Father Mark Anthony Serna OMI
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Hong Kong opened its first Benefit Store for the Poor on March 19, the feast day of St. Joseph. Located at 10A Ming Lun St. (close to the Kowloon City Ferry), the primary purpose of the store is to support the Oblates’ ministry distributing food packets every Friday to the growing number of poor people especially in To Kwa Wan and Yau Ma Tei.
Father Slawomir Kalisz, delegation superior of the Oblates in Hong Kong, and Father Mark Anthony Serna, who organised the project, began with the idea of renting a space where essential goods can be sold at affordable price. Proceeds from the sales will be used to support the ministry with the poor whose numbers continue to increase in this time of the Covid-19 pandemic. These needy people promoted the seeking of resources to provide them with assistance.
We have generous collaborators in the Oblate Youth volunteers who have been the mainstay of the ministry ever since the Food for the Poor programme started.
The distribution of food packets on every Friday to the homeless and the needy in To Kwa Wan and Yau Ma Tei has become more challenging in this time of pandemic. Law enforcement agencies watch closely to ensure that health protocols are strictly followed. However, in spite of the restrictions, the programme continues to provide aid to the poor and to those who have nowhere to go.
The Benefit Store for the Poor is run with the help of numerous volunteers from the two Oblate parishes, the Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate, the Oblate Youth, and four schools where the Oblates are ministering. They have contributed their time and talent to assist as staff.
The people in those areas now expect the food relief every Friday and the missionaries feel they have a responsibility to ease out hunger and offer a touch of care for the less privileged.
The Benefit Store for the Poor is run with the help of numerous volunteers from the two Oblate parishes, the Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate, the Oblate Youth, and four schools where the Oblates are ministering. They have contributed their time and talent to assist as staff.
The store sells both new and used goods such as clothes, kitchenwares, bags, shoes, stationeries and other products. These are donations from generous individuals. Different individuals and families make regular donations to the store which is rented for $12,500 per month. The store is open from Monday to Friday from 1.00pm to 7.00pm, and from 1.00pm to 8.00pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Aside from the physical store, furniture, appliances, and other gadgets are also sold online.
The Oblates also hope the store will help to generate awareness among the people about the OMI mission in Hong Kong and across the globe. They encourage people to take part in the service and develop the spirit of love and care for the poor.
