HONG KONG (SE): Father Thomas Lui Po, passed away on June 28 at the age of 92. After completing his priestly formation in Taiwan, he spent over two decades serving the Church in Hong Kong.
Born in 1925, he answered the call to vocation in 1964. He went to the Pius X Seminary in Tainan, Taiwan, for philosophical and theological formation. Not many knew of this—only his family—as it was not easy for him to start leading a consecrated life in his late 30s.
Father Lui ordained priest at the age of 44 in February 1971 by Archbishop Stanislaus Lo Kuang in Taipei. After his ordination, his uncle and diocesan priest, Father Peter Chow invited Father Lui to go as a missionary to Canada. However, he finally decided to serve in Hong Kong.
The parishes he served included Ss. Cosmas and Damian Parish, Tsuen Wan; St. Paul’s Parish, Yaumati; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Wanchai; St. Peter’s Parish, Aberdeen; and St. Joseph’s Parish, Kowloon Bay. He retired in 1995.
Eight members of Father Lui’s family were called to the consecrated life, joining the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres, the Precious Blood sisters and the Diocese of Macau.
John Cardinal Tong Hon, apostolic administrator of Hong Kong, will concelebrate the funeral Mass at Mother of Good Counsel Church, San Po Kong, at 10.00am on July 25. Father Thomas Law Kwok-fai will deliver the homily.
Father Lui will then be buried at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery, Happy Valley, with the ceremony to be officiated by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing.
