HONG KONG (SE): “A funeral Mass should be sad. But my father’s was not. I felt the unity of the Church, the love and the grace of God. It was just time for God to bring him back to heaven,” reflects Johnny Wong, a newly ordained permanent deacon.
His father was the late permanent deacon, Francis Wong Kwok-shum, who was well-remembered for his dedication to various charity services, such as visiting the hospital during the outbreak of SARS while serving at Christ the Worker parish at Ngau Tau Kok, where the virus spread rapidly in the nearby Amoy Gardens. Despite being in poor health in the last three years of his life, he continued to visit prisons, elderly homes, and hospitals while serving at Rosary Church, Tsim Sha Tsui. Deacon Francis Wong died from heart disease in September 2008 at the age of 71.
The newly ordained Deacon Wong said that the warmth in his heart during his late father’s vigil and funeral Mass triggered a desire to deepen his faith. He acknowledges that he had not been a devoted Catholic and only attended Mass to fulfil the obligation. “I believe it was not me who chose to be a deacon, but it was God’s choice and call.”
He recounted that it was also in the funeral Mass at Rosary Church in October 2008 that Father Dominic Chan Chi-ming, chairperson of the Diocese Commission for the Permanent Diaconate, approached him and asked if he wanted to be a permanent deacon like his father. However, at that moment, Wong remembered he said he did not think he was suitable. But Father Chan insisted that he was and should try.
Father Chan recounted that he saw a humble heart in Wong then. “People often say they are not suitable for religious vocation to avoid thinking about the issue, but in fact, they are suitable in the eyes of God,” he said.
As a result of Father Chan’s encouragement, Wong enrolled in a bachelor’s degree programme in religious studies at Holy Spirit Seminary College of Theology and Philosophy, which gave him the opportunity to come into contact with many lay people and understand their thoughts. He hopes that these experiences will be helpful in his ministry as a deacon to serve and act as a bridge between priests and laity.
His determination to better serve the Church led him to apply as an aspirant for permanent deacon in 2010.
Looking back, Deacon Wong said that his father’s witness had planted the seed of vocation in him. He remembered that his father had not been a humble man before becoming a permanent deacon and had his negative traits like everyone else.
“As his son who looked at him at a close distance, I could see that he changed a lot and was very different from the father I knew in my childhood. Despite his various health issues, he was committed to his services with kindness, humility and perseverance. He never preached at home or gave us a lengthy report about what he did but would occasionally share the interesting things he came across in his charity services,” Deacon Wong recalled. He was touched first by the transformation of his father’s heart.
During the the SARS outbreak in 2003, Deacon Francis Wong insisted on visiting hospitals and serving in his parish. Although his family was distraught and told him not to go due to his health issues, he would repeat that “his life was for God.” Despite their fear for his safety, they were proud of their father’s courage and commitment as a deacon.
When Wong once asked his father if he could also serve as a permanent deacon, he was told no for the time being because his children were still young and he had an obligation as their father to take care of them first.
Deacon Wong moved to Peng Chau more than a year ago in preparation for a quiet retirement. The diocese assigned him to Epiphany Parish, Mui Wo, half a year ago so he could serve closer to home. He realises that this parish is an ideal place for evangelisation because of its simplicity and closeness among the people. “So God has planned everything for me,” he said.
Philomena Wong Lam Kam-chee, the mother of Deacon Wong, said she was grateful that her second son joined the permanent diaconate like his late father. She said the ordination ceremony brought back memories of her late husband’s services, and she was touched beyond words.
