The Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus celebrated the ordination of a new priest and two new deacons during a Eucharistic celebration on 5 July at Holy Family Church in Taipei. Continue reading “New Jesuit priest and deacons ordained Taiwan”
New Jesuit priest and deacons ordained Taiwan
First Vietnamese Jesuit ordination in Hong Kong
Scholastic Mark Nguyen Dinh Minh Tri SJ was ordained a deacon on 21 June at St Ignatius Chapel, Wah Yan College, Hong Kong. He is the first Vietnamese Jesuit to be ordained in Hong Kong. Continue reading “First Vietnamese Jesuit ordination in Hong Kong”
“If not you, then who?”
When he looks back on his journey, Fr Pedro Chia SJ can point to the “cannonball” moment he was called by God—in two sentences and 16 words: “若不是你，那會是誰；若非現在，又是何時.”(If not you, then who? If not now, then when?) He was in his early thirties, pondering his life’s direction. Continue reading ““If not you, then who?””
“If not you, then who?”
When he looks back on his journey, Fr Pedro Chia SJ can point to the “cannonball” moment he was called by God—in two sentences and 16 words: “若不是你，那會是誰；若非現在，又是何時.”(If not you, then who? If not now, then when?) He was in his early thirties, pondering his life’s direction. Continue reading ““If not you, then who?””
A hope-filled discernment of vocations
For the first time, candidates and prenovices of the Society of Jesus from China, the Philippines, and Vietnam gathered on 8 March to foster friendship while engaging in a hope-filled discernment of our vocations. Held via Zoom, the gathering included 19 Vietnamese prenovices, 16 Filipino candidates, and two Chinese candidates. Continue reading “A hope-filled discernment of vocations”
A pause to hear the mission calling
The Asia Pacific Tertianship programme, which started in Manila last September, comes to an end on 1 March. A diverse group of Jesuit priests and one brother from the Philippines, Slovenia, Lithuania, Spain, South Korea, the United States, and Vietnam have completed the final period of their formal religious formation Continue reading “A pause to hear the mission calling”
A transformative Arrupe Month experience
The four Jesuit scholastics in the Chinese Province undertaking their theological studies participated in the month-long Arrupe Month. Continue reading “A transformative Arrupe Month experience”
Following the footsteps of the Good Shepherd: Ordinations in the Chinese Province
A voice booms across the room: “Good morning, teacher!”—the voice of Paul Hoang Huy Huu SJ. On Saturday, 6 July, in Holy Family Church, Taipei, Paul was ordained deacon by Mgr Thomas Chung, Archbishop of Taipei. Paul’s voice will now be dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel. Continue reading “Following the footsteps of the Good Shepherd: Ordinations in the Chinese Province”
Young priests gathering of the Chinese Province: Sharing and discerning in deep brotherly friendship
As the pandemic situation eased and border controls relaxed, nearly 20 young Jesuit priests who are in apostolic ministries of the Chinese Province met on the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival at the beautiful and serene Xavier House in Hong Kong, where they spent time in a spirit of communion while participating in a five-day workshop Continue reading “Young priests gathering of the Chinese Province: Sharing and discerning in deep brotherly friendship”
Deacons in the service of the Church
The Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus celebrated the ordination to the diaconate of two scholastics, Philip Fung Hon-chung SJ and Przemyslaw Mąk SJ, on 7 May at the Holy Family Church in Taipei. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the organising committee offered two options for people to participate in the liturgical celebration: in-person or through the livestream. Despite the challenges, the faithful, friends, and classmates of the two ordinands filled the church with enthusiasm.
The Archbishop of Taipei, Most Rev Thomas Chung, was initially scheduled to preside at the ordination. However, due to recent cases of infection at the Taipei Archdiocesan chancery office, Most Rev John Baptist Lee, the Bishop of Hsinchu Diocese and chairperson of the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference, presided over the liturgy instead. The Mass was also joined by more than 30 concelebrants.
Bishop Lee exhorted the two ordinands to immerse themselves in works of charity, deepen their spiritual life, and be fervent in evangelization. Later, two Jesuit priests, Fr Jaime Valenciano and Fr Barry Martinson vested the new deacons respectively with the stole and dalmatic.
Towards the end of the liturgy, the Socius of the Chinese Province, Fr Luciano Morra SJ, gave the thanksgiving speech on behalf of the Provincial, Fr Stephen Tong SJ, who is currently in Hong Kong and so was unable to attend the celebration due to travel restrictions from the pandemic. Fr Morra read Father Provincial’s letter in which he specifically thanked the Bishop for ordaining our two Jesuit brothers to the diaconate as servants of the Church.
In his letter, Fr Tong also mentioned the varied backgrounds of the new deacons: Philip is a neurologist while Przemyslaw is a ballroom dancer, yet the same Lord called them both and placed them together. This shows forth the diverse and international character of the Society of Jesus. Father Provincial sincerely hopes that the new deacons will reflect the image of God indefatigably in all circumstances.
Fr Tong also described the role and essence of deacons in the early Church. He encouraged the new deacons to concretely embody the spirit of Jesus expressed in his words: “I did not come to be served, but to serve,” He further exhorted them to live out the motto of the Jesuits: “For the Greater Glory of God” standing firmly on the foundation of the Holy Church.
Finally, Fr Tong expressed his gratitude for the generosity of the parents of the deacons. He hopes the two deacons will grow joyfully in their vocation.
At the end of liturgy, the new deacons gave thanksgiving speeches, each in their mother tongue, Cantonese and Polish, respectively. They expressed gratitude for the support of family and friends. Since this ordination day was also the Feast of Our Lady of China, the two deacons venerated the Holy Mother with a bouquet of flowers while singing and dancing to the Magnificat. In so doing they drew this heartwarming celebration to a perfect end.