Hong Kong (China). On 3 February 2025, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of Mary Help of Christians Province (CIN) gathered at the provincial headquarters in Wong Tai Sin, Hong Kong, to celebrate the day of gratitude, to express gratitude to the Provincial and to say reciprocal gratitude among the Sisters.
The day began with a Eucharistic Celebration of Gratitude, presided by the Salesian of Don Bosco recently ordained priest, Father Anthony Leung. In his homily, Father Leung spoke of Don Bosco’s dream of “the rosary and the serpent”, recalling the importance of teaching young people to trust Our Lady and receive the sacraments – Eucharist and Confession – effective means to fight the devil. He also encouraged them to be a light of hope for young people, bringing the love and hope of God into their lives.
After Mass, the Sisters shared a communal meal, sharing experiences from the past year, encouraging each other, and looking at future challenges and opportunities.
They then went by bus to the church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Sai Kung, a choice inspired by Pope Francis’ new encyclical “Dilexit nos” and also by the memory, kept in this church, of many missionary pioneers in the evangelization of Hong Kong. Revisiting the history of many challenges and difficulties, all were deeply touched by the passion and courage of these missionaries. In this spiritual atmosphere, each Sister prayed in silence, expressing gratitude for the Lord’s grace and guidance and renewing her commitment to her own daily and future faith life.
this was followed by a short walk on the beach of Sai Kung Port, enjoying the scenery of the sea and mountains, the breeze, and the sound of waves crashing on the shore. The Sisters had a deep conversation, as each shared something about herself, further strengthening their bonds.
The culmination of the pilgrimage was the solemn Vespers in the Church of Saint Andrew, one of the places of pilgrimage of the jubilee year, where the FMA once again expressed gratitude to the Lord and among themselves, praying for peace and invoking blessings.
In addition to the pilgrimage of the day of gratitude, a special celebration was organized for the lunar New Year. In the evening, they all gathered to exchange good wishes for the new year, sharing traditional sweets and other delicacies, symbols of unity and harmony. Before the Good Night, the Provincial also distributed red envelopes to each sister, sending blessings. This small but significant gesture of sharing instilled a sense of renewed unity in the Province. The evening continued with a small New Year’s Eve show prepared by some of them, which added joy to the feast.
This day of gratitude not only deepened the bonds between the Sisters, but also allowed everyone to grow together in the journey of faith, to face the challenges of the new year with great gratitude and hope.
