austraLasia
#1764
Stalwart member of the
Region (Fr Denis Martin) remembered in new book
HONG KONG: 18th February 2007 -- Fr Denis Martin sdb (1921-2006) has been
immortalised in a bilingual book published as a result of efforts by past pupils
from Aberdeen Secondary Technical School, Hong Kong, and the Provincial Office,
China province. His brother, also a Salesian, Fr Laurence Martin, is one of the
book's contributors. Its title: In Remembrance of Our Fr Denis Martin SDB
(1921-2006). The work is published in Chinese and
English.
Fr Dennis Martin was born 14th October 1921 in
Middlesex, UK. Soon after completing his novitiate, he came to China
(1940) and then spent 11 years in his beloved Shanghai, then Hong Kong and
Macau. Until the last years of his life he was actively engaged in the
school apostolate, especially at Aberdeen, Tang King Po, Ng Siu Mui, and Yuet
Wah and the Instituto Salesiano in Macao. From 1977-81 he was also Provincial
Economer.
Personal letters and reminiscences from some 50
past pupils and Salesians reveal a passionate teacher of English with a good
command of both 'Shanghaiese' and Cantonese, but they equally reveal a wonderful
father figure for his pupils. Replete with many photos, extracts from his
homilies, extracts too from letters of condolence at his death and from Fr Hon
Tai Fai's homily at his funeral, this book has a bit of everything that made up
such a fine Salesian missionary and adopted Chinese.
Fr
Denis Martin preached and practised love all his life. His personal motto,
broadly phrased, offers the motivation: Life is short, eternity is long. A happy
eternity - learn to love, love God, love your neighbour. If you do not love your
neighbour, you cannot love God, and if you love God, you love your neighbour.
Love God, love Don Bosco. We must also love Don Bosco and respect Don Bosco's
work - that is to nurture our youth and help them by following Don Bosco's
principle of educating youth to become good citizens in society on earth and
good citizens of heaven. Don Bosco's educational principles were based on
love.
The book concludes with an invitation to past pupils
to contribute to the Fr Denis Martin Memorial Fund (scholarship program of the
China Province). The book, which is published as an extra-commercial edition,
200 pages, and formatted like the DB China Centenary Book released shortly after
his death, is available through the DB Past Pupils Association HK-Macau or from
any Salesian community in HK and Macau.
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