天主教教區學校校長周年靈修日於五月二十一日（星期五）假香港仔聖伯多祿聖堂暨中學舉行。參與的中學、小學及幼稚園校長共一百二十人。是次靈修的主題為：「寧靜反思、與主相遇」，而帶領靈修的神師是聖神修院神哲學院葉慶華神父。 

        葉神父於開始時提出一些問題，帶領參與�穸h反思。天主教學校的特色及優勢在那裡？天主教學校有這些特色和優勢，是因為我們的教育使命，不斷被信仰使命所滋養、推動及監督。而這些特色、優勢又是否在校長的領導工作顯示出來呢？校長們又是否善用天上的資源去履行使命呢？ 

        葉神父坦言學校是福傳的重要地方，正因為這個原因，天主教學校的校長，亦有雙重的使命：信仰使命及教育使命。要履行信仰使命，校長們須認同作為牧者的身份，帶領及牧養主的羊群，改變他們的命運，為世界創造幸福，從而改變社會的面貌。 

        葉神父鼓勵在座的校長。成為天主教學校的領袖，也是一種天主的召叫，天主對於被召叫的人，一定給與足夠的支持，指引及祝福。神師從聖經章節中印証他的說法，天主召叫梅瑟帶領祂的子民離開埃及，不也是一直指引及帶領他麼？而西滿伯多祿整夜一無所獲，也在聽從主的指示下滿載而歸。因此透過主的支持，校長定能在工作崗位內，完成主的旨意。 

        他亦提醒各參與�矷A要多祈禱及參與靈修，與主溝通，聆聽上主的聲音，才可以將宗教理念，帶到現實生活中，使天主教「愛主愛人」的精神，滲透和散發在學校的不同環節中。葉神父在總結時希望各校長都能在培育同學的過程中，獲得喜樂和滿足。 

        靈修日的最後一個環節是感恩祭。葉神父在彌擏中再次提到在工作中「只問耕耘，不問收穫」，便不會給自己太大壓力，而信賴上主才可以做好主安排的工作。

        The annual retreat for Diocesan School Principals was held on 21st May 2004 at St. Peter’s Church cum Secondary School and Kindergarten in Aberdeen.  A total of 120 principals attended.

         The Retreat Master, Rev. Father Yip Hing Wah of the Holy Spirit Seminary College started the retreat by asking participants to reflect upon their role as Catholic leaders in schools.  He then brought out for reflection the difference between an ordinary school and a Catholic School and the uniqueness about Catholic Education.

         Father Yip pointed out that a leader in a Catholic School has a dual role and mission; religious leadership and leadership for learning.   In the spiritual level, since the school is a base for evangelization, the job of a principal in this sense is a shepherd. Like Jesus the Shepherd, the work of the Principal is to change the life of His sheep and eventually to change the face of the world.  Knowledge is limited and everything has an end but as a Catholic Leader, the principal should give students a sense of security in view of all the uncertainty and changes in the actual world.  Catholic Education is to bring God’s love, which belongs to the spiritual level, back to reality and His love will penetrate into various dimensions in the school.

        He comforted and encouraged principals that if God entrusted a task, He would give enough support and guidance to the person he called to work for Him. Here he cited examples of Moses and Peter.  The service for God would be blessed and the person called would definitely have the qualification and potential to do His job well.  He reminded principals that they could be assured of abundant resources in Heaven. 

        Father Yip emphasized the importance of frequent prayer and  regular retreat which would allow principals some quiet moments for reflection and to listen to the call of God.

        Father Yip ended the day’s sermon by reassuring principals to be brave in accepting their assigned tasks.  Only strength and resources from above could give us peace on earth and they should not rely too much on secular resources and he hoped that the process of nurturing and leading God’s sheep would give immense satisfaction to principals. 

        The retreat ended with a Eucharistic celebration and participants carried away with them better understanding of the mission of being Principals in Catholic Schools.