Vox Parva: Spirit of a century-old missionary remains in Ka Ho

Benedict Keith Ip

What can be considered immortal in this secular world? Would it be a celebrity, a 100-story high-rise building, or a UNESCO façade visited by millions of people every week? All of them may perish one day, but only the spirit of a good and truthful entity can remain. They are not objects for idolatry, but rather a model which serves others.
On February 14, 2015, with the help of staff, teachers and students from the Escola D. Luis Versiglia de Ka Ho, the hundred year-old Salesian missionary, Fr. Gaetano Nicosia, SDB visited the island where he served for half a century – Coloane.
Coloane is no longer an isolated island. The Cotai Strip merges Taipa and Coloane together. Ka Ho cannot escape the fate of the other buildings on the island, which have seen extensive reconstruction and redevelopment. The area is no longer primitive after a series of protests against the very pollution which this redevelopment has caused. Newly paved roads and bridges are prepared for heavy traffic. Large trucks still dominate the roads. A mountain is gone to make way for the new prison facilities. And the village for Hansenians (lepers) is also gone and under reconstruction to make way for a new rehabilitation center.
However, hearing about this great man’s return has triggered a celebration in the form of school activities and a birthday reception. The outskirts of the school have suddenly amassed hundreds of people trying to greet one of the greatest benefactors of our time.
Sicilian Fr. Nicosia joined the Salesian community at the age of 15, and traveled to China for a mission at 20. The bishop of Macau invited him to the city when he was 48 years old. This is when his mission of serving the Hansenians and homeless children began. The Chapel of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows was built in 1967, then the boarding school in Ka Ho (1976), Escola D. Luis Versiglia de Ka Ho (1985), Don Bosco Youth Village (2000), and then more institutions, were set up under his guidance.
Fr. Nicosia is awe-inspiring because he lifts up those who are marginalized. He cares for and saves the people who have not been treated as humans, imbuing them with dignity and a second-chance at life. This clearly goes far beyond evangelization. People like me who live in a city and have been raised in normal circumstances will never understand the importance of Fr. Nicosia offering his life to warm the hearts of others.
Yet, I was touched when I was attending the mass together with the cured Hansenians. They were full of tears. Upon greeting each other, they clearly displayed the positive role of Fr. Nicosia in their lives. This may be the very last time Fr. Nicosia will travel to the old but very different place, and this place will no doubt keep transforming. But he seems to not care about the changes. During the celebrations, Fr. Nicosia’s main message was always focused on discipleship. “Yes, I’m very happy, because God loves me! Please, follow Jesus and follow Don Bosco. But I’m also not so happy, because there are still many millions of young people who don’t know about the love of Jesus, the love of God for them” said Fr. Nicosia.
He did so many material things but he never spoke a word to uplift himself during his speech. A great man like him is great because he always strives to adhere faithfully to his religion and devote his life to others with an unshakeable mind.