HONG KONG (SE): Institute of Foreign Missions [MEP] Sister Marie Monica Kwok Oilin passed away peacefully at Ma Mason, the old age home of the Little Sisters of the Poor, in Paris, France, on October 10. She was 95-years-old and had been a nun for 65 years.
Sister Kwok was born in Shanghai on 31 January 1927. Her family later settled in Hong Kong where she spent most of her life.
She joined the convent of the MEP Sisters in September 1953, four years after the congregation had arrived in Hong Kong and two years after they had founded a community in Taikoo Lau village, Pokfulam, and opened The Little Flower’s Primary School in Shatin.
She professed her first vows on 3 October 1956.
As a young, joyful religious, Sister Kwok taught catechism at the Little Flower’s Primary School. She also spent her free time visiting the families of Taikoo Lau and Pokfulam villages, Sandy Bay, Kong Sin Wan and others. Often, she would also visited the sick in Queen Mary Hospital.
She would organise games and various activities for the children on Sunday afternoons and, as the group grew bigger she would empower the older ones to be leaders. At Christmas she would organize dances and Nativity scenes,
She also organised art exhibitions and summer camps at Lamma Island, which the children enjoyed a lot, giving them solid training which they always appreciated. All their life, even after they had become grandparents they stayed in contact with Sister Kwok.
She went to France in 1970 and did hospital ministry for three years in Malaysia. In 1974, she returned to Hong Kong and worked at the Ruttonjee Hospital and lived in Sai Ying Pun, where she remained until 1984.
Back in France from 1984 to 1994, Sister Kwok cared for the refugees who had arrived from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. She helped them to find jobs and places to live, and cared for the sick. Her service was highly appreciated by the administration in Toulouse. She also arranged some classes to help Chinese children to study their language and not forget the Chinese culture.
After returning to Hong Kong in 1994, Sister Kwok started to work in China, giving formation classes to one of the religious congregations, whose members were unaware of the renewal of the Church after the Second Vatican Council.
In 2007, she chose to spend the remaining years of her life with the French sisters and in 2011, she moved to Ma Maison. Here she attended the needs of other people who were living in the same house.
A Requiem Mass is scheduled to be celebrated for Sister Kwok by Father Dominic Chan Chi-ming along with MEP priests, at 7.30pm on November 29 at Our Lady Of Lourdes, 1 Chi Fu Close, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
May she rest in peace.
