Kowloon, Hongkong – The Corona Virus pandemic has never spared even the poor streets of Hongkong. Now, poor and abandoned families are growing in number through the ill effect of Covid19.
In To Kwa Wan, Kowloon, Hongkong, near the Church of Notre Dame parish run by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, many poor people have been regularly receiving food aids from the parish.
Led by Fr. Mark Anthony Serna, OMI, a religious missionary to Hongkong together with the young people of the parish, they visit the streets under the bridge of To Kwa Wan to look for poor people and distribute food supplies, mostly to the old and homeless.
Fr. Serna is from Libungan, North Cotabato. After his ordination in Midsayap, Cotabato he received his letter of obedience from the OMI superior general to be assigned in Hongkong OMI province. Ordained in September 11, 2011, he is now on his 9th year as a missionary priest in Hongkong. Now, he is also one of the councilors in the said delegation.
The main objectives of the program is to give flesh to the oblate charism of the OMI congregation to help the poor especially the most abandoned and to encourage more young people to have the sense of love and mission towards the poor. The program started 18 years ago with Fr. Swavek, OMI, now the delegation Superior of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Hongkong delegation who is also the former parish priest of Notre Dame parish. It began as a regular visitation to the poor families of the parish that turned into feeding program.
To date, the Notre Dame parish became the first Oblate parish in Hongkong on May 30, 1992, when Cardinal John B. Wu Cheng Chung, bishop of Hongkong raised it to that status and appointed Fr. John Wotherspoon, OMI as parish priest. Though working in the parish, the Oblates did not forget about the most abandoned and sought them out, serving as chaplains in several prisons. In August 2001, the Oblate dream came true, moving in to the mainland to teach English, care for the poor and help the local people.
Recently, every Friday, poor people living under the bridge of To Kwa Wan would gather to receive food supplies. From 55 individuals, now there are about 160 people who are receiving help from the parish. Food packs are distributed through the help of the parish youth with Fr. Serna, OMI.
Due to the pandemic, as many people lost their jobs, most of them eventually became homeless. Some old people were left by their children and families due to the bad situation and left alone in their homes with no support for their basic needs.
Fr. Serna and the OMI community in Hongkong continuous to promote their program with the help of some generous individuals and benefactors in Hongkong. Protocols are being observed especially for the young people who regularly join the program.
With the imminent threat of COVID-19, the Notre Dame parish led by Fr. Serna remained confident that in their simple efforts of helping the poor by providing their basic needs, they are making difference in the lives of many poor people living in the outskirts of Hongkong.
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