Father Mark Anthony Serna OMI
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) have been working in the Diocese of Hong Kong for more than 50 years. One of the ministries we have is the Youth Ministry. In this ministry, we are so blessed to have young people who have the Oblate spirit of loving, especially the most abandoned. So, we strive to seek out, befriend and help not only those who are materially poor, but also those who are poor in spirit, those who do not know the name of Jesus Christ, those abandoned poor with their many faces: the marginalised, victims of different abuses, unemployed, victims of addictions, the sick, and many others.
To give flesh to the charism of the Oblates, particularly to help the needy and the most abandoned, the Oblate Youth conducts a regular Food Giving, which takes place every Friday in To Kwa Wan and every first and third Friday in Yau Ma Tei.
The food-giving initiative in To Kwa Wan, which is our street ministry, was started 20 years ago by Father Slawomir Kalisz OMI together with a few young men. In the beginning, they only gave food packs to some poor families whom they visited on Fridays. After few years, they discovered more and more abandoned poor and homeless in the area. And so, with the help of Father Kalisz, the Oblates decided to continue the ministry.
Ten years ago, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate discovered another place with the different faces of the poor. We thank Father John Wotherspoon, an Australian Oblate Missionary, who first reached out to these needy ones. Led by the Youth, we go there every first and third Friday of the month to make friends with them, chat, and give them food boxes good enough for one meal.
During this time of pandemic, the poor and needy are growing in numbers. In To Kwa Wan, there are now around 160 needy people, up from 55 individuals, who receive the food packs every Friday. In Yau Ma Tei, from 90 individuals, now there are around 230 people queueing for food every first and third Friday of the month.
During this time of pandemic, the poor and needy are growing in numbers. In To Kwa Wan, there are now around 160 needy people, up from 55 individuals, who receive the food packs every Friday. In Yau Ma Tei, from 90 individuals, now there are around 230 people queueing for food every first and third Friday of the month.
Such extremely challenging situations and the existing Covid-19 pandemic have not stopped us from caring for the poor. Instead, our young people have become more courageous in making a difference in the lives of the needy by sharing their time and providing basic needs, especially for those who live in the above-mentioned areas.
In his January 3 Angelus address, Pope Francis said that there is a temptation to take care only of one’s own interests during the pandemic, and to “satisfy only our own pleasure.”
I have been so grateful to God because in the midst of the economic crisis that almost all of us have experienced due to the pandemic, he moved the hearts of many people to be generous and more caring for the needs of the poor. That is why, the Oblates in Hong Kong, with our Youth, continue to promote our street ministry (Food Giving) every Friday because of the help of some generous individuals.
The prayers of the Oblates in the congregation, parishioners, friends and other support received from different people have motivated us a lot to spread Jesus’ love especially for the poor.
As the present director of the Oblate Youth in Hong Kong, the words I speak may not be much motivation for our young people, but our regular presence during the Food Giving every Friday and the simple act of love and care for the poor inspires them to participate in the programme even more.
Pope Francis said: “We do not know what 2021 has for us, but what each of us and all of us together can do is to commit ourselves a little more to take care of each other.”
I hope and pray that those who only care about the good life and not the good they can do may open their hearts to whoever is in need. And may those who only follow their own needs see the needs of the poor, especially the most abandoned.
Finally, may our young people learn from the example of Jesus, which is to give, to share, and to look at others’ need and not only our own.
