HONG KONG (SE): Sister Maria Goretti Chong, of the Canossian Daughters of
Sister Chong was born in Shantou on 21 December 1940 as the youngest child in a family of nine. At the age of 22 she joined the Canossian religious family in Hong Kong and made her first profession on 8 December 1965 and seven years later made her final vows.
She had her early schooling in Hong Kong and Macau and completed her teacher’s training in Hong Kong. For almost 20 years she dedicated herself as a teacher in St. Mary’s, St. Francis and Sacred Heart Canossian Schools. She had also served in the orphanages in both Hong Kong and Macau.
Since 1987 she was involved in the parish pastoral ministry in Hong Kong. She had rendered her services in St. Jude’s Parish, North Point and in St. Margaret’s parish, Happy Valley for nearly 30 years. In the meantime, she served as local superior both in Canossa Convent, Quarry Bay, and in St. Mary’s Canossian Convent in Kowloon.
Her community, students and her friends in parishes remember Sister Chong as a very lively and humorous person. Her zeal for evangelisation touched the hearts of the catechumens who then also became active in bringing their friends and relatives for attending catechism. She also had a particular concern for the elderly. She organised regular activities for them, visiting and accompanying them especially those homebound or in the hospitals. She also got involved in arranging funerals for the dead.
During the last few years, in spite of her health deteriorating, she had no complaints. What stood out in her life was her simplicity, her humility and her sense of humour. She brightened up the people around her with a positive attitude. She showed gratitude to nurses and to everyone who served or visited her.
The Canossian sisters thank the readers, relatives and friends for their prayers for the repose of her soul. May she rest in peace.
