Father Matthew Koo honored with 'Monsignor' title
Because he was an active member of the Legion of Mary. In February 1956, Father Koo was sentenced to five years at a labor camp in Heilungchiang Province, and was transferred to a prison in Shanghai on Aug. 15, 1956.
In November 1956, he was sentenced to seven years in a labor camp in Chinghai Province, “because he opposed reformation.” When his sentence was completed in 1965, Father Koo was forced to continue in an agricultural labor camp until 1984.
Father Koo was secretly ordained a deacon on Feb. 20, 1988, by Bishop Fan Chung-liang, SJ, then Auxiliary Bishop of Shanghai, who ordained him to the priesthood, Feb. 22, 1988.
Father Koo enrolled in theological studies at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Illinois, and completed his studies in 1993 at St. Patrick's Seminary & University in Menlo Park.
He began service in the Diocese of San Jose on June 15, 1993, as Chaplain to the local Chinese Catholic Community. This appointment was renewed until Father Koo's retirement on June 30, 2008. Due to ongoing instability in China, Father Koo sought incardination in the Diocese of San Jose, which Bishop McGrath granted.
In retirement, Msgr. Koo continues to serve the Chinese Catholic community in the Bay Area and in southern California.
PATRICK McGRATH 主教宣布教宗方济各已经回应他的请求，荣升顾光中神父为俱有“蒙席”头衔的圣教会司铎。
顾蒙席于1933年7月20日在中国上海出生，父亲顾文生，母亲龚于飞，均为天主教教友。他早年在上海的类思小学，圣方济初中和圣方济高中接受教育。
1953年他进入徐家汇修道院，1955年9月8日被逮捕，案由系指他为圣母军。 1956年2月顾神父被判刑5年，入黑龙江省的劳改队。又于1956年8月15日改判3年转入上海监狱。 1958年11月他又以因抗拒改造加刑7年，在青海省的劳改队改造。当他于1965年服刑完毕后，又被强迫在劳改农场继续做工直到1984年。
顾蒙席于1988年2月20日，由当年上海教区助理主教﹝地下﹞范忠良秘密祝圣为执事，并于1988年2月22日祝圣为司铎。顾神父在伊利诺州的芝加哥天主教神学院研读神学，并于1993年在门罗公园的呈派特瑞修道院及大学完成学业。
顾蒙席于1993年6月15日开始在圣荷西教区服务，任本区天主教华人社区司铎。他的任职一直维持到2008年6月30日退休。由于中国当前的不稳定，顾蒙席寻求在圣荷西教区担任神职工作，而由麦格拉主教授与其职。退休后的顾蒙席，继续在湾区和南加州不辞辛劳地为教友服务，且益见神灵充沛，常浴主恩。
以下是五月十一日，复活期第四主日，圣荷西主教主礼顾蒙席晋升感恩弥撒，弥撒中顾蒙席的致词：
Most Rev. Bishop Patrick McGrath, Most Rev Archihop Dic-Gang, Rev. Monsignor Cilia, all my brother priests, brothers and sisters of Legion of Mary, all Children of God,
After I retired, my classmate Fr Dinh Hao said to the bishop: “At Fr Koo's funeral mass, I'll give the homily.”
Bishop responded: “You have to wait.”
I never thought of that bishop had something to do. He wanted to nominate me a Monsignor.
Thank you, bishop.
I believe that you want me to be a good Monsignor.
For fifteen years, I served the Chinese Community, but in reality I was served by them. I received more than I offered. It was they who made me get closer to God. It was they who helped me see God's mercy on His people.
Today, I thank all of you, and all who come to this celebration. All who come from Fremont, from San Mateo, from San Francisco, from Los Angeles and San Diego. Lastly I give you a word. You are loved by God in this era. You'll receive more than you offered to Him.
编注：蒙席是义大利语“Monsignor”，教宗颁赐有功神父的荣衔，通常可穿与主教近似之服装。
(顾神父和方济各教宗握手谈话)
(顾神父和方济各教宗握手谈话)
(顾”蒙席”的照片)
(顾神父在教宗只能容五十人的私人小圣堂中和教宗共祭。顾神父在第二排最靠近中间走道)
|
