The Filipino Chaplaincy of Hong Kong hosted an annual Recollection event for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) on April 4 at the Holy Family parish hall in Choi Hung, Kowloon. This event featured Divine Word Father Emil Lim, a former chaplain in Hong Kong, as the guest speaker. Around 400 OFWs, representing various parish English-speaking communities, gathered in the hall.
Before diving into the main presentation, the crowd was energized by the chaplaincy team’s lively action songs and dances.
Father Lim’s talk centred on the significance of Lent and Holy Week practices. He delved into the origins of the 40 Days of Lent, using it as a preparatory period for Easter. Father Lim elaborated on several examples from the Bible where the number 40 appears, shaping sacred history. These included the 40 days and nights of rain in the story of Noah’s Ark, Moses spending 40 days on Mount Sinai, and Jesus fasting for 40 days in the desert. He also referenced the Israelite spies in Canaan, Goliath’s 40-day challenge to the Israelites, Jonah’s 40-day prophecy to Nineveh, the 40-year wander of the Israelites in the desert, and the 40 days Jesus spent with his disciples post-resurrection.
Father Lim shared about the spiritual depth of these stories, highlighting the enduring importance of their lessons in the modern context. He mentioned that Lent is a preparatry season, a period of growth, which requires time to mature. Father Lim also discussed on the three pillars of piety which are pray, penance and charity or almsgiving and further elaborated on each.
During the talk, there was an ongoing confession.
After the first talk, the congregation did the Stations of the Cross. The afternoon’s event concluded with a Mass celebrated by Father Lim and Filipino chaplain Father Jay Flandez, SVD. SE
