By Social Communication Office
Hong Kong, China, 9 November 2023 -- Fr. Joseph LEE Hei lung, SDB, passed away peacefully on the eve of All Saints’ Day.
The Salesians of Don Bosco CIN held a wake service at St. Anthony’s church on 6th November 2023 for their beloved confrere Fr Joseph LEE Hei Lung, SDB.
The church was packed with people who came to pay their last respects to Fr. Lee and pray for the eternal repose of his soul. There were SDBs, the friends and relatives of Fr. Lee, and mostly the parishioners of St. Anothony’s Parish.
The Mass was celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Zen, and concelebrated by 15 Salesian priests, including the EAO Regional Fr. Phuoc, the CIN Provincial Fr. Joseph Ng, and the Rector of the St. Anthony Parish Community, to which Fr. LEE used to belong.
During the homily, the Cardinal reminded the faithful that the funeral Mass was not meant to laud the dead but to help the living to reflect on their own lives with faith. God gives life to men, and Jesus units the Church of the three states to give faith to men in the communion of saints. Men ought to share their merits with the faithful departed in their purification to help them soon enter the heavenly glory.
He invited everyone to offer their thanksgiving to God, for He had given the gift of religious vocation to Fr. Lee. God bestowed His grace to men; however, men had to respond to the grace and act in accordance with the will of God. The Cardinal had known Fr. Lee since his seminary years. He admired Fr. Lee for his diligence, his love for the young, and as his life motto, “Live for the Lord; Work for the Lord.”
Before the final blessing, Mr. Yu, from the Parish Council, on behalf of the parish community, expressed gratitude for the service of Fr. Lee, for his guidance, for what all he had done to the parish community. As the parish priest, he provided various formations to the parish council and helped each one to discover their talents for the service of the parish community. He organized different activities to promote devotion to Our Lady.
Please continue to offer your prayer for the eternal repose of Fr. Lee.
Missing You so much Father! We had been staying together some years and playing football together. Remember You everday in prayers. Enjoy the presence of God Father. Hope to meet You there. Thomas Pham ( from Vietnam)