HONG KONG (DE): Parents, friends and notable guests graced the annual Speech Day of St. Paul’s Convent School (SPCS), Causeway Bay, on November 21 in an event that showed that faith, hope and love will always triumph over adversity.
Among those present were guest of honour, Dr. Cecilia Lam Shiu-ling, chief executive officer of the Rotary Rehabaid Centre for Children, Sister Joanna Marie Cheung Yuet-ngor, the provincial superior of the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres of Hong Kong and Taiwan; and Royce Wong Kin Kwok, the senior school development officer of the Education Bureau of the Hong Kong goverment.
In her welcome speech, Sister Margaret Wong Kam-lin, principal and supervisor of SPCS, expressed her deepest gratitude to the Lord the Speech Day could be held as planned in a safe and orderly manner, despite the recent turmoil in Hong Kong. She extended her appreciation to all guests for their presence, which made the evening even more treasurable and memorable.
Sister Wong remarked that Hong Kong is a community that embraces diversity with its core values, such as respect, tolerance and harmony, adding that at those times when our desire to make Hong Kong a better place for the future is clashes with different realities, what we need most is mediation, reconciliation, forgiveness and love, not condemnation and finger pointing, let alone hatred and violence.
She therefore urged all Paulinians to be global servant leaders in their homes, professions and society.
Paulinians exhorted to cultivate three new skills in order to face new challenges in a disruptive world: learning agility: an ability to learn, unlearn and relearn; resilience: the ability to bounce back when knocked down by life; and grounded optimism: an aptitude to convert positive emotion into tangible action leading to realistic solutions.
Finally, Sister Wong once again congratulated all graduates and prize winners.
In her speech, Dr. Lam, shared personal anecdotes and valuable lessons learned during her time at SPCS, her alma mater, and in life. She encouraged all teenagers to have a spirit of good will and a moral compass, to act with sincerity, dedication, compassion and affection, and to pair their skills with a caring heart. She urged them to remember their social responsibilities for the common good of society.
To conclude the event, Dr. Lam joined with Sister Wong in exhorting the Paulinians to grow in wisdom, in service of others and service to God.
