【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2026 年1月19日澳門訊】 ─ 2026 年 1 月 17 日，澳門教會經歷了充滿回憶、感恩和希望的一天，教區正式啟動了對天主忠僕胡子義神父（Gaetano Nicosia）的宣福及封聖案的調查。胡子義神父是一位慈幼會傳教士，他畢生致力於服務漢森病患者，並以深切的信仰和溫柔的關懷稱他們為「耶穌的兄弟姐妹」。
當天下午3點，在九澳聖母村的七苦聖母堂舉行彌撒聖祭，該處與胡子義神父的傳教和見證息息相關。彌撒由澳門教區李斌生主教主禮，約40位神父共祭，其中包括慈幼會中華會省省會長梁定國神父，以及來自澳門和香港慈幼會會士、教區神父和其他修會的修女。
聖母進教之佑孝女會和許多慈幼家庭成員也出席了活動。
九澳教堂擠滿了信徒，其中許多人都曾與胡子義神父有過私人交集：以前的學生、以前的漢森病患者、合作者以及體驗過他的親切、他的話語和他不知疲倦的服務的人。
在講道中，梁定國神父強調了胡子義神父與真福類斯華里神父的聖召之間深刻的聯繫，並著重指出他們都能夠將人類的苦難詮釋為天主召喚人們全然奉獻自我的召叫。他著重強調了胡子義神父始終致力於維護每個人的尊嚴，孜孜不倦地促進和解與平安，以及他能夠在飽受排斥和邊緣化之苦的地區建立起共融。
在聖體聖事慶典結束後，舉行了教區層面的列真福品啟動禮，這是一項教會和法律的行動，澳門教區通過此儀式正式開始對天主忠僕胡子義神父的生平、英勇德行、聖德聲譽和標誌進行調查。
在儀式中，教會法庭成員和副申請人Gabriel Cruz神父宣誓就職。澳門主教在致詞中邀請所有在場者以胡子義神父的生平為基督徒生活的典範，敦促他們效法他樸素的慈善精神，並滿懷信心地將自己託付給聖母瑪利亞慈母般的關懷。這位慈幼會傳教士始終視聖母為他的指引和依靠。
天主忠僕胡子義神父於1915年4月3日出生於意大利西西里島San Giovanni la Punta（卡塔尼亞），2017年11月6日逝世於香港，享年102歲。他奉獻生活超過八十年。他的身影在澳門、香港、中國大陸和義大利依然鮮活，不僅作為人們的記憶，更作為當下的召叫，激勵人們在親密、尊嚴和希望中活出福音。隨著教區新階段的開啟，教會也開啟了一段充滿信心的辨別之旅，祈求這位謙卑的僕人的榜樣繼續啟迪那些渴望將基督之愛融入生活的人們，並滿懷信心地祈求他的代禱。
Opening of Diocesan phase of the Cause for Beatification of Fr Gaetano Nicosia
(ANS – Macau, 19 January 2026) – On 17 January 2026, the Church of Macao experienced a day filled with memory, gratitude and hope with the official opening of the diocesan inquiry into the Cause for Beatification and Canonisation of the Servant of God Gaetano Nicosia, a Salesian missionary who dedicated his life to the service of those afflicted with Hansen’s disease, whom he called with deep faith and tenderness ‘brothers and sisters of Jesus’.
The day began at 3 p.m. with the celebration of Holy Mass in the Nossa Senhora church in the historic site of Ka Ho, a place linked to the mission and witness of Fr Gaetano. The Eucharist was presided over by the Bishop of Macao, His Excellency Stephen Lee Bun Sang, and concelebrated by about forty priests, including the Provincial, Fr Domingos Leong, and Salesians from the houses of Macao and Hong Kong, diocesan priests and religious from other congregations.
The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and numerous members of the Salesian Family were also present.
The Ka Ho chapel was packed with faithful, many of whom had known Fr Gaetano personally: former students, former Hansen’s disease patients, collaborators and people who had experienced his closeness, his words and his tireless service.
During his homily, Fr Domingos Leong emphasised the deep connection between the vocation of Fr Gaetano Nicosia and that of Blessed Louis Variara, highlighting how both were able to interpret human suffering as a call from God to the total gift of self. He emphasised Fr Gaetano’s constant commitment to promoting the dignity of every person, his tireless work to foster reconciliation and peace, and his ability to create communion where exclusion and marginalisation had dominated for years.
At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, the Opening Session of the diocesan phase took place, an ecclesial and juridical act by which the Diocese of Macao officially began the Inquiry into the life, heroic virtues, reputation for holiness and signs of the Servant of God Gaetano Nicosia.
During the session, the members of the Diocesan Tribunal and the Vice-Postulator, Fr Gabriel Cruz, took the required oath. In his address, the Bishop of Macao invited all those present to look to the life of Fr Gaetano Nicosia as a concrete model for Christian life, urging them to follow his example of simple charity and to entrust themselves with confidence to the maternal care of Mary, whom the Salesian missionary always felt as his guide and support.
Born in Sicily, in San Giovanni La Punta (Catania) on 3 April 1915 and died in Hong Kong at the age of 102 on 6 November 2017, the Servant of God Fr Gaetano Nicosia lived over eighty years of consecrated life. His figure remains alive in Macao, Hong Kong, mainland China and Italy, not only as a memory, but as a current call to live the Gospel in closeness, dignity and hope. With the opening of this diocesan phase, the Church now begins a journey of confident discernment, asking that the example of this humble servant continue to enlighten those who wish to make Christian love a way of life and invoking his intercession with confidence.
主禮：澳門教區李斌生主教
地點：澳門九澳七苦聖母堂
日期：2026 年 1 月 17 日下午 3 時