Please remember in your prayers the repose of the soul of Rev. Elmer P. Wurth, M.M. who passed away on October 4, 2021, in Kalida, Ohio.
Father Wurth was 92 years old and a Maryknoll priest for 65 years.
Memorial Mass: Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. (11:00PM Hong Kong Time), Queen of Apostles Chapel, Maryknoll, New York
Replay available through the YouTube link below.
With thanks to Dennis Montecillo for compiling this video and to all of our current and former parishioners for contributing!
The following remarks were prepared by David Lamb, Chairman of the English Speaking Parish Council of St. Anne's on the occasion of the departure of our Pastor, Fr. John McAuley, M.M.
Fr John arrived at St Anne's a little more than four years ago. His first weekend, or perhaps day, at St Anne's was on Service Sunday, when without much warning he was quickly thrust into the Parish ministries and operations. He handled that cooly with his able manner with which we have now become accustomed. Since then, it is safe to say that Fr John has been involved in every aspect of our Parish. He has shown himself to be truly a "hands-on" individual who gets things done!
Fr John arrived here amidst change. Fr Ed served as our Pastor for a short time after the long tenure of Fr Wurth. At the time, the Parish was looking for a bit of stablity and Fr John stepped up to that role and became the steady and trusted pair of hands that guided the tilller of our Parish. Fr John's calm, capable and confident demeanour was just what the Parish needed. Fr John has clearly been the glue or bond that has held St Anne's together.
In summary, Fr. John has been an inspirational Pastor whose diligence, spirituality and leadership have greatly benefited the St. Anne's community. He has been instrumental in ensuring that the Parish receives maintenance and care both spiritually and tangibly!
We will miss Fr. John but we will keep him in our hearts and prayers and know he will do the same for St. Anne's.
Father William Galvin died at Mission St. Teresa's on April 21, 2016. He was 86 years old and would have celebrated his 60th year of ordination in June 2016.
William Joseph Galvin was born in Kew Gardens, New York on June 25, 1929, the youngest child of Eugenia Bannin and John F. Galvin, Jr. His sister, Ella, and his three brothers, Jack, Tom, and Paul, are all deceased. He graduated from Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Grade School, Forest Hills, and Bishop Loughlin High School, Brooklyn, both in New York City. A life-long association with and appreciation of the De LaSalle Brothers dates from his Loughlin days.
He entered Maryknoll September 11, 1947 at the newly opened Maryknoll Apostolic College, Lakewood, New Jersey. His final year of Philosophy was taken at Maryknoll, New York, where he received his B.A. in Philosophy in 1951. After Novitiate at Bedford, Massachusetts, he obtained his Master of Sacred Theology degree in 1955, and his Master of Religious Education in 1956, both at Maryknoll Seminary, Ossining, New York. He took his Final Oath to Maryknoll in June 1955, and was ordained a priest in the new Maryknoll Chapel by Francis Cardinal Spellman on June 9, 1956.
Father Galvin's first mission assignment was to Hawaii. He was Assistant Pastor for three years at St. Joseph Parish, Hilo. In 1959, the year Hawaii became a State, he was transferred to the new Maryknoll mission on the Island of Mindanao in the Philippines. After language school in Davao City, he was assigned, along with Fr. Jim Collins, as the first Maryknollers on the East Coast of Davao, to the parish of St. Francis Xavier, Manay. In 1961, he was named the first Maryknoll pastor of Senor Santiago Parish in Cateel on the East Coast. There he built and was director of the Maryknoll High School of Cateel.
The following essay was originally contributed by parishioner Hubie Lem to the alumni news group of Regis High School, a Jesuit high school for young men in New York City. Photo credit: Chinahands, blog of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers in China
In this day when so much news we hear about the Catholic Church and the US Government is negative, we all can get pretty cynical and depressed. But the last couple of days, I learned of a true story that gives me so much renewed faith and hope, that I thought you would like to hear about it too. Especially since the good news ties together a Regis alumnus, a Maryknoll priest, a Jesuit college, the United States Government, and saving AIDS sufferers in Nairobi Kenya, where Regis has a relationship with St Aloysius.
The story starts with my parish of St Anne's Church in Stanley, on Hong Kong Island’s south side. We are very fortunate to have as our pastor Father Ed Phillips. He's not a Jesuit, but graduated from Boston College (1968) so I guess that makes him okay. Father Ed is a Maryknoll priest who spent 30 years in Africa before moving to Hong Kong in 2011.
Godspeed, Fr. Mike. With love from your Body of Christ at St. Anne's!
Dear Father Wurth,
As your long and dedicated term of being St. Anne’s Church's Pastor is drawing to a close in a few short days, there is no denying we all carry with us a bit of sadness. However, as I looked back at all the precious times you have spent with us and the tremendous efforts you have put into St. Anne’s I, on behalf of the Parish Council, have the pleasure to express to you our gratitude from the bottom of our hearts. It is so fitting during this Thanksgiving week for us to thank God The Almighty for His sharing you, surely one of His favorite sons, with us.
Congratulations, Fr. Mike on the 25th Anniversary of your Ordination!
The following appreared in the April 25th Bulletin of St. Michael Catholic Church in Kalida, Ohio. You can visit the St, Michael website at : www.kalidastmichaels.org
Fr. Elmer Wurth was born and raised in Kalida and has been a Maryknoll priest for 54 years. Of those 54 years, he has spent 37 in Taiwan and Hong Kong. He is currently the pastor of St. Anne’s Parish (Hong Kong), which is an international parish, comprised of parishioners from 52 countries. Fr. Elmer said that he has a problem that every priest should have: his parishioners in Hong Kong are really good to him and his hometown friends are equally as good to him. He hasn’t retired because the people in Hong Kong don’t want him to, and he still greatly enjoys coming home to see his family and friends. (...Continued)
This article by parishioner Peter O’Malley was first published online at www.catholicexchange.com.
In many respects the Faith in Asia is alive, vibrant and deep. As a banker who travels entirely too much, I am blessed to go to daily Mass in many different cities.
I notice that in the large Asian cities, Mass is often in the poorer part of town and attended by those less well off –at least from a material perspective. It is here, in the back streets of Asia, that one truly feels the Catholicity — the universality — of our beloved faith.
For instance, when I have the blessing to participate at the 7AM Mass at St Joseph’s in Beijing, joining a congregation with many humble, poor people, I truly sense the Spirit and feel Christ among them. Since my Mandarin is minimal, our communication is limited to reverent nods of "hello" and scores of smiles. Many mornings I am moved to pray the unity prayer "that we all be one." (...continued)
St. Anne's is a Roman Catholic community striving to bear witness to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
As a parish, we do this by nurturing our members in the Body of Christ, increasing their faith by the Word of God and receiving the Sacraments.
As a mission church in an international city, St. Anne's has unique opportunities and encourages her parishioners to reach out to serve the greater community through its ministries. The fellowship of love and compassion, inspired by the Holy Spirit, utilizes the many talents of its congregation.
As the world enters a new decade, St. Anne's is charged, with revitalized energy and confidence, to continue and expand her commitments. It is her goal to foster an ever-growing awareness of God's presence in the lives and welfare of all people.
The following video, prepared in commemoration of St. Anne's 50th Anniversary, tells the story of the parish from its very beginning. Led by Fr. Elmer Wurth, this presentation draws on the first-hand experience of its clergy and parishioners, in some cases dating back to the very founding of the parish in 1959.
Produced with love by The Media Village
Director: Charles Edwards
Special thanks to Steve Marcopoto and Vincenzo Viola
St. Anne's Church
1 Tung Tau Wan Road
Stanley, Hong Kong
Office Hours:
Sunday 8:30-1:30
Tue-Fri 9:00-12:00, 1:00-6:30
Closed on Statutory Holidays
Tel: +852 2813 0206
Fax: +852 2813 6908
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