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Two Months from the Death of Fr Antonio Chung Kwai Sang SDB (1929-2023)

Hong Kong, 5 April 2023 -- Two months ago, in the early morning of 6 February 2023, the holy Martyrs in Heaven must have been hurrying up to prepare a worthy welcome to a veteran custodian of their memory in the Catacombs of San Callisto in Rome. On that day, in the Salesian Infirmary at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome, Fr Antonio Chung Kwai Sang went to his reward, after 94 years of life, 75 of Salesian life, 65 of priesthood, and almost 30 years of service as guide to the visitors at the Catacombs of San Callisto. On that day, we could have sung most appropriately the beautiful funeral antiphon: "May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come to welcome you and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem".

Fr Antonio Chung was born in Macau on 1 January 1929 to a Catholic family that was among the most well-known in the Chinese-speaking Catholic community of this former Portuguese enclave. A student of the Instituto Salesiano founded by St Luigi Versiglia in 1906, on 16 August 1947 he made his first profession as a Salesian. For his theological studies he was sent to Italy, where he was ordained on his 29th Birthday, 1 January 1957. After two years of further studies in Rebaudengo (Torino) and Sacro Cuore (Roma), his subsequent Salesian life counts several "first's".

Back in Hong Kong, he was assigned in 1959 to the International Philosophical Studentate (Salesian House of Studies) in Cheung Chau, Hong Kong. There he founded the Sunday Oratory, before becoming the first Chinese Rector of the House of Studies itself in 1963-1966 in Cheung Chau.

Next he was the second Chinese Rector of St Louis School in West Point, Hong Kong, from 1966 to 1969. As first Chinese Vice-Provincial from 1969 to 1972, he began a very active animation of the Province in youth pastoral, vocation pastoral, and liturgical formation. At the same time, he was one of the driving forces behind the Vatican II liturgical renewal in the Diocese of Hong Kong. This work of animation he continued as the Vice-Rector of Salesian House of Studies in Shau Kei Wan from 1972 to 1977, as Provincial Councillor from 1978 to 1981, and as Rector of Tang King Po School, Kowloon, from 1977 to 1980.

In 1980 he began his missionary life in Chile, first at Punta Arenas, then in 1983 in Casilla, and in 1985 at La Serena till 1993. Next he became one of the multilingual guides (first Chinese guide) in the Catacombs of San Callisto in Rome until 2021, when, already 90 years of age, he retired and lived in the infirmary at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome.

On the day of his death, a joint community rosary in memory of Father Antonio Chung was held at Gesù Maestro Chapel at the Salesian University. His funeral Mass took place at San Callisto Community Chapel in Rome on February 7. He is buried in the Salesian Cemetery at San Callisto, next to the tombs of the martyrs he visited daily in the last third of his life. A requiem Mass was celebrated in Hong Kong at Mary Help of Christians Church, Kowloon, on 21 February, well participated by members of the Hong Kong Salesian Family.

Rest in peace, dear Fr. Antonio, in the company of the Holy Martyrs at whose tombs you led innumerable pilgrims in prayer and veneration.

Timeline of Fr Antonio Chung Kwai Sang