HONG KONG (SE): The Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Angels [MNDA] held its centennial closing celebration on September 8 at their primary school chapel on Bonham Road, Hong Kong.
The event started with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing and was concelebrated by Father Joseph Yim, Father Simon Lam, Father Peter Lo, Father Dominique Mukonda Kananga, Father James Boey and Father Matthew Choi.
In his homily, the bishop looked at the congregation’s history, which began in 1914 with Canadian missionary, Sister Florina Gervais [Mother Mary of the Sacred Heart] and her assistant, Chan Tsi Kwan [Mother Mary Gabriel]. The MNDA was later founded in the year 1922 in Quebec, Canada.
The bishop observed that the world has changed so much, with political regimes rising and falling, but the small religious congregation still exists, and its development has shown that we should not fear because God is with us. He expressed his appreciation of the congregation’s call to continue Christ’s mission, be immersed in it, and discover the seeds of the kingdom of God among his people.
The second part of the celebration was a gathering of the friends of of the congregation at the school hall. Sister Sylvia Cantor led the prayer of the MNDA centennial. Sister Maricris Llasos, regional superior, then shared the congregation’s history.
In less than 25 years since its foundation, 90 Canadians and 14 Chinese sisters took part in the mission in China, caring for the sick, teaching English and Chinese, but mostly giving religious education to young women consecrated to God. It was not until war broke out that they were compelled to leave.
The mission nourishes with the love of God, and it has continued developing over the past century. Today the congregation has spread to Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Tahiti, Peru, Tanzania, Congo, Brazil, Chile, Vietnam, Philippines, Rwanda and Canada.
Senior MNDA sisters and mission partners were awarded certificates of appreciation.
Female guests were given a souvenir scarf upon entering the venue.
