HONG KONG (SE): Salesian Deacon Anthony Pun Ming-chi, was ordained a priest by John Cardinal Tong Hon, the apostolic administrator of Hong Kong, at St. Anthony’s Church, Pokfulam, on July 4. Father Joseph Ng Chi-yuen, provincial superior of the Salesian China Province, recommended Deacon Pun for the Holy Orders.
Joseph Cardinal Zen Ze-kiun, the retired bishop of Hong Kong, along with over 20 priests, including several fellow Salesians, concelebrated the liturgy.
Father Pun was born in Hong Kong and, in 1999, received the Sacraments of Initiation at St. Anthony’s Church. He served as an altar server and joined the parish youth group before entering the Salesian Community in 2004.
He made his first religious profession in 2007 and his permanent vows in 2016. He studied philosophy at the Holy Spirit Seminary College in Hong Kong and completed his theology studies in Rome. He also completed a graduate programme in social work at the University of Hong Kong and holds a recognised social work qualification.
The representatives of the Salesian Youth expressed their hopes that Father Pun, as well as other Salesian missionaries, would live the charism of St. John Bosco by accompanying young people and being at the service of the society.
Father Pun expressed his gratitude towards his parents and family, who made great sacrifices during his journey to priesthood, thanking them for their support and prayers. “In these difficult times in Hong Kong, I hope to make Jesus visible to more and more people through my priestly life,” he added.
Sharing his preordination thoughts in an interview published in Kung Kao Po on July 5, he said when he was an altar boy at St. Anthony’s Church, he was touched by how the parish priest supported young people and he later acted like an elder brother taking care of the younger altar boys.
While doing counselling services at the Aberdeen Technical School, Father Pun said he came across many complicated problems faced by the younger generation, such as family issues and their special learning needs. He believes it is important to accept their limitations while communicating with them.
He said he cherishes the chance to talk to every student upon leaving the school so that he can understand what they think. He recalled there was a student who left the school due to behaviourial problems and he encouraged him to live his life with honesty and hard work.
Father Pun shared that, like many young people, he had his own crisis of self-value, which happened when he was assigned to study language and theology in Rome in 2015. He was rejected by a parish priest who questioned his ability to serve as he could not speak Italian.
He then served at another parish and made a lot of effort to learn Italian. He was later reassigned to the parish which had previously rejected him and the same parish priest was happy with his performance in teaching in a confirmation class.
The lesson of the experience is that hard work can enhance a person’s growth.
He humorously dismissed the hearsay that a Salesian has to play football well and admits that he is not good at sports! However, he likes to join young people as they go hiking and camping, and to cheerlead while they join football competitions.
Father Pun hopes he can learn from Jesus, a good shepherd who is sad over the lost ones and takes good care of the injured. “What I learned from my training is that, while following Jesus, I have to do what he did, so that I can be a good shepherd for the young as they grow up,” he said.
Father Pun celebrated his first Mass at St. Jerome’s Church, Tin Shui Wai, where he received his pastoral training, on July 5. A thanksgiving Mass is also scheduled at 10.00am at St. Anthony’s Church, on July 12.
