HONG KONG (SE): A new deacon and three new priests were ordained for the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus at Holy Family Parish, Taipei, Taiwan, on June 24, the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist.
Philip Fung Hon-chung, of Hong Kong, was ordained by Bishop Stephen Chow Sau Yan, sj, along with Polish missionary, Przemyslaw Mąka, and Michael Nguyen Phuoc Bao Dai Loi from Vietnam. Reverend Paul Pham Khanh Linh, also a Vietnamese missionary, was ordained as a deacon.
Also at the ceremony were Father Stephen Tong Chak-lung, Jesuit provincial superior, and Father Louis Gendron, rector of St. Robert Bellarmine Residence. Nearly 60 priests concelebrated the Mass.
In front of the bishop and the people of God, the four pledged to obey their superiors and follow God. The bishop then laid hands on them, followed by Father Tong, Father Gendron, and all the priests as a sign of invoking the Holy Spirit to come down upon the candidates to be ordained, giving them a sacred character and setting them apart for the designated ministry.
Parents of newly ordained brought the Mass offerings to the altar. Families of the new priests led the prayers of the faithful for the universal Church, Chinese Catholics, world peace, young people, and those affected by the pandemic in Chinese, English, Vietnamese, Polish, as well as the Tayal dialect.
In his thanksgiving message, Father Fung expressed his determination to follow Christ and his gratitude to the priests who helped him in his formation so that they could all see God on the path of vocation. “It is because of you that we are able to feel the presence of God in our lives every day,” he said,
“Regardless of where you are, your prayers and company are still required on our vocation journey,” he added
Father Maka thanked God for creation and his love and for bringing life and faith to their families so that they are able to share it with others. Father Nguyen thanked all those present and his family members for their support and generosity.
Deacon Linh said the people who helped them through the challenges of their vocation, and their mentors who helped them when they were in doubt, were like Simon, who helped Jesus carry his cross and Veronica, who wiped his weary face.
Despite the obstacles they faced, everyone’s support allowed them to walk a path that would have otherwise been impossible.
Father Tong said that it was a joy to see the ordination of the four. He found it touching to see the tears in their eyes as they may have been through many struggles in their formation process, but they’ve gradually overcome them and made promises before God.
He thanked Bishop Chow for officiating the ceremony, their formators of the newly ordained and all those supporting the liturgy that day, and family members.
Bishop Chow said he was delighted by the invitation to officiate the ceremony. He recalled that when he was the provincial superior of the Chinese Province, he had assisted in the formation of Father Fung.
Now 51-years-old, Father Fung was an altar server at St. Margaret’s Church, Happy Valley, when he was young. He studied at Wah Yan College and was an active member of the Christian Life Community [Hong Kong]. He emigrated to Taiwan when he was 18 to study medicine and, after graduation, joined Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, specialising in neurology. At 32, he went to the United Kingdom and the United States for further studies.
It was at this stage that he confirmed his desire to answer God’s call and joined the Chinese Province of the Society of Jesus at 43, making his vows in the Philippines at the age of 45. He then entered Fu Jen Faculty of Theology of St. Robert Bellarmine at 47 and graduated in 2019.
He then went to Boston, the United States, to study in a masters programme in ethics.
As a priest, Father Fung said he hopes that he can live out the love of God and tell people around them that God loves them.
The three newly-ordained priests celebrated their first Mass together at Sacred Heart Catholic Church the next morning.
