My First Spiritual Corner - Sr Thomas Lo

Time flies, I have been to St. Agnes K.Y. Tsao Parish for one full year. I remember when I first stepped into St. Agnes Church last November, it was time for the Saturday 4:30 p.m. vigil mass. I saw how the parishioners respectfully greeted the priests, deacon and the nuns after mass and tacitly exchanged some kind words of concern even in the severe pandemic situation. It left me with a very good first impression and I felt a breath of harmonious coordination circling around St. Agnes Parish. This must be the result of an accumulation of hard work between the pastors and the parishioners over the years.

Another thing that moved me was seeing many loving couples coming to attend daily mass together. The considerate husbands held up the phone to share the readings of the liturgy with their wives, and the couples embraced each other at the offering of the sign of peace. On Sundays, many families came with their children to attend mass. Faithful, no matter adults or children, on entering church for mass or for private prayers and when leaving, would genuflect or kneel respectfully towards the tabernacle. All these actions, though seem trivial and natural, deeply touched and throbbed my heart. This is the wonderful fruit of the heritage of the persistence of generations of Catholic families towards the Christian faith.

What I admire more is that St. Agnes Parish has cultivated several vocations of priests and nuns. This is a rare achievement and contribution which is seriously lacking in world “religious vocation”. This is really a blessing to St. Agnes Church! The families of these vocations, in offering their beloved sons and daughters so generously to God, were just like Abraham who offered his son. And these young vocations have witnessed what Jesus said,” No man putting his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62) They have abandoned everything in the secular world to cooperate with God to save more people. Thus, these vocations need our support and company. Moreover, since the harvest is abundant but the labourers are few, we desperately need to “ask the master of the harvest to send out labourers for his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)

Sr. Thomas Lo