Letter from Bishop Stephen LEE regarding the "Survey on the Current Situation of Elderly Catholics in Macau" (2024)

Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

On 28 July, the 4th World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, Pope Francis has chosen as the theme of his message for this year, ‘Do not cast me off in my old age’ (Ps. 71:9).

The Holy Father points out that loneliness and isolation are key factors affecting the health and well-being of the elderly today. He reminds us to cherish every moment of encounter with the elderly and to recognise their contribution. The Pope calls on us to care not only for their physical health but also for their spiritual needs. He emphasises that loneliness is not an inevitable part of old age, but a shadow that society needs to work together to dispel. Therefore, all of us Catholics should be open-minded and take the initiative to reach out and support the elderly around us, so that they can feel valued and loved.

At present, Macau is facing the challenge of aging, and the number of elderly Catholics in the community is steadily increasing. According to the Statistics and Census Service of Macao, by the end of 2023, there will be about 100,000 elderly people aged 65 and above in Macao, and the aging index has climbed to 106.1%, which means that for every 100 young people, there will be about 106 elderly people. As the number of elderly continues to grow, we must think more carefully about how to provide support so that every elderly person can live in dignity and love and enjoy every moment of their lives.

In view of this, the Catholic Diocese of Macau has initiated a project entitled "Survey on the Current Health Situation and Life Support for Elderly Catholics in Macau", funded by the Social Welfare Bureau, in order to have a more comprehensive understanding of the actual needs of local elderly Catholics, and to set the course of our pastoral care and services to meet their needs. The Diocesan Committee for Life, together with the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Saint Joseph, plans to launch this extensive survey in October this year. Through face-to-face questionnaires, the survey aims to identify Catholics aged 60 or above in the community and their current situation, especially those who are socially inactive or do not receive social services.

This diocesan project depends on your prayers and support. All parishioners are cordially invited to co-operate in this survey. You are also welcome to volunteer to help elderly Catholics in your parish to complete the survey. Later on, we will arrange for volunteers to visit each parish in phases to conduct the survey and, if necessary, to visit the homes of elderly Catholics with limited mobility to collect relevant information. For details of the programme and the specific dates of the survey, please refer to the parish announcements and information released by the Diocesan Committee on Life.

We ask our Heavenly Father to give us His Holy Spirit to illuminate our wisdom, to inflame our hearts, and to strengthen our wills. Let us walk hand in hand, cherishing each and every one of our elderly, so that they may feel the beauty of life in our care.

Bishop Stephen Lee Bun Sang

Catholic Diocese of Macau