A Long-awaited Journey
In the past twenty eight years, I went back to Hong Kong frequently to visit my parents. I also took the opportunity to visit both Father Deane and Father Joyce. To my great disappointment, when I went back to Hong Kong in October 1997, I learnt that Father Deane had gone back to Ireland. I tried to find out where I could contact Father Deane, but my effort was unsuccessful.
A major break came early this year when my classmate Kwing F. Lee advised me to contact another classmate Joseph Chan in Australia for information on Father Deane. Within a few weeks, I hit the web site put up by the old boys in Australia and the rest is history.
I called up Father Deane in February. It was hard to communicate with Father, but he indicated that he would like me to bring the family over to visit him. We would go over to Ireland over the Spring Break.
We drove from Adare to Droghedra (Don't you dare to think of Thornbird!) on Good Friday to regroup before the big day. We would have lunch on Easter Sunday with Father, Theresa, Bosco and Chris, after the 11:30 mass at the Centre, at a Chinese restaurant. There was practically no traffic on Easter Sunday morning, and we got through Dublin in record time! We arrived at the Centre before it was officially opened. At the back door, some staff members led us in to meet Theresa. I was quite worried about Father's condition after I had read most of the material posted on the web.
Father was all dressed up, and he looked very good. Father was
happy to see Shirley, and the two kids, Andrew and Linda. Father met Andrew in February 1995. It is hard to imagine how Father feels about seeing the children of his children. I am very surprise as well as happy to see Father in such good spirit. A week's company with Theresa has done wonders. The mass at the tiny chapel at the Centre with Father was the most memorable Easter celebration for me. We said good-byes to Father by six..
Father had devoted half a century of his life in the education of his
children, and I daresay that without him, a lot of us would not have made it this far. In the twilight of his life, he should not be rendered a foreigner in his own land deprived of his long time friends and children, whom he loved and with whom he would love to be. Definitely, I fully appreciate the gravity of the sacred vows of obedience, poverty and chastity, but I also believe in God's mercy. I do not believe God would condemn the efforts of Father's children to bring him to a place that he is able to spend his last years in their company.
Prayers will soften hardened hearts. Shall we all pray for God's mercy?
Dr Andrew Au
May 2000
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