For the little a simple holy card commemorating the priestly ordination and first Eucharist, in August 14, 1947 and August 15, 1947 respectively, our first three Chinese missionaries, Fathers Aloysius Wang (王維道), Augustinus Yang (楊前耀) and Simon Liu (劉廣熙) chose the Pauline text: “For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord” (2 Cor. 4:5) and the motto “Caritas Christi urget nos”. The little card is written with red Chinese Characters accompanied by the Latin translation.
For the beginning of his Novitiate, June 1, 2019, at the end of a simple and familial rite of admission, Simon Kong (孔少鋒), chose the last part of the Testament Letter 1, read in English and Chinese: “The Lord could not have been more benevolent towards us!” "的確，天主對我們不能更慷慨大方了!". This text, vision and experience of life is very dear to Simon. It moved his first steps in the same land of his confreres Aloysius, Augustinus and Simon; it sustained his postulancy among us and it is the soul of his confidence in his new journey: the unconditional benevolence of the Risen Lord to his story and person.
This very sentence was patiently and beautifully written in Chinese characters on a red string by the community of the Theologate and hung on the wall of the Chapel. A reminder for everyone that missionary vocation is always an event of His Grace and benevolence towards us.
一路平安, Simon! Have a good journey with your brothers of Postulancy and Theologate.
Manila, June 2, 2019
Luigino Marchioron sx
