2934 CIN Cardinal Zen's fast for education
austraLasia #2934
Cardinal Joseph Zen Ends His Public Fast Surrounded
by His People
HONG KONG 22 October 2011 -- Our eyewitness reporter
in this case has the following to say:
"It is Hong Kong time 11:00 a.m. Saturday, 22 October, 2011.
About half an hour ago Cardinal Joseph Zen ended his 3 day
and 3 night public fast (no food, only mineral water and
Holy Communion). This 72 hour fast expressed Cardinal Zen’s
grief at the grievous damage done to the Hong Kong education
system by the Amended Education Ordinance 2004. For seven
years, the Catholic Church in Hong Kong has been trying, by
legal means. to prevent this Amended Ordinance from coming
into effect. Finally, a few days ago, the Court of Final
Appeal turned down the Catholic Diocese’s appeal against the
Ordinance, opening the way for its legal implementation.
Cardinal Zen’s fasting ended with a
report about the Cardinal’s health, a few words by Cardinal
Zen, a prayer service, and a final Question & Answer
session with the Hong Kong media, who had followed this
unique event with great interest. About a hundred people
were present.
The health report was needed, given the
general concern for the health of 79 year old Cardinal
Zen, who suffers from a heart condition and from diabetes.
The health report revealed a striking fact: throughout the
fasting, the Cardinal’s health remained remarkably stable
and normal. All the faithful present drew a breath of
relief. During the fast, people from all walks of life
showed up before the closed entrance of Salesian Missionary
House, outside which Cardinal Zen was keeping his fast,
among them the three Episcopal Vicars of the Hong Kong
Diocese, several members of the Hong Kong Legislative
Council, diocesan and religious priests, faithful young and
old, and many children. Salesian Missionary House is
especially grateful to the members of the Justice and Peace
Commission of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese who shouldered
all the burden of securing safety and order during the
Cardinal’s fast.
In his short address, the Cardinal
expressed his surprise at the normal state of his health. He
had intended to suffer a little physically to accompany the
grief of his soul, but this actually did not happen. He
expressed his gratitude to all who had prayed for him and to
all who had to shoulder extra work because of his public
fast. He expressed also his trust in God, who will help the
Church in Hong Kong continue her educational service within
the constraints of the new law. He concluded with a prayer
to God, invoking for all Hong Kong people a deeper sense of
justice and solidarity with the poor, the needy, and the
young".
