“Without cost, I have received, without cost, I am to give,” Sister Mary Lucy Chung Miu-sheung, who celebrated her golden jubilee of joining the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows, shared at the Mass on the feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8. During the celebrations held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the diocese honoured the contributions of priests and religious sisters marking their jubilee years of ordination or religious vows.
Sister Chung said that the Lord called her when she was in her childhood. During her First Communion, she felt the call to become a religious sister. From then on, after Communion every day, she asked God to keep her holy.
She recalled that when she asked her parents’ permission to enter into the consecrated way of life, they only let her join this congregation in Shatin which they knew well and with whom they had a good relationship. So she became a member of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows.
She had many chances to meet Blessed Gabriele Allegra, who often visited the sisters. She recalled that when the Franciscan priest explained the Bible, she could see that he was living it out himself and being an example for her in her life.
Since the missionary congregation arrived in Shatin in 1958, it has carried out the mission of its founder, Bishop Angelo Palazzi, a Franciscan Italian missionary, in the fields of education, catechetical instruction and working in parishes. The bishop, who arrived in China in 1905 at the age of 19, dedicated himself to building up the local Church and serving the people there.
Sister Chung remembered starting parish pastoral work after her first vow in 1973. At that time, the Church was undergoing many reforms following the Second Vatican Council and the congregation’s sisters played an essential part in building the Church in Shatin. At the same time, it provided education for young people in Shatin and helped students to grow up with an all-around foundation.
Sister Chung has served on the Catholic Religious Schools Council since 1984. She remarked that she learned a lot from different congregations in the diocese as they worked together for the various education reforms in Hong Kong’s Catholic Schools.
This included the 15-years of free education from kindergarten to secondary school in the 2000s, the setting up of incorporated management committees and other reforms like the school system, the updating of curricula, inclusive education, youth development and changes made according to social needs.
Since 2019, the subject of religious studies has been taught by designated teachers to strengthen religious education in the diocese and encourage teachers’ formation.
Whatever the circumstances, Sister Chung said her work was based on the motto that Catholic education aims to manifest the image of God and build his kingdom on earth. Everyone belongs to the people of God and every child’s uniqueness has to be developed.
She also called to mind the chances she had to visit the Holy Land, which helped her to experience how the Word became flesh and his dwelt among his people.
Throughout the decades of her service, she drew her spiritual strength from following the examples of St. Francis of Assisi and Bishop Palazzi. The saint was always leading her to make a dwelling place for the Lord.
Above all, she thanked her mentor, Blessed Allegra, a faithful follower of St. Francis of Assisi, who showed her how to serve God with her whole heart, soul and mind. She also felt blessed to have had the chance to visit the hometown of Blessed Allegra in Sicily, Italy, and make friends with his nephew and other family members.
She expressed gratitude that God still gives her a chance to serve the Church after an difficult trial three years ago when she underwent a nine-hour brain surgery. At present, she is still undergoing rehabilitation treatment. “I will continue to be the handmaid of the Lord,” she said.
She told the Sunday Examiner that her encouragement to students she has taught in past decades is to work with love and labour, be merciful like God, accept people with different views and help build up a harmonious society.
