天主教教區學校校長靈修日
之《瓦器泥中尋》
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陳鴻基神父別出心裁的選用《瓦器泥中尋》為是日靈修的主題，主題釋義為從泥土中尋求天主手所造成的瓦器。陳神父言淺意深地以泥歌、泥禱及聖經（耶肋米亞先知書18：1-6）帶領我們按部就班的去探索、思考和分享，讓我們體會到天主的恩寵是何等的偉大，陶泥與陶工彼此的關係是何等的密切。陳神父提供了接受聖言薰陶的五個步驟，分別是：
「頓」-
聖言在說什麼？
「悟」-
聖言今天對我說甚麼？
「會」-
聖言使我說甚麼？
「交」-
「上主說：祂一發言，萬物形成；祂一命名，萬物化生。」（詠：33：9）
「通」-
聖言最初和唯一的終向就是天主的子民。
陳神父為了使校長們對「泥」轉化為「瓦器」的過程有更深刻的感受和頓悟，特意地分派每人一塊陶泥，讓大家即時變為陶工，以身體力行，一同去塑造各人的瓦器。霎時間，禮堂變成了陶器工場，碴泥及搨泥之聲此起彼落，好不熱鬧。起初，部分校長們真有點不知所措，但很快聖神便降臨在眾人當中，污泥變成了護膚品；互勉成為靈感的泉源，一同使出渾身解數，不斷對陶泥施以搓、揉、揑、壓。經過一小時左右，陶泥經過陶工的悉心塑造，最後終於變成眾多的瓦器了。在分享製作的過程中，各具特色，有些是漫不經意的、有些是銳意經營的、有些是隨心隨意的，共同的地方是大家都沒有放棄，都有美好的成果，我們都感受到天主的恩寵。
午膳後，便是淨化和精煉的時間，陳神父用「因我被造，驚奇神傲。」（聖詠139篇）提醒我們，在天主的心目中，你不是偶然或意外的產物，你是給這世界的一份禮物；在祂的心目中，你是棒極了。我們便各自反省和進行修和聖事。
感恩祭中，陳神父再次鞏固我們今天的成果，把我們融入現實生活當中，他說：「如果校長、教師是陶匠，那麼，學生們便是你們的作品。」多位校長亦暢抒己見，把所頓悟的結合到日常的生活之中，成為今日的「瓦器」：教育工作者的使命乃是天主的恩賜，我們要尊重學生的個別差異並因材施教，有時候更需要運用不同的方法和永不放棄，此外，能把握適當的塑造時刻亦相當重要。
但願我們都成為天主手中的陶泥，亦成為祂所派遣的陶工，相信憑著天主所賜的智慧，我們會做得更好，因為，只要祂在我們身邊，每人都可以發出自己的光。
Retreat
for Principals of Diocesan Schools
“Clay,
Potter and Ceramics” what had these to do with Principals’ Annual Retreat?
Fr.
Matthew Chan SDB, the Retreat Master tactfully associated principalship to the
making of a piece of ceramics. To change a piece of clay into a useful piece of
ceramics had inspired principals to educate their students untiringly.
The
Annual Retreat for Principals of Diocesan Schools which took place in St.
Andrew’s Church was held on 16th March, 2007.
There were 110 participants.
With
the singing of hymns and a Reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah to
start the day off, Fr. Matthew Chan conveyed the message of how Principals could
shape their pupils the same as potters mould their clay.
God
had assigned principals to be His potters to nurture the students to live out a
life of true Christian values.
During
the session when all the participants were given a piece of clay to make their
own pottery, they were able, after much trial and errors, to produce their own
masterpieces which included a cross, an angel , a vase, flowers in a basket and
containers in various sizes and shapes.
Participants rightly understood that if a piece of clay was handled with
creativity, love and sincerity, the finished products would be an unique piece
of art.
In the Eucharistic celebration, Fr. Chan again reminded Principals of their vocation which was in fact a call from God and they should not forget that a potter should not give up a piece of clay but should always work with perseverance and persistence.