May 7 saw the long-anticipated 160th Anniversary Eucharistic Celebration at the College Hall. In devotional Bible readings, thanksgiving prayers, hymns and accounts of St Magdalene of Canossa and the early Canossian missionaries’ service to make Jesus loved and known, we celebrated the past with gratitude.

Cardinal John Tong, the Apostolic Administrator, together with Rev Joseph Yim, Rev Philip Chan, Rev Victor M. Zavala Contreras and Rev Flavien Ulrich Bouambe, celebrated the Eucharistic Thanksgiving Mass at the presence of Sr Rosangela, our former Principal, Sr Agnes, School Supervisor, Sr Veronica, our Principal, Canossian Sisters, past colleagues, teachers and students. S3 students joined the auspicious occasion via livestreaming.

Celebrating the past with gratitude

In his sermon, Cardinal John Tong expounded on the paramount importance of love. He borrowed the Gospel of St Matthew 22:34-40 to illustrate that charity needs to stem from our devotion to God and compassion for others. As Cardinal John quoted the Letter of St Paul to the Philippians 2:5-11, he made a point about Jesus’ humility and obedience to the Father, as an expression of His love for His Father. The Cardinal further edified the congregation about the fine examples of St Magdalene, who established a religious institute for the poor, and the early Italian missionaries who arrived in Hong Kong on 12 April, 1860, then a poverty-stricken place with the devastated and the misplaced. In response to God’s calling, these missionaries arrived one after another to commit themselves to the ministry of charity.

Embracing the future with hope

At the Eucharistic Celebration, we offered a picture frame of wooden pads, each marked with a personality strength we find in ourselves. Teachers and students made a declaration to serve in humility, living up to the spirit of the Sacred Heart Canossian College and St Magdalene of Canossa. The zeal to serve the underprivileged has passed on to this generation.

Sharing our life in love

Earlier on, in the entire Foundress Week, we revisited St Magdalene’s life and major milestones in her service on videos. In the footsteps of St Magdalene, S4 classes took turns to present their community service projects and reflect on their experiences. Meanwhile, the Student Council organised Dress Casual Day in a bid to raise funds for our Cambodia Outreach Project. There is no better way to celebrate the anniversary than unleashing our potential to reach out and share our life in love.