HONG KONG: A survey reveals the importance of the formation of faith for an integral growth of the young

Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - The formation of the Christian faith is essential for an integral growth of young people today: is the result of a survey conducted by "Hong Kong Family Movement" in collaboration with the Group of Family Service of Caritas Hong Kong, conducted from November 2011 to March 2012, including 2,220 students from 19 Catholic schools. According to reports from the Kong Ko Bao (Chinese version of the diocesan bulletin), Fr. Giovanni Giampietro, PIME, who is the founder and spiritual director of the movement, has launched an appeal to Catholic parents in order to provide the utmost attention to the Christian formation of children. According to the survey, "the Catholic boys who pray often, attend Mass or the oratory, read the Bible, are generally good in their study and, in general, in life", because "faith helped them to form healthy values." One of the promoters of the survey pointed out the importance of having a religious education, not necessarily Catholic, for children and young people of today who will be tomorrow's adults.

The "Hong Kong Family Movement" founded by Fr. Giampietro in 1994, International Year of the Family, responds to the challenges that today's Catholic family in Hong Kong has to face to build communion and harmony based on faith. Promoted and supported by Caritas Hong Kong and by the Office of the formation of the Laity of the Diocese, the movement is divided into small groups of 3 to 5 Catholic families, to live their faith, strengthen the relationship between parents and children, build a healthy Christian family within contemporary society. Today there are 29 groups in Hong Kong (with 169 families) in 18 parishes.

NZ - Agenzia Fides (10/5/2012)

Source: fides.org