must be very anxious and worried about the health of yourselves and your families during this critical period.  As Christians, let us always remember to turn to God in whatever difficult circumstances we find ourselves in.  Trust in His care, and receive spiritual strength from Him.

Let us pray for those who died in the epidemic, ask the Lord to grant them eternal rest and comfort their loved ones.  We also pray for all our brothers and sisters who are infected with the virus, and for their families.  Entrust them to the power of our Lord, so that they can be healed physically and mentally, sharing the joy of Christ’s resurrection from the dead.  We pray for the frontline medical workers.  May our Lord be with them so that they can realize that they are not alone.  I hope that our entire society can be united, and work together with one heart and one mind, to face the current difficulties.

Dear brothers and sisters, Saint Paul the Apostle taught us in his Letter to the Romans, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom 8:37).  Let us keep this faith even when facing fear and anxiety, willing to take up our Christian mission to be Salt and Light.  Try your best to deliver a word of encouragement, care and concern to your neighbors.  Let us walk with the whole of society to overcome the challenges with virtues of faith, hope and love!  May God bless you!

+ John Cardinal Tong

Apostolic Administrator

Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong

31 January 2020