Parishioners listen to Hii’s talk.
SIBU: Catholic Bishop of Sibu, Rt Rev Joseph Hii has exhorted Catholics here to take it as their vocation, to lead a Gospel way of life.
“This is the ‘hour of laity’ in doing what you can for the Church,” he told some 50 people at a talk on ‘Word of Life’ at St Mary’s Parish Hall Tuesday.
The talk was organised by the International Movement of Focolare (Work of Mary).
Hii said the children of God need not have to become priests or religious brothers or sisters in order to live the Gospel.
“There are many vocations that allow you to lead the Gospel way of life,” he said.
The Bishop also urged Catholics to read the Bible, meditate on it and live it.
On the propagation of faith in God, he said the time had come for the laity to be at the forefront in doing what was previously thought to be the work of the ordained clergymen.
The shortage of priests, he figured, could be a telling from God that more laymen were needed in the evangelization work.
“Chiara Lubich who started the Focolare Movement is not a religious sister, but she has inspired others to live the Gospel,” he said.