By Salesian cooperator (CIN)

Hong Kong, 25 November 2020 -- China Province offered a requiem mass on the day of the memorial of Mama Margherita at the Mary Help of Christians Parish (Tang Kong Po school). It is the Salesian Family convention to remember the deceased members and our benefactors on this occasion. Starting at 7:30 pm with rosary, the Requiem Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Joseph Zen (SDB), concelebrated by 14 priests and 1 deacon, and assisted by seminarians and students.

Both rosary and the mass were well prepared by various Salesian Family units, including SDB, FMA, ASC, and DBPP, with VDB acting as the MC and taking care of the services. It has genuinely reflected the communion and solidarity of the Salesian Family.

Cardinal Zen, in his Homily, pointed out the “Communio Sanctorum”. He emphasized our identity as sinners, yet to share the same sanctity and to pray for one another. “We pray for the deceased members, and they also remember us. His other thought was, ‘Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it bears much fruit.’(John 12:24) Jesus followed His Father’s will though he was struggling with the fear on the cross. He accomplished His mission and saved all of us eventually. So no worries as we follow the Father’s will to fulfill His mission because he gives us the power to deal with all matters. And with the example and intercession of Don Bosco, we firmly believe that God gives us wisdom when we encounter difficulties. Keep this faith firmly, pray to Jesus, and pray for each other, offer Holy Mass with full hope, God takes care of us.”

This year, different from past practice, besides hanging up the big picture of Mama Margherita, we put the photos of all newly deceased members in front of the altar so that all participants can quickly lookup. Cardinal Zen led the faithful to show respect for the diseased before those picture by the end of the liturgy.

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