HONG KONG (SE): Sister Mary Andre Lafferty, of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows [OSF] departed Hong Kong for Beaverton, Oregon, the United States, on July 12, after serving in Hong Kong for 31 years. She was given a new assignment at OSF headquarters.
Sister Lafferty arrived in Hong Kong in October 1992, after almost 30 years of mission work in the United States. She had been the superior general for two terms before coming to Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong, she worked in the education apostolate of the OSF sisters. She was an English teacher at Immaculate Heart of Mary School from 1992 to 1995 and later the principal of Immaculate Heart of Mary School [AM] from 1995 to 2004.
She later became the school manager of Immaculate Heart of Mary Kindergarten, Immaculate Heart of Mary School and Immaculate Heart of Mary College until recently.
Sister Lafferty had also formed and taught the novices in the convent for more than 10 years. She also served as the local superior of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows Convent in Shatin and as the provincial superior of the Orient Mission.
Her missionary work in Hong Kong was not only confined to the convent and the school apostolate, she also actively helped the local Church. She taught catechism to Filipinos in St Alfred’s Church, preparing them to receive the sacrament of baptism. She also helped with the Franciscan Third Order Secular and introduced the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi to the new members.
Sister Lafferty was well-loved by everyone because of her gentleness, kindness and generosity. We are grateful to God for Sister Andre’s 31 years of missionary work in Hong Kong and for her 60 years of religious life.
