HONG KONG, NOV. 26, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Cardinal John Tong, Archbishop of Hong Kong, addressed members of the Hong Kong Catholic Marriage Advisory Council who gathered in November for their 46th Annual Assembly.
«The family and the formation of young people play an important role for the bride and groom who will be living the Christian married life,» he said. Cardinal Tong also serves as President of the Advisory Council.
According to Fides News Agency, the Cardinal’s statements were released in the ‘Kong Ko Bao’ or the diocesan bulletin. Cardinal Tong stressed that «the formation of marriage can be said to begin at birth.» The director of the Council informed that the diocese of Hong Kong will celebrate the Day of Marriage in February to emphasize the value of Christian marriage.
During the assembly Fr. A. Deignan, a member of the Council, emphasized that «pre-marital formation is not enough; permanent formation is necessary» since family life and Christian marriage is threatened on several fronts in today’s society.
Last year, the Council resolved 470 cases of broken marriages and received over a thousand calls on a pro-marriage hotline established by the Council. The Hong Kong Catholic Marriage Advisory Council was established in 1965 as an organization of volunteer service funded by the diocese and by the civil authority. Its purpose is to help couples live a happy marriage experience and support parents to fulfill their vocation.
