[June 4 35th anniversary] Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong suspends June 4 memorial Mass for third consecutive year
【六四35】天主教香港教區連續第三年停辦六四彌撒
Today, June 4, marks the 35th anniversary of the 1989 June 4 incident. The Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong said it would not hold a June 4 memorial Mass this year, marking the third consecutive year it has been suspended. In response to an inquiry from Independent Media, the diocese’s Office for Social Communications said that May 24 is the Memorial of Our Lady Help of Christians, a special day when Catholics around the world pray for the Church in China and China. On June 4, 2021, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace held Masses in remembrance of the deceased at seven churches across Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories. All the churches were full, and some worshippers mourned outside the churches. However, the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong stopped holding June 4 memorial Masses the following year. The diocese said at the time that frontline staff and some members of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace had concerns about holding the memorial Masses, including whether doing so would violate the Hong Kong National Security Law. The Hong Kong Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, which organised the Masses in remembrance of the deceased in 2021, has now been renamed the Diocesan Commission for Integral Human Development. Regarding this year’s situation, the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong said in response to an inquiry from Independent Media that May 24, the Memorial of Our Lady Help of Christians, is a special day when Catholics around the world pray for the Church in China and China. It is the universal Church’s designated Day of Prayer for the Church in China and is observed by the universal Church.
今日6月4日，是「八九六四」事件35週年，天主教香港教區表示，今年不會舉行六四追思彌撒，是連續第三年停辦。香港天主教社會傳播處回覆《獨媒》查詢時表示，5月24日是「聖母進教之佑紀念日」，即全球天主教徒為在中國的教會和中國祈禱的特別日子。 在2021年6月4日，天主教正義和平委員會曾在港九新界七間教堂舉行「追思亡者彌撒」，教堂全數滿座，更有教徒在教堂門外悼念。 不過，天主教香港教區在翌年開始，不再舉辦六四追思彌撒。教區當時曾表示，有前線同工及部分天主教正義和平委員會委員，對舉行追思彌撒感到顧慮，包括是否會觸犯《香港國安法》。而在2021年舉辦「追思亡者彌撒」的香港天主教正義和平委員會，現時已改名為教區全人發展委員會。 至於今年情況，天主教香港教區回覆《獨媒》查詢時表示，每年5月24日即「聖母進教之佑紀念日」，是全球天主教徒為在中國的教會和中國祈禱的特別日子，即普世教會所定的「為中國教會祈禱日」，並為普世教會所遵循的。