Obedience, Loving-Kindness, and Service
Hong Kong, China, 6 April 2025 - Dear and reverend Fr. Francis CHE Ka-yin SDB passed away peacefully in St. Teresa’s Hospital, Hong Kong, on 25th March at the age of 88. His funeral Mass was celebrated on 5th April by Fr. Denis Kong SDB, Rector and Parish Priest of Mary Help of Christian Parish, where the late Fr. Che had been 26 years as its Parish Priest. And, the night before, Salesian Cardinal Zen, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong, celebrated the Vigil Mass. Both Masses were attended by a large crowd of confreres, diocesan clergy, past pupils, educators, parishioners, and members of the Salesian family.
Fr. Che was born in 1937 in Zhaoqing, China, where Matteo Ricci spent 6 years in his early arrival in the Far East in the late 16th century. Fr. Che has been a Salesian for 68 years and has spent 58 years as a priest. He served in various Salesian communities and schools in Hong Kong. He was a teacher, school principal, director of youth center, novice master, professor of philosophy, parish priest, and rector. It would be difficult to enlist all the duties he assumed in his long and colourful religious life. He is mostly remembered as a model Salesian who radiated joy and paternal love. To put it in a nutshell, we could highlight three words: obedience, loving-kindness, and service.
To the responsibilities entrusted to him by the superiors, Fr. Che offered himself fully and with the spirit of obedience. He was, so to say, a “yes” man. “Of course, as a religious person, I willingly accept the arrangement and order of the superiors for the mission of saving souls – ask for nothing, refuse nothing.” Fr. Che wrote in his personal testimony.
Loving-kindness is the hallmark of a Salesian. Studia di farti amare. Fr. Che touched the hearts of many. In return, he was loved by many, especially the past pupils and parishioners. “He reminded me to smile always.” Fr. Denis shared in his homily while recalling the days when Fr. Che was his rector in formation house. Archbishop Savio Hon SDB, apostolic nuncio to Malta and Libya, recalled in the condolences, “The last time when I met Fr. Che, although his hair was grey, his gentleness impressed me. His smile remains in my heart, and it has always been a spiritual charger for me.”
Fr. Che’s zeal for the educative-pastoral mission is seen in his generosity and closeness to the people. “Deeply touched by Jesus Christ, who offered himself, even to death, on the cross for the salvation of souls, I should be ready to be a priest through sacrifice, redeemer through cross… if I am asked about my intention, I want to serve and stay with the weak, ignorant, young and poor. I may not be talented to attract the elites, but I would like to serve the grassroots people with love and humility.” Fr. Che wrote. And Cardinal Zen concluded his homily, “To be a good person, following the example of Fr. Che, means to do good to others.”
Mary’s motherly love has always been an inspiration for Fr. Che. He was a great devotee and promoter of the devotion to Mary Help of Christians. He initiated and, for years, has been the spiritual director of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA). Fr. Che lived up to his dream, the Salesian vocation, and the Beatitudes. He shall now receive the heavenly reward of a faithful servant as promised by Jesus Christ.
6732_A Rector Major Emeritus renders a special service to GC2...
