HONG KONG (SE): The students of the Maryknoll Fathers’ School Secondary and Primary Sections, in Shamshuipo, commemorated Maryknoll Day 2021 on October 22. Every year, the Friday before World Mission Sunday is dedicated to celebrating the missionary work of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers and to pray for missionaries around the globe.
Founded in 1911 under the name, Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers began its first mission to China in 1918; its presence and work are now worldwide in scope.
At the secondary school, the celebration began with singing of the hymn, Mother Mary of China[櫓國聖캡], in remembrance of the mission’s dedication to China, followed by a prayer service led by Father Joseph McCabe, the Asia regional superior of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, and the showing of a video of Maryknoll history and its reverence for Chinese culture and architecture. It concluded with prizes being awarded to the winners of the Comic Drawing competition on Maryknoll History.
Father McCabe exhorted students to live the school’s motto, Truth and Loyalty in earnest. Truth as learned from the Bible and loyalty to God, our neighbours and ourselves.
At the primary section, Maryknoll Day is also dress casual day. This is meant to remind students that bearing witness to Christ is an commitment at all times, not just at school or inside church.
During the day, students participated in quizzes and games to test their knowledge of the meaning of the school emblem and what it takes to be “salt of the earth, light of the world.” Father McCabe presented souvenirs to participating students.
In solidarity with other Maryknoll schools in Hong Kong, the primary section also collected donations for the new campus of Maryknoll Secondary School in Anderson Road.
