HONG KONG (SE): Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., celebrated a thanksgiving Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to mark the centenary of the Missionary Sisters of St. Columban on April 13.
The Mass was concelebrated by Father Tim Mulroy, the superior general of the Columban Fathers, along with six other priests and around 200 faithful in attendance.
During the Mass, the cardinal expressed gratitude to the congregation for their contributions to Hong Kong over the past six decades. He also remarked that the Columban sisters are always missed by the diocese.
Between 1948 and 2015, the Columban sisters in Hong Kong actively reached out to those who had been ignored by society. For a period of 67 years, they provided a welcoming light to marginalised groups, such as sex workers and refugees, as well as the sick, including people suffering from tuberculosis, Hansen’s disease, AIDS, and people with disabilities or mental illnesses. In addition to their dedicated service in medical centres and schools, they also engaged in activities such as the Legion of Mary and retreat centre ministry.
The congregation was founded in Ireland by Lady Frances Moloney and Father John Blowick in 1924, and the first group of Columban sisters arrived in Hanyang, China, in 1926.
For a period of 67 years, they provided a welcoming light to marginalised groups, such as sex workers and refugees, as well as the sick, including people suffering from tuberculosis, Hansen’s disease, AIDS, and people with disabilities or mental illnesses
At the beginning of his homily, Father Mulroy reflected on the readings of the day, which mentioned Mary of Magdalene and her female companion as the very first Christian missionaries and the first to encounter the risen Christ. He expressed his appreciation to the sisters who recognised Jesus among those suffering in the same way as Mary Magdalene and her companion and remained in solidarity with them, not only in Hong Kong and other parts of China but also in Chile, Peru, the United States, Mexico, Britain, Ireland, Philippines, Korea, Myanmar and Pakistan.
Before the Mass came to an end, Sister Mihwa Kim, a Columban sister from Korea, presented the message from their major superior, Sister Anne Carbon. She expressed her gratitude to the people of Hong Kong who supported the sisters’ work as they ministered in hospitals and schools, and as they branched out into other fields of apostolate and became involved in pastoral and medical work at both diocesan and parish levels.
Later, during the lunch gathering at Caritas Restaurant, three Columban sisters who were formerly in Hong Kong, Sister Lucia So, Sister Isobel Loughrey, and Sister Patricia Byrne, thanked their Hong Kong friends and supporters via a video message.
