HONG KONG (SE): Sister Yvonne Van Hoof of the Missionary Sisters Of Immaculate Heart Of Mary Sisters [ICM] passed away on April 30.
Born the fifth child in a family of 10 children, Sister Van Hoof was 15- or 16-years-old, when she saw a movie about Father St. Damien De Veuster of Molokai, awakening a desire to become a missionary.
She joined the ICM in De Jacht, Belgium, in November 1960. Following her first profession she went to the Philippines for further studies. In 20 September 1965, she arrived in Hong Kong.
After a year learning Cantonese, she began teaching religion in Po Yan Primary School, Kowloon, where she taught until 1978. The children loved her and it was mutual. Sister Van Hoof was then invited to teach Sunday School catechism at Mother of Good Council parish, San Po Kong; many of her former students became her partners in mission.
Early in the 1980s, the Diocese of Hong Kong invited her to help at the Diocesan Catechetical Centre where she shared her experiences with more people three days a week.
In 2003, she was asked to teach adults. At first, she hesitated because she had always worked with children. However, she could not say ‘no’ and, aided by an experienced catechist, she started. A last precious gift she received on Easter 2005 was the baptism of a few people whom she had prepared. Two weeks later the parish celebrated her and bid her farewell as she was to return to Belgium after 40 years in Hong Kong.
In Belgium, Sister Van Hoof was welcomed in the community of Kessel-Lo. A totally new ‘life’ awaited her: working at home instead of outside the convent, being among elderly sisters instead of children, administrative tasks instead of meeting people. It meant a turn of 360° but also this fulfilled her, because she saw it as a call within a call. She did gladly and with full commitment.
Few years later, she suffered a stroke. After a long period of rehabilitation, she was brought to the Pavilion community where she received care and attention.
Sister Van Hoof courageously professed: “Now I experience what I used to believe, that a person receives the grace of state which she/he needs, and finds the inner strength to respond to life as it unfolds”.
She passed away peacefully surrounded by some sisters and the nurse on duty. She is now welcomed by our God in his eternal home.
