HONG KONG (SE): Father Gervais Baudry, a missionary of the Institute of the Incarnate Word [IVE] from Argentina, recalled that when he was ordained 25 years ago, what he chose to be printed on his prayer card was the bible verse from Psalm 117 which says, “Glorify the Lord, all you nations, praise him, all you peoples. For his kindness toward us is constant, and the faithfulness of the Lord will endure forever.”
Indeed, the kindness of the Lord and people around him has been what he felt and is grateful for during his over 23 years of service in Hong Kong, where he was assigned right after he was ordained a priest.
Father Baudry was born in France, but at the age of five, his family migrated to Argentina, as his mother is Argentinian. He grew up in San Rafael, a city in the southern region of the Mendoza Province.
He remembered that when he was young, his parents, being practising Catholics, had close relationship with seminarians and priests, and often invited them to their home to have meals. He was much influenced by the religious people around his family and the readings of the saints, and had considered joining a minor seminary. He made up his mind to discern his vocation at the age of 17, and joined the Mary, Mother of the Incarnate Word Seminary run by the IVE in San Rafael, as a novitiate more than a year later in February 1991. He was ordained a priest in the same city on 6 December 1997.
In fact, a total of five people decided to join the consecrated life one after another from his devoted family. Father Baudry is second eldest son, he has two younger brothers who are priests now serving in France, and two younger sisters who are nuns in France and in Argentina.
Remembering when he first learned the language more than 20 years ago, he said it was never easy and he needed a lot of patience and effort, especially when he needed to prepare homilies in this foreign language. ‘I think the support of parishioners was very important. They were very patient and understanding, knowing that it was not easy for foreigners to learn the language’
Father Baudry went to the United States to study English after ordination. He was then assigned to Hong Kong and arrived here on 6 February 1999 and studied Cantonese for two years.
He can speak fluent Cantonese now. Remembering when he first learned the language more than 20 years ago, he said it was never easy and he needed a lot of patience and effort, especially when he needed to prepare homilies in this foreign language. “I think the support of parishioners was very important. They were very patient and understanding, knowing that it was not easy for foreigners to learn the language,” he recounted.
Afterwards he was assigned to Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Yuen Long, in January 2002 as assistant parish priest. He has been the parish priest since 2006.
At present, Father Baudry is also the superior of the Institute of the Incarnate Word in Hong Kong as well as the dean of the North-West New Territories Deanery. In addition, he is the supervisor of Yuen Long Catholic Secondary School, as well as a member of the Steering Group on Co-operation between Caritas and Parishes. He is also the spiritual director of the English-speaking Curia Spes [Hope] of the Legion of Mary, which was recently set up and has its meetings at Ss. Peter and Paul parish.
He remembered that when he was young, his parents, being practising Catholics, had close relationship with seminarians and priests, and often invited them to their home to have meals. He was much influenced by the religious people around his family and the readings of the saints
Having served in Yuen Long for 20 years, he finds the parishioners very enthusiastic in sharing their faith and being instruments for Jesus. “I can see many parishioners who are committed and willing to share their work in building up the community, which is very encouraging. They have helped to keep the parish alive, instead of a place where people come and go after the Mass,” he said. He sees many examples of parishioners forgetting about their own needs and thinking about how to serve others first.
He also thinks it is important for a parish to show concern to the needs of the community around it. Before the pandemic, the St. Vincent de Paul Society in the parish used to assist asylum seeker families by running a tutorial class for their children. Moreover, for nearly 40 years since 1983, the St. Peter and Paul Centre adjacent to the parish supported terminated foreign domestic workers, or those with labour cases by giving them accommodations.
The parish runs a Five Loaves and Two Fish programme in which participants visit the homeless and the street cleaners every Friday night, bringing them daily necessities and chatting with them as friends. A cabinet loaded with food has been placed at the entrance of the parish for the homeless to freely get what they need.
He also thanked parishioners who generously contributed time and effort to set up the Sacred Heart Garden in Pat Heung, Yuen Long, where the parish has its Good Soil Family Farming Project [Sunday Examiner, September 18] and participating families have a chance to take care of their crops in the garden every week.
However, the parish priest said one central message through the farming project in Pat Heung is that nothing can be gained without pain and sweat. ‘People in Hong Kong do not like discomfort, they do not like to do things which make them uncomfortable. In fact, that can be one of the reasons why they do not like to get married or lead a consecrated life’
The priest admitted that the process of setting up the garden was not easy, and a lot of heavy work had to be done under the hot sun. Because of the project, which started December last year, Father Baudry has been learning farming techniques for different plants and it has become one of his hobbies. He said fruits or harvests are often not guaranteed despite his efforts and shared that a baby tree he tried to plant in the parish had been eaten by snails the night before the interview!
However, the parish priest said one central message through the farming project in Pat Heung is that nothing can be gained without pain and sweat. “People in Hong Kong do not like discomfort, they do not like to do things which make them uncomfortable. In fact, that can be one of the reasons why they do not like to get married or lead a consecrated life,” he said.
“We have to remember that we have to suffer and sacrifice for everything, and the fruits at the end will make your efforts worthwhile,” he said.
Having made the Yuen Long parish a second home for parishioners for two decades, Father Baudry said he has been informed that he will be assigned to another parish next year. He said he will miss his parishioners and projects here, but this is not a reason not to accept the will of God, which has a beautiful meaning behind it.
“Nothing is permanent except the presence of God. What we are enjoying today may not happen tomorrow. So for what we have, like family, health and friends, always give thanks to God,” he exhorted.
