3471 Cardinal Zen 70 years since entering the aspirantate, 50 of teaching
austraLasia #3471

 
Cardinal Zen 70 years since entering the aspirantate, 50 of teaching

HONG KONG: July 22, 2014 --  On July 19, 1944, the 12 year old Joseph Zen was accepted as a Salesian aspirant in Shanghai by Servant of God Fr Charles Braga, the then Provincial of the China Province of Mary Help of Christians

In September 1964, Fr Joseph Zen, with a fresh Doctorate in Philosophy and a Licence in Theology, began teaching Philosophy at the Salesian Academy of Philosophy for the Far East in Cheung Chau, Hong Kong. Fr Joseph Zen, then as Rector, Salesian Provincial, Coadiutor Bishop of Hong Kong, Bishop of Hong Kong and finally Cardinal Joseph Zen, never ceased teaching, whether in the Salesian House of Studies or at the Holy Spirit Seminary College or in one or other of the Seminaries on mainland China (Sheshan, Wuhan, Xian, Hebei, Shenyang etc.).

So July 19, 2014, stood out as the 70th Anniversary of his acceptance as a Salesian aspirant by Fr Braga and was also used to mark 50 years of teaching. Some 80 past and present students and colleagues of Joseph Cardinal Zen gathered at Salesian Missionary House, Shau Kei Wan, to thank God for such a long magisterial service and to ask God to make such service fruitful in the lives of the students and of all who come in touch with them.

Among the well-wishers were the Bishop of Hong Kong, John Cardinal Tong Hon, colleague of Joseph Zen's as teacher of philosophy and theology and co-founder with him in 1970 of the present interdiocesan and interreligious Holy Spirit Seminary College. Happily present was also one of his first students, Salesian Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai, Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Another of the early students present was the Auxiliary Bishop Elect, Fr Michael Yeung, Vicar General of the Hong Kong Diocese. (Hong Kong has just had three Auxiliaries appointed, who are expected to be ordained Bishop in late August).

The gathering first prayed Sunday Vespers in the chapel and heard Cardinal Zen share his 70 years as a Salesian and his 50 years as teacher. He mentioned his dream of writing his first book, a textbook of philosophy entitled: “Metaphysics which Don Bosco 's mother, Mama Margaret could understand”! Prayer was followed by a family agape enlivened by speeches and songs.