Missionary commitment is the key to vocational culture (SAL)

by Vaclav klement

February 8,2015 - Hong Kong: After 24 years the Sisters Announcers of the Lord (SAL) celebrated in Hong Kong perpetual profession of Sr. Michelle Teresa Cheung Sau Ching with a large participation of the Salesian Family in the Tak Nga Secondary school (Kowloon, Hong Kong S.A.R.).

Supreme moderator of the Congregation started by St. Bishop Louis Versiglia and canonically erected as diocesan Congregation by his successor Fr. Ignatius Canazei, Sr. Mabel Chan receive the perpetual profession during 2 hrs long well animated liturgy at 3 PM attended by some 300 lay mission partners and students of 3 SAL Congregation schools (two secondary and one primary), 8 diocesan and Salesian priests including the CIN provincial Fr. Lanfranco Fedrigotti and the Spiritual Advisor to the SAL Congregation Fr. Francis Che, SDB. During his homily Fr. Simon Lam – former SDB provincial of China – shared the vocation support concern of the local Church in Hong Kong. Indeed the more than 500.000 Catholics strong diocesan community does suffers ageing and diminishing numbers of clergy.

The SAL Congregation was accepted by Fr. Pascual Chávez, the SDB Rector Major in June 2005 as the 24th Group of the Salesian Family, has a Salesian Spiritual Advisor appointed by the Bishop of Hong Kong – Fr. Francis Che, participates in all SF events and their 3 schools are a dynamic part of the Hong Kong Salesian Family schools network (formation of lay mission partners, joint activities).

Vocation journey of Sr. Michelle Cheung, SAL started with two year voluntary service (1994-1996) in Mauritius as member of the Hong Kong Catholic Lay Missionary Association sent by late bishop Card. John Wu. Then she joined the teaching staff of the SAL Primary School which was followed by the discernment and initial formation. At the conclusion of the Eucharist the newly perpetually professed Sister shared her gratitude:

“Thank you for your support by your presence and prayers. Besides expressing my gratitude to God, my congregation and my family, I thank the first Don Bosco Salesian missionaries sent to China, group that included our Founder: St. Bishop Louis Versiglia. They brought the good news of Jesus to China and even died for us, Chinese people…. We celebrate also this 2015 as the "Year of Consecrated Life". Pope Francis hopes that we, religious, will serve God in joy. This witness of joy will attract many youngsters to respond God's calling to serve God. I hope also in the future more Salesians will continue our Founder St. Louis Versiglia’s missionary work for Chinese youth”.