ASIA/HONG KONG - Vocational testimony from a lay consecrated woman: “Don’t wait! Don’t be afraid! Put out into the deep!”

Hong Kong (Agenzia Fides) - “The Lord attracted me toward Him in prayer, a prayer that placed a desire in me to be always with the Lord! Don’t wait! Don’t be afraid! Put out into the deep! When you are at peace, you experience a yearning desire to hear the Lord’s call.” These were the words of Li Xiu Chan, a member of the Community of the Society of the Apostles of Hong Kong. According to the Kong Ko Bao (the Chinese version of the diocesan bulletin), she has shared her vocational experience with young people in a prayer encounter that was held in the Parish of St. Andrew, organized by the Diocesan Vocations Committee, entitled: “Full of Grace.” In response to the question, “Why didn’t you become a nun?,” the lay consecrated woman explained that, “in my vocational discernment, I realized that consecrated life in a convent was not the path for me. I want to give testimony to my faith with my life as a lay woman. That is why I entered this community.” Over 40 young people participated in the encounter, in an atmosphere of communion, giving thanks to the Lord for the gift of lay consecrated life.
The Community of the Society of the Apostles, formed exclusively by lay consecrated women, is a community that collaborates and depends in its activity, directly from the Diocesan Bishop. These women have left aside the path of matrimony in order to dedicate themselves completely to the Lord. They do not have community life, as each is responsible for her own prayer and apostolate. They are the “yeast” of diocesan life. They are now over 3,000 members worldwide, working in 300 dioceses. The community of Hong Kong was started by Bishop Lorenzo Bianchi, missionary of PIME (1951-1969). (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 6/3/2008; righe 22, parole 296)