On July 14th we held the ceremony of the veneration of the Relics of Saint Vincent de Paul, in thanksgiving for the 150 anniversary of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society in Hong Kong, as well as for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the founder of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, Blessed Frederic Ozanam.
為慶祝聖雲先會成立150周年，本堂於七月十四日舉行了聖雲先聖髑敬禮，參禮的朋友超過200人。敬禮主要分為三部份，分別是講解聖髑敬禮的意義，誦唸玫瑰經，神父講道及默想聖雲先金句。 包神父以當天的福音–慈善的撒瑪黎雅人來勸告我們要時時提醒自己不要如比喻中的司祭和肋未人般對待身邊的近人(即視而不見，就手旁觀)，而是要不斷留意身邊人的需要，更引用聖雲先的金句要我們在愛德工作中效發聖雲先的精神『我們應該勉力保持自己的心開放於受苦各不幸的人，也要不斷地祈求天主賜予我們憐憫別人的精神，因為這才是真正的天主的精神。』
Meaning of the veneration of the Relics of the Saints
To venerate the relics of the saints is a profession of belief in several doctrines of the Catholic faith: (1) the belief in everlasting life for those who have obediently witnessed to Christ and His Holy Gospel here on earth; (2) the truth of the resurrection of the body for all persons on the last day; (3) the doctrine of the splendor of the human body and the respect which all should show toward the bodies of both the living and the deceased; (4) the belief in the special intercessory power which the saints enjoy in heaven because of their intimate relationship with Christ the King; and (5) the truth of our closeness to the saints because of our connection in the communion of saints — we as members of the Church militant or pilgrim Church, they as members of the Church triumphant.
The relics of the saints and their veneration is just another in the long line of treasures which Jesus Christ has given to His chaste bride, the Church. These relics summon us to appreciate more profoundly not only the heroic men and women, boys and girls who have served the Master so selflessly and generously, but especially the love and mercy of the Almighty who called these His followers to the bliss of unending life in His eternal kingdom.
