On October 21st, 2026, our Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy of the University of St Joseph in Macau celebrated its Faculty Day. It started with the solemn chanting of the Midday Prayer and the prescribed Profession of Faith by the Faculty members; then we enjoyed a fraternal lunch, and finally we participated in a four-hour workshop on “Safeguarding Minors and Vulnerable Adults,” led by the experienced speaker, Fr. John Lee 李驊, SJ, Director of the Protection of Minors and Professional Standards Office, Chinese Province, Society of Jesus.
The lecturer opened by underscoring how “safeguarding the vulnerable is not just another mission of the Church, but the essence of our mission.” Hence, to know the mistakes of the past helps to address challenges ahead. His lecture consisted of four parts, dealing respectively with “Attitude and Response to Safeguarding,” “Various forms and harms of the child Abuse,” “Safeguarding in Church Institutions,” and “Pastoral Boundaries.” Fr. John inspired us to see the merciful love of the Father to each of us, his children, manifested in his Son Jesus, whose love for the children and the poor constitutes the principle of safeguarding. We did learn from Church’s history and from the Magisterium, which is committed to implement strict measures against abuses of any kind within her institutions. The lecturer motivated us to strive for a system of protection for both the minors and the pastors/educators. Ultimately, safeguarding can only be fully accomplished when the ministers of the Church themselves receive deep, compassionate spiritual and psychological healing. Thus, this integral formation is something we must safeguard, too.
The workshop was intended to equip us, as friars and religious formators, to safeguard the minors and vulnerable adults in our future ministry. Actually, this workshop is required for all seminarians who will be working with children in schools and mission fields. (This is why the attendees were awarded a certificate upon completing the workshop).
We learned much from Fr John’s expertise and experience in this field. We are glad too that in attending the workshop, we responded to the Acts of our latest 2025 General Chapter which ordains that “priors provincial ensure that the brothers and employees and volunteers who collaborate with the brothers in stable works proper to the Order are educated in the types of abuse (such as sexual, psychological, physical, emotional, and spiritual, among others), the importance of promoting safe practice, minimizing risks of abuse and responding immediately and appropriately to reports of concern. Furthermore, brothers and those employees and volunteers should attend seminars and workshops on the different areas of abuse and the relevant requirements of local civil law. Superiors should ensure that all brothers have access to these resources” (#162).
May God renew the Church as a home for everyone!
Br. Marcus Tan, OP
October 26th, 2026