There was much joy as we celebrated the birth of John the Baptist! On the afternoon of Saturday June 24th, 2023, the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus celebrated the ordination of Michael Nguyen Phuoc Bao Dai Loi, SJ, Przemyslaw Maka, SJ and Philip Fung Hon Chung, SJ to the priesthood as well as the ordination of Paul Pham Khanh Linh, SJ to the diaconate.
His Excellency Most. Rev. Stephen Chow Sau Yan, SJ, Bishop of Hong Kong, was the ordaining prelate. He is also the former Provincial so it was a joy to see him in Taiwan again. At his side were Fr. Stephen Tong Chak Long, SJ, Provincial of the Chinese Province and Fr. Louis Gendron, SJ, rector of the St. Robert Bellarmine theologate community. The liturgy was held on a hot and humid afternoon at Holy Family Church filled with the faithful in Taipei, Taiwan.
During his exhortation, Bishop Stephen Chow invited the ordinandi to serve others rather than seek to be served. He encouraged them to live today in way that leads Jesus to say on the last day, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Fr. Provincial Stephen Tong said that the ordinations we see today are the result of a long process. The path to ordination has joy as well as many struggles, challenges and tensions. Some of these challenges are known only to the ordinandi and God. Yet God’s love and grace have prevailed and brought these four Jesuits to ordination today.
Since the ordinandi hail from different countries, the liturgy had a distinctly international flavour. The prayer intercessions were read by family and friends in Polish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Tayal (Taiwan indigenous language), Mandarin Chinese and English. Multilingual songs also helped the congregation to appreciate the beauty of these cultures.
The Chinese Province has local vocations in Taiwan, however, most Jesuits serving here come from other Provinces or regions. This can be viewed negatively, there is a great hunger for local vocations. However, today we saw something positive, how the Holy Spirit brings diverse people together to create something with harmony and unity in Christ. For example, the offertory was brought up by the parents of the ordinandi. It was a touching moment without words. The only reason these people came together here in Taipei this weekend is because their sons have given themselves to Christ.
Participants at the Mass included many healthcare professionals (Fr. Philip Fung is a medical doctor), priests and religious from many countries as well as the former vice-president of Taiwan and his wife.
At the closing of the liturgy, it was time to hear from the four Jesuit ordinandi themselves. They creatively used the four weeks of the Spiritual Exercises as a structure, each ordinand sharing words in relation to the theme of one week. A clear motif emerged—gratitude—for family, Jesuits, collaborators and benefactors.
Another sign of unity—all three priests will be together at the first Mass tomorrow morning at Sacred Heart Jesuit Parish in Taipei.
Jesus has called each of these men personally. May what God has begun with much grace and care be brought to fulfillment in the years of service, sacrament and shepherding ahead.