Text :Lee Chi Chi, Li Wing Ki
Photo: Lee Chi Chi
“I am so blessed to become her daughter,”39-year-old Sister Teresa Chan Yun says reviewing her past 10-year journey.
Before Sister Teresa Chan got the name of Sister, she just had simply worked in Chai Wan Kok Catholic Primary School as a teacher for six years. “Becoming a sister was not in my schedule when I was young although I was born in a catholic family and studied in catholic school,” Chan says with a smile, “At that time, I heard a sharing from a Sister who had been a teacher for 2 years, and I asked myself that I wouldn’t be a Sister if I were her, but now I do it.”
She describes the unexpected schedule as the God’s arrangement. A great change came into her life at the age of over 20 once she received her Holy Calling through a prayer during the trip to the Holy Land – Jerusalem. “Thankfully my work and my family life were very smooth, but the prayer reflected me whether should be complacent over he status quo. What should do to give a sincere response to the love of Jesus ?” After having a talk with a priest and a long-time consideration, she made the decision of dedicating her whole life to Jesus as a sister.
However, insisting the decision was a hard work for Chan as there’re great resistances from her family. “Owning to that they came from mainland China, the poor and afflicted impression of sisters were rooted in their mind,” she says. Although her parents were devout Catholics, she admits that she had to struggle to make the decision as she was the only breadwinner of the family.
In addition, “After becoming a sister, I would abandon the stable job and decent income, and face the unknowable future,” she says, “However, the respond to Jesus’ love was more important, so I insisted my choice.”
Sister Chan reveals that being a sister was not easy as they should have a long term training to classify whether they were really appropriate or not. The most fundamental test was of love and loyalty to God.
During the training, there were two years that all of trained sisters were required to stay in the convent for learning and apostolic work ordered by directors such as education and church services, while going out was prohibited apart for work. There were many limitation and rules, even talking was forbidden after dinner or other special time which called “Keep Silence”
“ You should know what you do and why.”
“Honestly, sometime I was frustrated as I couldn’t choose the beloved work and lifestyle as before while I especially missed my family warmth.” She adds, “I usually complained tearfully and contemplated in front of Jesus’ statue.”
Chan emphasized that it was a considerable period of time for her to realize the determination of being a sister. “You should know what you do and why.” She suggests that it is a difficult question for everyone in the rapid society of Hong Kong, and owes God to help her understand the real self and the meaning of her life instead of living as a working machine as many people doing.
Sisters must adhere to celibate chastity, in other words, they must abandon love and marriage which are the desires of every girl, and Sister Teresa was no exception. She also tried to date with some boys when she was a student. “For me, I don’t think love is necessary as no one love more than Jesus. You might think I had sacrificed a lot, but actually I had gained more than I expected.”
On the journey as a God’s follower, she has learnt that love was not the thing giving out what you
desire for other and yourself, but sharing your whole life with other unselfishly. Besides, before understanding the truth of love, people should know who they are and have respect with each other. Then, a peaceful society would be made.
Sisters dedicate their life to apostolic work responding to the Jesus’ love and sharing the love to the public. Unfortunately, the number of sisters was decreasing over the past 20 years, from 605 to 491, according to the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. Chan says, “As the environment and society values have changed, there are fewer young people willing to abandon all the things and totally dedicate their life to God, as sister is not a job, it is a mission for the whole life.”
To address the problem on the shortage of sisters, women institutes and missionary societies have organized some promotions among young people. “We hope showing the love of Jesus Christ to them through our life, as loving each other is the basic to be a sister,” she says, “ In addition, we also use Facebook and WhatsApp for reducing the distance among people”.
