The lives of 12 missionaries to Hong Kong are seen through the eyes of Dr. Maria Joyce Chang Sau-han, the author of The Wonders of Twelve Missionaries in Hong Kong. In the book, she writes about how they influenced her own faith journey from childhood onward.
The featured missionaries are Canossian Mother Nedda Buratti, Jesuit Father Fergus Cronin, Dr. Evelyn Eaton, Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions Father Secondo Einaudi, Maryknoll Sister Mary Heath, Bishop Peter Lei Wang-kei, Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions Father Francis Lerda, John Baptist Cardinal Wu Cheng-chung, Canossan Mother Margherita Valsecchi, Columban Sisters Aquinas Monaghan and Gabriel O’Mahoney, and Monsignor Charles Vath.
“I discovered some unique characteristics among them. They have shown us how to follow Christ in their capacity in living their daily normal life,” Dr. Chang, a former Division Head for Social Work Services at Caritas-Hong Kong, writes in the preface.
“Christians are all called to be missionaries to show forth Christ’s presence to those around us—our family, relatives, and friends,” she continues, writing that as a consequence “others may be attracted by some aspects of Christian living experience, be it in the form of love, joy, gentleness, kindness, peace, forgiveness.”
Dr. Chang writes, “There are similar reflections or images on the living experiences and witness of these 12 missionaries that I have selected” to share with readers.
She notes that each of them chose to follow Christ, leaving behind their comfort zones adding, “They gave up everything—their family, their careers, their ambitions in life, their culture, language, food, their comfort zones—to follow an invisible Christ, made visible through their prayers, sacraments and community, superior, bishop, with a new purpose—to build up everything anew with Christ.”
While writing the book, Dr. Chang gathered facts, experiences and interviews from friends and relatives who knew the 12 missionaries. Photographs also illustrate their stories and help bring them to life.
To Dr. Chang, each one lived life to its fullest capacity in service of God, his Church, and the community of Hong Kong.
