“To fill the world with love … to be brave, strong and true.” — Petula Clark
And this is how Sister Marie Therese Beaudette of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (MIC), spent her lifetime in the service of God in the spirit of Thanksgiving and Joy.
Sister Marie Therese was born in Vegreville, Alberta, Canada, on 8 April 1932. She had three brothers and a younger sister. As a child she was always attracted by the reviews of the Propagation of the Faith. She read with great interest the articles written by missionaries on the lepers and pagan orphans in China.
Hence from early childhood, she desired to be a religious. This was realized on 27 January 1951 when she travelled through five provinces, from Alberta to Quebec, to join the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in Montreal.
Towards the end of her missionary journey in Hong Kong in 2003, her dream of visiting the lepers and the orphans in China became a reality. Followed by many joyful visits, she was able to establish a Relief Fund for them with the help of her past students from Good Hope School.
Sister Marie Therese was an excellent teacher, a born leader and a woman of love and compassion. She gave her life to the mission in the Philippines for six years and in Hong Kong for 29 years, as an administrator, a teacher and superior of the community.
She loved her Sisters and her colleagues as persons and individuals, defying differences of culture and colour of the skin. For her, each one was a gift from God: she was well-loved in return.
Sister Marie-Therese was a friend to persons coming from all walks of life. Everyone felt respected and loved. True to her call as a Missionary Sister of the Immaculate Conception, Sister Marie Therese lived and continuously deepened her spirit of Thanksgiving and Joy each day.
On 12 May 2020, Sister Marie Therese went back to her Creator to receive her eternal reward.
She will continue to sing God’s praises in heaven for only love’s reward will stand the test of time. Her life can be well summarized by the following words from a song:
“And so when it’s all been said
and done, there is just one thing that matters.
Did I do my best to live for truth, did I live my life for You.
You’re my LIFE when life is gone.” — Robin Mark —
The Mass of the Resurrection for Sister Marie Therese will be held on Saturday, 27 June 2020 at 10.00am in Good Hope Primary School Hall (383 Jat’s Incline, Kowloon) to be presided by His Eminence John Cardinal Tong.
The MIC Sisters will arrange the seats following the guidelines of the diocese. Please let us know by June 23 by telephone at: 2320 3818 if you are attending the Mass.
Guests are requested to wear their masks, have their body temperature checked and be seated by 9.45am.
Please do not send flowers or wreaths.
