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The Forward Day by Day Meditation for January 24, 2023

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TUESDAY, January 24 FLORENCE LI TIM-OI, Priest, 1992

Galatians 2:10 They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do.

Today, we celebrate the eve of Florence Li Tim-Oi’s ordination to the priesthood. Mother Florence was born in my hometown of Hong Kong. When I was twenty-four, I attended Evensong at St. John’s Cathedral in the Central neighborhood. Florence was the same age when she attended the ordination service at the cathedral of an English missionary, Lucy Vincent, as a deaconess. Florence answered God’s call and followed in Lucy’s footsteps to become the first Chinese deaconess in the church.

Soon, World War II broke out, and thousands of refugees fled from Japanese occupation in China. In nearby Macau, Florence became a refugee congregation’s only pastor. Because of the conditions of war, the male priests and bishops were not able to cross the closing borders; Florence was soon the only Anglican pastor in the Portuguese colony. Recognizing her ministry to this community in need, her bishop authorized her to celebrate Holy Eucharist and soon called her to make a treacherous journey into China to be ordained a priest.

MOVING FORWARD: How can you support ordained women in your life?

PRAY for the Diocese of Panrieng (South Sudan)

Today the Church remembers .

Psalm 45 * Psalm 47, Psalm 48 | Isa. 48:12-21 | Gal. 1:18-2:10 | Mark 6:1-13