HONG KONG (SE): A prayer service was held on June 15 at St. Francis Church, Ma On Shan for Wilson Choi Wai-san, Joseph Ng Wai Hang, Francis Mok Chun-keung, John Siu Sze-chuen, who will be ordained to the permanent diaconate on June 29. They were joined by around 100 family members, friends, priests, deacons and others.
After chanting Taize prayers, Mok invited those present to reflect on Acts 6:1-7, in which seven deacons were appointed to assist with the needs of the growing community of the early Church.
Mok said that of the life of St. Stephen, one of the first deacons and the first martyr of the Church, reminded them that the diaconate needs sacrifice, and paid tribute to the deacons who had passed away after a long and dedicated service to the Church. He noted that the deacons had different vocations, and believes their names will be recorded in God’s list even though they might not all have been well known by people.
Choi, a secondary school religion teacher, was baptised at St. Teresa’s parish, Kowloon, in 1989. After being accepted as a candidate for the permanent diaconate, he was assigned to St. John the Baptist Church, Kwun Tong, and now serves at Resurrection Parish, Kwun Tong. Immediately after being instituted as an acolyte, he was assigned to the Hong Kong Catholic Marriage Advisory Council and Caritas Community Centre-Ngau Tau Kok for pastoral training.
Mok said that of the life of St. Stephen, one of the first deacons and the first martyr of the Church, reminded them that the diaconate needs sacrifice, and paid tribute to the deacons who had passed away after a long and dedicated service to the Church
Choi said he was grateful for the guidance of Jesus, friends, classmates from the Holy Spirit Seminary, and his wife, who supported him by attending formation activities with him and taking good care of the family. He also thanked the late Deacon Joseph Chow Yu-hong, who used to serve at St. John the Baptist Church, for teaching him how to be a good deacon by dedicating himself to his ministry even when he was seriously ill.
Looking back, he thought God paved the way for his vocation in the way that he grew up from the time he joined a Catholic primary school to the time he became a religion teacher. He remembered he finally submitted his application for permanent deacon on 3 September 2016, which happened to be one day before St. Teresa of Kolkutta, the model of charity services was canonised.
Ng, an IT consultant, was baptized as a baby at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. For his pastoral training, he served Holy Cross Church, Shau Kei Wan, the Hong Kong Catholic Marriage Advisory Council, Caritas Hong Kong and the Diocesan Pastoral Commission for Marriage and the Family. He is now serving at St. Jude’s Church, North Point.
Ng said he was aware that there would be trials as a permanent deacon, but it will feel joyful after developing a close relationship with God.
Siu said he is aware of the trials being a deacon, but that there would be a closer relationship with God after they are overcome
Mok is a geriatrician who was baptised as a teenager and will complete his Bachelor’s Degree in Religion from the Holy Spirit Seminary College of Theology and Philosophy in June this year. He has served at the Caritas Community Centre-Ngau Tau Kok and the Hong Kong Catholic Marriage Advisory Council-Grace & Joy Integrated Family Service. Since 2020, he underwent pastoral training at St. Lawrence’s Church, Cheung Sha Wan, by teaching Sunday School and paying home visits to care for the underprivileged.
Mok believes that God would let his calling be known in different ways. “I think if God has his calling on you, sometimes Nyou cannot avoid him until you accept,” he said. He quoted an article written by lay missionary, Stephania Ling, which hit his heart as she recalled that she did not have long term plans when aware of God’s calling, and just walked by faith, step by step as she knew her direction.
Siu, a retired school principal, was chairperson of Hong Kong Catholic Diocesan Schools Council, a member of the Central Management Committee for Diocesan Schools, as well as the Catholic Board of Education, and committee member of Hong Kong Federation of Catholic Students. He received training in the chaplaincy of Caritas Medical Centre, and gave formation to pre-married couples for the Hong Kong Catholic Marriage Advisory Council. He is now a member of the Pastoral Council of St. Francis Church.
Siu said he is aware of the trials being a deacon, but that there would be a closer relationship with God after they are overcome. He believes that he and his wife will have busier live after the diaconate ordination, but it is a vocation for the whole family and the couple at the same time as they show people that the mission of the Church is to serve others.
