HONG KONG (SE/KKP): The Hong Kong Catholic community bid a heartfelt farewell to Father Pierre Devos Joseph and Father Ferdinand Bouckhout, members of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM), as they returned to Belgium on September 4 after five decades of dedicated service. Their departure is deeply felt, as they leave behind a legacy of selfless service and unwavering devotion.
Father Devos arrived in Hong Kong in 1968 at the age of 27. In an interview with Kung Kao Po, the Chinese diocesan weekly, he shared the challenges of adapting to a new environment, particularly the local cuisine and customs.
Struggling with chopsticks and unfamiliar dishes like chicken feet and preserved duck eggs, he embraced these challenges, learned Cantonese, and immersed himself in Hong Kong’s culture.
He recalled an incident where he tried using traditional Chinese stick incense in Masses, only to face opposition from parishioners who believed it was not a Catholic custom.
Father Devos served different communities during his time in Hong Kong. He started at St. Mary’s Church in Hung Hom. Despite initial communication barriers due to his limited Cantonese, he actively reached out to residents in nearby resettlement areas, forming strong connections despite challenging living conditions. He found joy in serving schools and participating in sporting events, emphasising the core message of the gospel: love.
As he prepared to return to Belgium, Father Devos reflected on his time in Hong Kong with fondness, acknowledging the changes in his homeland and the challenges of re-adjusting, yet his faith assures him that God has a plan for his future endeavours. He will miss Hong Kong’s landscape and, most importantly, its people.
Father Bouckhout, who arrived in Hong Kong a year after his ordination in 1968, was known for his playful and joyful personality, often engaging with parishioners through activities like football and mahjong. In an interview with Kung Kao Po, he emphasised that fun and playfulness were important tools for spreading the joy of the gospel.
He was deeply compassionate, actively supporting those in need, particularly those facing grief and loss. He vividly recalled comforting a young boy left alone at his sister’s funeral and accompanying families during the process of identifying deceased loved ones, understanding that empathy and presence were more important than words in moments of profound sorrow.
In 1980, Father Bouckhout studied a course in Canada on facing death, inspired by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s book on near-death studies from a psychiatrist’s perspective. This deepened his understanding of death and the importance of facing it with hope and acceptance. His ministry extended to serving the needs of newly developed areas in Hong Kong and visiting terminally ill patients in hospitals, offering silent companionship and a comforting presence. He deeply valued the teachings of Father Harrie Stultiens, a former parish priest at St. Mary’s Church, Hung Hom, who emphasised the importance of personal connection and genuine care over intellectual arguments.
Although he has returned to Belgium for retirement, he expresses his unwavering commitment to his ministry in Hong Kong. He believes that the relationships he forged with his parishioners, regardless of their religious backgrounds, are invaluable and a testament to the power of community.
