history

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

Vincent de Paul was born in France in 1576. As a young priest he was captured by Turkish pirates who sold him into slavery. For two years he worked hard for the ‘masters’ who bought him. But eventually he converted his last master to Christianity and was then set free.

Vincent was sent to work in a parish near Paris. He became a very great friend of the poor and downtrodden and started groups to take care of them – looking after the sick, cooking meals and providing clothes for the needy.

Vincent Started the Order of the Daughters of Charity who devoted their lives to Christ through service to the poor and sick. He built homes for the poor, the sick, the aged and abandoned children. He also started a Congregation of the Missions, a society of priests and missionaries called the Vincentians.

Vincent died in Paris at the age of 84 but his work continues to this day in all corners of the globe.

St. Vincent’s Church began celebrating Mass in December of 1969. At the time, it served both the Cantonese and English-speaking communities of Hang Hau parish, which then included Hang Hau and the small villages around Clearwater Bay from Fei Ngo Shan to Tai O Mun. For several decades it was primarily associated with the CICM (Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) priests and brothers and ICM (Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) sisters. In the past St. Vincent has been involved with a primary school, an English-language kindergarten, and a children’s after-school centre.

The area and community that St. Vincent’s serves has changed over time with the development of Tseung Kwan O. In 1989 the area across from Po Lam Road became St. Andrew’s parish, while Fu Ning Court and Hang Hau New Village came under St. Vincent’s parish. In 2008, St. Vincent’s was incorporated into St. Andrew’s parish. With the growing number of English-speaking parishioners, English became the language of both Sunday Masses in 2011; and by February 2018 three Masses on Sundays was introduced.

The original two church councils (one Cantonese, one English) were merged into a single council to coordinate activities. The St. Vincent’s community is highly international with members from all over the world.

PHOTOGRAPHS & MEMORIES