austraLasia #3162
HONG KONG: 20 November 2012 -- On 19 November, 2012, Tang King Po School in Hong Kong, at its morning assembly led by the lay Principal Mr. Lee Kam Hung with the participation of the 1,000 students and 100 teachers, mourned the death of one of its greatest past-pupils, the beloved Bishop José Song Sui Wan. The Salesian Provincial was also present together with the members of the local Salesian community.
This week Tang King Po School will begin the celebration of its 60th anniversary of foundation (1953-2013). For the celebration of the 50th anniversary, Msgr. José Song Sui Wan had been invited to be the guest of honour in his Alma Mater. This made it possible for many of the younger Salesians and past pupils to make the acquaintance of this great Brazilian Salesian born in China (Shanghai) and grown up as a refugee in Hong Kong, until 1959 when his family emigrated to Brazil.
The China Province, on hearing the news of 71 year old Bishop Song’s death on 15 November in Campinas (Brazil), presented its heartfelt condolences for this great loss to the Campinas community and the whole of Salesian Brazil. Of course, this is a loss also for the whole Salesian Congregation and the whole Church, particularly for us here in China.
Most of the old Salesians here in Hong Kong had known dear Bishop Song in the 50’s as an intelligent, clever, and hard-working Salesian Aspirant. Some of them had been his Aspirantate companions. Ten years ago, as just noted, we younger Salesians were blessed with his visit to us. On that occasion, we came to know a very remarkable Salesian Bishop who would mix with our young people, play basketball with them, whistle and sing with them, and play magic with them! He told us that he had just been named Bishop of the Diocese of Rio Negro in Brazil, the diocese with the most water in the world! He told us that he did not know how to swim, but that Mary Help of Christians was his life-jacket! What a wonderful man! What a wonderful Salesian! What a wonderful Bishop! We thank God for having given him to us. We thank God for having given us the grace of knowing him. Now that, as we believe, he is in Heaven, in the Giardino Salesiano with Don Bosco, we are sure that he will be the heavenly intercessor for both Salesian China and Salesian Brazil.
As Chinese Salesians, we are grateful to the Brazilian Salesians for the love with which they loved this child of our great motherland. We thank them for having given him the opportunity of becoming a Salesian, as was his ardent desire when he left our Province as an Aspirant, in obedience to the Superiors. Among these Superiors was no one lesser than the Vicar of the Rector Major who was visiting our Province just when the family of Song Sui Wan was planning to emigrate to Brazil. Aspirant José Song asked to see him. The Vicar of the Rector Major encouraged little José (who wanted to stay behind, letting his family leave Hong Kong for Brazil without him) to follow his family, assuring him that in Brazil he would have the best of opportunities to become a good Salesian. Heartfelt thanks to the dear Salesians of Brazil, who made this promise of our Superior become true!
R.I.P Bishop Song SDB: "MHC is my life-jacket".
This week Tang King Po School will begin the celebration of its 60th anniversary of foundation (1953-2013). For the celebration of the 50th anniversary, Msgr. José Song Sui Wan had been invited to be the guest of honour in his Alma Mater. This made it possible for many of the younger Salesians and past pupils to make the acquaintance of this great Brazilian Salesian born in China (Shanghai) and grown up as a refugee in Hong Kong, until 1959 when his family emigrated to Brazil.
The China Province, on hearing the news of 71 year old Bishop Song’s death on 15 November in Campinas (Brazil), presented its heartfelt condolences for this great loss to the Campinas community and the whole of Salesian Brazil. Of course, this is a loss also for the whole Salesian Congregation and the whole Church, particularly for us here in China.
Most of the old Salesians here in Hong Kong had known dear Bishop Song in the 50’s as an intelligent, clever, and hard-working Salesian Aspirant. Some of them had been his Aspirantate companions. Ten years ago, as just noted, we younger Salesians were blessed with his visit to us. On that occasion, we came to know a very remarkable Salesian Bishop who would mix with our young people, play basketball with them, whistle and sing with them, and play magic with them! He told us that he had just been named Bishop of the Diocese of Rio Negro in Brazil, the diocese with the most water in the world! He told us that he did not know how to swim, but that Mary Help of Christians was his life-jacket! What a wonderful man! What a wonderful Salesian! What a wonderful Bishop! We thank God for having given him to us. We thank God for having given us the grace of knowing him. Now that, as we believe, he is in Heaven, in the Giardino Salesiano with Don Bosco, we are sure that he will be the heavenly intercessor for both Salesian China and Salesian Brazil.
As Chinese Salesians, we are grateful to the Brazilian Salesians for the love with which they loved this child of our great motherland. We thank them for having given him the opportunity of becoming a Salesian, as was his ardent desire when he left our Province as an Aspirant, in obedience to the Superiors. Among these Superiors was no one lesser than the Vicar of the Rector Major who was visiting our Province just when the family of Song Sui Wan was planning to emigrate to Brazil. Aspirant José Song asked to see him. The Vicar of the Rector Major encouraged little José (who wanted to stay behind, letting his family leave Hong Kong for Brazil without him) to follow his family, assuring him that in Brazil he would have the best of opportunities to become a good Salesian. Heartfelt thanks to the dear Salesians of Brazil, who made this promise of our Superior become true!
