MY FAVORITE PRIEST

104 years old and going strong

By Joseph Chiang

“Can you tell me what is the most mysterious part of your body?” a Trappist monk, Fr. Nicholas Kao, asked me while I visited him on September 13, 2001 at his monastery in Lantau Island, Hong Kong. He was my former pastor in Fuzhou City, Fujiang, China. He is now 104 years old. My answer to his question was “Heart.” But he said to me, “No.” “Brain?” “No.” “Then it must be our soul,” I answered him. He replied “no” again.

I could not figure out what answer he was looking for. He then raised his thumb and said to me, “This is the most mysterious part of our body because, according to a scientific report, no two thumbs are the same in the whole world. You see how mysterious it is! Am I right?”

I thought to myself: what a profound mystery and revelation has been discovered by this 104 year old monk. It is true, the thumb is one of the most mysterious small parts of our body. I admit it and say nothing more.

Fr. Nicholas Kao was born on January 15, 1897 at Lung Men Tsuen, Chang Lok Town, Fujiang, China. He was baptized at the age of 18 and named after St. Nicholas. When he was a young man, he was educated in Fuzhou Teacher Training College. Since both his conduct and his academic results were outstanding, he was invited to be the Headmaster of the College’s subsidiary primary school after his graduation. He was married and had a child. Soon after his marriage both wife and child were called by God, so he decided to become a priest.

Nicholas Kao entered St. Joseph’s Seminary in the Diocese of Fuzhou. On the completion of his seminary training, he was ordained a priest by his bishop, Most. Rev. Theodorus LaBrador, a Spanish Dominican at the Cathedral of Holy Rosary Church in Fuzhou City on October 1, 1933. He was then assigned to be the pastor of that Cathedral for over fifteen years. During that time, he started a primary parochial school and built a shrine to Our Lady of Fatima right behind the Chancery building.

In 1949 Fr. Kao went to Taiwan, due to the communist occupation of Fuzhou city. He landed in Tanshui city, a suburb of Taipei, where he established a new church dedicated in honor of Our Lady of Fatima. Less than one year later, he was transferred to Tai Kan Po in Kaoshiung City where he stayed for many years as pastor and where he built a second shrine to Our Lady of Fatima.

In 1967 Fr. Kao went to East Malaysia to continue his mission as the messenger of Our Lady of Fatima and devotion to her. There he built a third shrine to her. Then he returned to Kaoshiung for a short period of time. Moved by a Cursillo weekend, he decided to enter a Trappist Monastery on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, and give himself to contemplation and mortification. He has been there ever since. In the monastery he built another shrine in honor of Our Lady of Fatima.

Fr. Kao is a renowned “Son of Our Lady of Fatima.” According to his record, he was saved by our heavenly Mother on five different occasions: at sea (1949), in the air (1979), on land (1983), from a knife (1990), and from a stone (1992). He considers these five incidents as a “miracle” from his heavenly Mother. In gratitude to her protection, he built a total of six shrines from 1945 to 1992 in six different countries in Asia.

Regarding the secret of his longevity, he gave us the following wise advice:

A) THE SEVEN DISCIPLINES OF SELF-DENIAL: 1) Never smoke; 2) Never insist on your own way; 3) Never eat more than you need; 4) Never let your heart get disturbed; 5) Never stop doing exercise; 6) Never get angry; 7) Never stop praying.

B) THE SEVEN DISCIIPLINES OF THE HEART: 1) Be confident; 2) Be loving; 3) Be pious; 4) Be kind; 5) Be patient; 6) Be humble; 7) Be persevering.

Fr. Nicholas Kao is the former pastor of my parish, which is the Cathedral of the Holy Rosary in Fuzhou City, Fujiang, China, and he is the one who inspired me to study for the priesthood. At that time I was one of his altar boys. He was also the principal of the parochial school I attended.
Now that he is 104 years old, he is very happy to see me become pastor of Holy Rosary Church, an Italian-American and Chinese parish in Jersey City, N.J. He was pleased to learn that I was named a Monsignor —the first priest from my hometown to be so honored. That is why he wanted to have a picture taken with him.

I am very grateful to his superior, Rt. Rev. Clement Kong for allowing me to visit with Fr. Kao. In Mandarin “Kong” is pronounced “Chiang” (which means “river”); the Chinese character for both names is the same.

The picture with this article was taken of the three of us in front of the shrine in honor of Our Lady of Fatima at his monastery. Through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima, may God keep “My Favorite Priest,” Fr. Nicholas Kao, forever.

You are invited to contribute to this series by sending in an account of a priest whom you admire. Articles should not exceed 800 words. The best of these will be printed. Send to “My Favorite Priest”
c/o Homiletic & Pastoral Review
50 S. Franklin Turnpike
Suite 1
Ramsey, N.J. 07446
If you have a good photo of the priest, please send that also. Enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope, if you wish to have your article returned
 ...Msgr. Joseph Chiang is pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Jersey City, N.J.

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