B1
B – Chancery Notice
Chancery Notice
CN/01/001/2024
Chancery Notice
Prayer Service for Christian Unity 2024
The Prayer Service for Christian Unity will be held on 20th January 2024 at 7:30 pm in the Fatima Centenary Auditorium (Estrada Marginal da Ilha Verde, 14-17, Saint Joseph Campus). The theme is "Love God and Love our Neighbors".
Prayer intentions for Christian unity may be included in the Sunday liturgies of 20th-21st January (Third Sunday in Ordinary Time).
Given at the Chancery Office, 10th January 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome LAW, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/02/004/2024
Chancery Notice
Fasting and Abstinence Lent 2024
Bishop Stephen LEE makes public the following:
Ash Wednesday (14th February 2024) and Good Friday (29th March 2024) are Days of Fasting and Abstinence.
Norms on the practice of fasting and abstinence
One of the requirements of the Christian life is to do penance, i.e., to convert through repentance for one’s sins and mortification. To repent is an act of faith whose end is to love and to turn back to God. Without this conversion, the repentance becomes mere formalism.
To provide for common acts of penance for the entire Church, she has set certain penitential days. On those days, Christians should dedicate themselves to prayer, to devotional practices, acts of charity, almsgiving, and self-denial through the faithful fulfilment of one’s duties. In the universal Church, penitential days include Fridays of the year and the season of Lent. “Penance” includes fasting, abstinence, and other acts that can take their place.
I. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Good Friday). (*)
Fasting means that one eats only one full meal in a day. However, one may take small portions of simple food for the other two meals.
Abstinence refers to refraining from meat and eating only simple and modest food.
II. Obligatory days for abstinence: Abstinence is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year, unless they are liturgical solemnities, feast days, and important Chinese festivities identified by the local Church authority.
During the time of Lent, no substitution by other works of charity or prayers are allowed without the prior approval of the parish priest.
Outside Lent, the Church authority has approved that the observance of abstinence can be substituted by special prayers (e.g.: Way of the Cross, Rosary, Bible reading, attending Mass, etc.) or almsgiving (donation to churches or charity institutions according to one’s capacity, or avoiding excessive expenditure, etc.) to substitute the abstinence.
III. Age for observing fasting and abstinence:
Abstinence: All faithful completing 14 years old or above should observe abstinence.
Fasting: All faithful from 18 to 59 years old should observe fasting.
N.B.: Priests and parents should ensure that those who are not bound by the provisions of fasting and abstinence understand the true meaning of penance.
IV. Faithful who are weak, sick, and pregnant are excused from the above-mentioned norms on fasting and abstinence.
For Fridays, all faithful are urged to live a spirit of mortification and simplicity, and to avoid having festivities or organizing sumptuous meals, especially in the season of Lent so as to observe the Church’s penitential tradition on Fridays.
(* 2024: Ash Wednesday – 14th February; Good Friday – 29th March)
Given at the Chancery Office, 30th January 2024
Rev. Cyril Jerome LAW, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/03/005/2024
Chancery Notice
Pastoral Appointments
Bishop Stephen LEE announces the following appointments, effective from 1st March 2024:
Rev. Michael LEE Hun Joon ceases to be Assistant Chaplain of Conde de São Januário General Hospital.
Rev. José Oliveira Marques is to be appointed Assistant Chaplain of Conde de São Januário General Hospital.
Given at the Chancery Office, 6th February 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome LAW, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/04/006/2024
Chancery Notice
Chrism Mass
The Chrism Mass this year will take place at the Cathedral on 27th March 2024 (Wednesday of Holy Week) at 6:00 pm.
Given at the Chancery Office, Macau, 13th March 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome LAW, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/05/007/2024
Chancery Notice
Good Friday Holy Land Collection 2024
Donations to support the Holy Land will be collected during the Good Friday Passion Liturgy (29th March) this year per usual and forwarded to the Holy See via the Bishop's Office.
Given at the Chancery Office, Macau, 20th March 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome LAW, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/06/008/2024
Chancery Notice
A Plenary Indulgence Granted on the Occasion of the
250th Anniversary of The Birth of Saint Magdalene of Canossa
On the occasion of the 250th Anniversary of the birth of St. Magdalene of Canossa, Foundress of the Congregations of the Daughters and Sons of Charity, the Apostolic Penitentiary has granted, for the period from 1st March to 2nd October 2024, a plenary indulgence and on the usual conditions (that is, a spirit of detachment from any sin, sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion and prayer for the Pope’s intentions), to all the faithful who visit devoutly any church assigned by the aforementioned Congregation by way of a pilgrimage, or at least stay and meditate there for a suitable period of time.
The same plenary indulgence can be gained by the elderly, the sick and all those who for serious reasons are home-confined and who, detaching themselves from any sins and intending to fulfill the usual conditions as soon as possible, before statue or holy picture of St. Magdalene of Canossa, unite themselves spiritually to the 250th Anniversary celebrations, offering their prayers and the sufferings and hardships of their lives to the God of Mercy.
In Macau, the Church for this pilgrimage purposes are:
Igreja de Santo Antonio
Igreja de Sao Francisco Xavier (Mong-Ha)
Igreja de Sao Francisco Xavier, Coloane
Given at the Chancery Office, 10th April 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome LAW, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/07/010/2024
Chancery Notice
The 61st World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2024
On 21st April (4th Sunday of Easter, Good Shepherd Sunday), the Church celebrates the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
On the same day, Bishop Stephen LEE will offer the Holy Mass at 3:00 p.m. at the Cathedral with the special intention for vocations in the universal Church and in the Diocese of Macau.
After the Mass, a ceremony will take place for the priests and religious who celebrate their Silver, Golden or Diamond Jubilee of ordination or entrance into religious life in gratitude for their ministry and service.
The collections from the parish Masses of that Sunday are to be delivered to the Bishop’s Office which will present them to Rome to support the Pope in his various apostolates (“Peter’s Pence”).
Given at the Chancery Office, Macau, 10th April 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome LAW, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/08/011/2024
Chancery Notice
World Day of Social Communications 2024
The 58th World Communications Day is celebrated this year on 12th May, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, with the theme: “Artificial Intelligence and the Wisdom of the Heart: Towards a Fully Human Communication”.
Offerings collected from the parochial Masses that Sunday will be delivered to the Holy See through the Diocesan Curia to support the social communications apostolate of the Universal Church.
Given at the Chancery Office, Macau, 29th April 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome LAW, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/09/012/2024
Chancery Notice
Banns of Ordination to the Priesthood
The Most Reverend Stephen Lee Bun Sang announces that he intends to ordain Reverend Deacon Adriano Serro Agostinho and Reverend Deacon Chan Pak Lam Bosco to the Sacred Order of Presbyter on Saturday, the 31st day of August, 2024 at the Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady.
The faithful of the Diocese of Macau are asked to pray for these men. At the same time the faithful are obliged to reveal impediments to sacred orders, if they know of any, by contacting the Bishop or their parish priests before the ordination in accord with the norms of cc. 1043 and 1051.2 of the Code of Canon Law.
Mary Immaculate, Patroness of our Diocese, intercede for these men and for an increase in vocations to the priesthood here in Macau.
Given at the Chancery Office, 26th June 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome LAW, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/10/013/2024
Chancery Notice
Ordination to the Priesthood
Deacon Adriano Serro Agostinho and Deacon Chan Pak Lam Bosco for the Catholic Diocese of Macau.
Date: 31st August 2024 (Saturday)
Time: 3:00 pm
Venue: Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady
Celebrant: Bishop Stephen Lee
All priests, religious, and lay faithful are encouraged to participate in the celebration.
Given at the Chancery Office, 10th July 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome LAW, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/11/015/2024
Chancery Notice
Pastoral Appointments
Bishop Stephen LEE announces the following appointments, effective from 1st September 2024:
Rev. Michael LEE Hun Joon ceases to be Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral Parish and is to be appointed Chaplain responsible for pilgrims to the Church of St. Joseph Seminary.
Rev. CHAN Pak Lam Bosco is to be appointed Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral Parish.
Rev. Adriano SERRO AGOSTINHO will continue with further studies in Rome.
Given at the Chancery Office, 31st August 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome LAW, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/12/016/2024
Chancery Notice
New Appointments of Diocesan School Supervisors and Chaplains for the 2024-25 Academic Year
Colégio Diocesan de São José No. 6
Supervisor: Bishop Stephen Lee (to replace Rev. Cyril Law)
Chaplain: Rev. Bosco Chan (to replace Rev. Michael Cheung)
Colégio Diocesano de São José (No. 1-4)
Supervisor: Rev. Cyril Law (to replace Bishop Stephen Lee)
Escola Dom João Paulino
Chaplain: Rev. José Oliveira Marques (to replace Rev. Domingos Un)
Santa Rosa de Lima English Secondary School
Chaplain: Rev. Eduardo Aguero (to replace Rev. Rafael Vigolo)
The latest list of members of the Diocesan School Board has been published on the website of the Diocesan Catholic Education Commission: www.macaucdec.org
Given at the Chancery Office, 2nd September 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome LAW, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/14/018/2024
Chancery Notice
Pastoral Appointments
Bishop Stephen LEE announces the following appointments, effective from 1st October 2024:
Fr Bosco CHAN Pak Lam has been appointed Director of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission and Head of the 2025 Jubilee Preparation Group. All organizations in the diocese planning to organize activities related to the Jubilee should contact Fr Chan for coordination.
Fr Domingos UN Wai Meng ceases to be formator (spiritual director) at Saint Joseph's Seminary, to be replaced by Fr Eduardo Emilio Aguero, SCJ.
Given at the Chancery Office, 25th September 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome LAW, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/15/019/2024
Chancery Notice
The Solemnity of Immaculate Conception
Bishop Stephen LEE makes public the following:
8th December 2024 (Sunday)
The liturgical readings for the Second Sunday of Advent are to be used throughout the day (including the evening) for Masses and the Liturgy of the Hours.
9th December 2024 (Monday)
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated. Since it is a holy of obligation, the faithful are obliged to attend Mass - please consult the Mass schedule announced by the parishes for this day.
On this day, a solemn Mass will be celebrated in the Cathedral at 3pm, marking also the closing of the Diocesan Year of Vocations.
All Catholic schools will not have classes on this day.
Given at the Chancery Office, 25th September 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome LAW, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/16/020/2024
Chancery Notice
Day of Prayer and Vigil for World Peace
Pope Francis has called for a day of prayer and fasting for peace on 7th October 2024. Bishop Stephen Lee encourages all parishes, religious communities, schools and organisations in the Diocese to organise activities for the faithful on that day in response to the Pope’s appeal.
In addition to the usual hours of Eucharistic adoration in the Cathedral, the Bishop will lead Vespers, Rosary, and Benediction from 8 pm to 9 pm on that day.
Given at the Chancery Office, 3rd October 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome Law, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/17/021/2024
Chancery Notice
World Mission Day 2024
On Sunday, 22nd October, we celebrate World Mission Day with the theme "Go and Invite Everyone to the Banquet " (cf. Mt 22:9).
The Mass “For the Evangelization of the Peoples” (in the Roman Missal) may be used with its proper prayers. The readings are the ones from the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time or those for Mission Sunday.
At all parish Masses on that Sunday the second collection will be taken for the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith and will be sent to the Holy See via the Bishop’s Office as a contribution of our Local Church to the missionary activities of the Universal Church. The priests are to encourage the faithful to generously support the missions.
Given at the Chancery Office, 4th October 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome Law, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/18/022/2024
Chancery Notice
Pastoral Appointments
According to c. 682 of the Code of Canon Law, Bishop Stephen Lee announces the following appointments, effective 9th November 2024:
Rev. Carlos Alberto Malásquez Quispe, MCCJ, ceases to be Parish Priest of St. Joseph the Worker Parish to receive new assignments from the superior of his congregation.
Rev. Rafael Gemelli Vigolo, MCCJ, ceases to be Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph the Worker Parish and is appointed Parish Priest of the said Parish.
Rev. Daniel Cerezo Ruiz, MCCJ, is appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph the Worker Parish.
Given at the Chancery Office, 8th November 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome Law, Jr.
Diocesan Chancellor
CN/19/023/2024
Chancery Notice
Diocesan Youth Commission
D. Stephen LEE Bun Sang announces the appointment of members to the Diocesan Youth Commission for a three-year term, effective from 24th November 2024:
Consultors: Fr. Daniel Antonio de Carvalho Ribeiro SCJ, Fr. Rafael Gemelli Vigolo MCCJ, Fr. Cyril Jerome Law, Jr., Fr. Michael Cheung IVE, Fr. Chan Pak Lam Bosco, Sr. Maria Zhu Zhi Bei Pu SSVM, Sr. Maria Shan Dao Zhi Mu SSVM.
Members: Mr. Ho Hoi Kit António, Ms. Wong Sut Hong Therese, Ms. Loong Wan Kei, Mr. Lei Chi Hang, Ms. Yiu Tsz Man Jasmin, Mr. Leong Wai Ip,
Ms. Chang Wai Tong Sarah, Ms. Ip Soi Cheng, Mr. Leong Hou San,
Ms. Lao Hang I, Mr. Lei Lun Seng, Mr. Leung Siu Chung,
Mr. Chau Kai Chong.
Office Director: Mr. Wong Kuok Leong
Vice-Director: Ms. Tammy Chio Chu Cheng
Given at the Chancery Office, 24th November 2024.
Fr. Cyril Jerome LAW, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/20/024/2024
Chancery Notice
On the Opening of the Jubilee Year, Indulgence,
and Designated Sacred Places
Pope Francis has announced that the 2025 Jubilee Year will commence on 24th December 2024 and conclude on 6th January 2026, with the theme "Pilgrims of Hope". Bishop Stephen Lee now announces the arrangements for the diocesan celebrations:
Local Pilgrimage and Opening Mass: On Sunday, 29th December 2024, the Feast of the Holy Family, the faithful shall gather at 2:30 PM at St. Dominic's Church, followed by a pilgrimage-procession to the Cathedral for the solemn Mass. Faithful participating in this pilgrimage and Mass will receive the Jubilee Indulgence (for detailed guidelines, please refer to the Papal Bull 《Spes non confundit》).
Designated Sacred Places in the Diocese: The Bishop has designated St. Joseph's Seminary Church and Our Lady of Penha Chapel as Jubilee pilgrimage sites. Faithful who devoutly visit these places will receive the Jubilee Indulgence granted by the Pope (for detailed guidelines, please refer to the "Decree on the Granting of Indulgence during the Ordinary Jubilee 2025").
The Papal Bull and the Decree for the Jubilee Indulgence are available on the diocesan website www.catholic.org.mo.
Please stay informed about various themed activities during the Jubilee Year.
Given at the Chancery Office, 27th November 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome Law, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/22/026/2024
Chancery Notice
Pope Francis’ pontificate and his birthday concert was rescheduled
The concert originally scheduled for 19th December 2024 to celebrate the 11th anniversary of Pope Francis' pontificate and his 88th birthday will be rescheduled to 8:00 PM on 27th December 2024 (Friday), and will be held at the Cathedral.
Given at the Chancery Office, 3rd December 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome Law, Jr.
Chancellor
CN/23/027/2024
Chancery Notice
Pastoral Appointment
Bishop Stephen Lee Bun Sang announces the following, with effect from 1st January 2025:
Rev. Peter Lee In Ho, BMC, ceases to be parochial vicar of St. Anthony Parish.
Given at the Chancery Office, 10th December 2024.
Rev. Cyril Jerome Law, Jr.
Chancellor