Happy 2021!
This year, our Church celebrates the Year of St. Joseph. St. Joseph as a working father is one of the seven characteristics of St. Joseph highlighted in Patris Corde (With a Father’s Heart — the latest Apostolic Letter by Pope Francis). Looking back at 2020, FLL was extremely blessed to have been given the opportunities to work and to serve especially during the pandemic. We thank you all for standing by us during this difficult time!
As we dive into 2021 with new assignments from God the Holy Spirit, we want to give thanks to God by counting all the blessings in 2020. On this special webpage, we want to share with you how God has multiplied the fruits of our labour to bless His people in 2020, from media productions to online conferences/retreats to various charitable initiatives. We hope you will continue to stand by us in 2021!
We invite you to join our special circle of committed supporters who have chosen to support our mission financially on a monthly basis. God loves a cheerful giver and no gift is too small! May God bless you with bountiful reward here on earth and in heaven!
Interview with Donald Tsang, Former Hong Kong Chief Executive
Donald Tsang, former chief executive of Hong Kong, was convicted of misconduct in office in February 2017 and was sent to jail immediately. The Court of Final Appeal ruled in favor of him and quashed his conviction and sentence once and for all in June 2019. In December 2019, FLL had an in-depth interview with Mr. Tsang in which he shared how God blessed him through this painful experience.
“Farmer of Hearts” 40-Day Online Lenten Retreat
This past Lent, our team at FLL developed a 40-day Lenten online retreat named Farmer of Hearts based on the theme of the Parable of the Sower. The online retreat attracted over 10,000 participants worldwide. The online retreat, promoted as a 10-minute daily reflection, consists of three components: a leading question that encourages the retreatants to evaluate their current spiritual condition in relation to the parable, a guided reflection that ends with a prayer and a concluding question for their further reflection during the day. The content was delivered daily via email to the retreatants in their preferred written language (Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese or English). An audio version of the content was also provided in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. The availability of the content in multiple written and spoken languages allowed us to reach a wide Chinese audience with diverse preferences for written and spoken languages.
“Light in the Darkness” Holy Week Journey
Fountain of Love and Life produced a Holy Week Online Spiritual Journey “Light in the Darkness” to provide the faithful the opportunities to experience the fellowship and unity in the Lord by participating in live broadcasts of spiritual events during the holiest season of the year.
Acts of the Apostles Online Reading Program
As an extension of the "Farmer of Hearts" Lenten Online Retreat, FLL introduced the Acts of the Apostles Reading Plan to encourage the farmers to read a chapter in the Acts every day. A daily email was sent to the participants, providing them with materials about the days' reading, reflection questions and resources on the web.
Pre-Pentecost 9-day Online Retreat
To prepare ourselves to celebrate the Pentecost, to receive the power of the Holy Spirit and get ready to bring the Good News to the ends of the earth, Fountain of Love and Life has put together a 9-day spiritual journey, beginning on the day after the Feast of Ascension of Jesus Christ, and concluding on the Vigil of Pentecost. The program includes daily written reflection materials (in English, Traditional and Simplified Chinese) and the Novena to the Holy Spirit.
Pentecost Online Conference
On May 30, the eve of last year’s Pentecost, Fountain of Love and Life held a Pentecost Online Conference to prepare us to receive the power from the Holy Spirit through talks, witnesses, prayers, and praises. The setting of an online conference allowed us to gather with brothers and sisters from around the world to celebrate the birthday of our universal Church together! Spiritual Talks speakers include Fr. Peter Chin, C.Ss.R., Fr. Francis Ching, C.C. and Fr. Simon Wong, S.J. Testimony witnesses include Sister Agnese Wong, F.M.A. (Macau), Edmond Lo and Paul Yeung.
Food and Supplies Drive for Missionaries of the Poor (Jamaica)
During Lent, FLL invited the community to share God's love with the needy by donating food and supplies to Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) to help the least of our brothers and sisters in Jamaica. The food and supplies were shipped out just before the lock-down in Toronto in March. The food and supplies turned out to be a critical to MOP during the pandemic. Praise the Lord!
Overcome COVID-19 Campaign
Since the launch of the “FLL Overcome COVID-19 Campaign”, Fountain of Love and Life has donated over 88,000 pieces of various kinds of PPE (e.g. surgical masks, respirator masks (N95 or KN95), face shields, goggles, coveralls, medical protective gowns, head covers, and shoe covers) to over 40 hospitals, hospital networks, long term care homes, home care services and other homes in the Greater Toronto Area. Check out the list of beneficiary organizations, delivery pictures and more on https://charity.FLL.cc/en.
Vancouver “Walk with God” @ Scotiabank Half Marathon and 5K Virtual Race
Due to COVID-19, Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon and 5K was held as a virtual walk/run. Although it became a virtual event, the Vancouver "Walk with God" team joined in full force and won the "Most Number of Participants" award with 88 participants, raising over $160K (CDN).
Unbound Online Retreat (Two-Day)
Fr. Francis Ching gave a two-day Unbound retreat on July 18 and 19. Over 500 participants from many cities in North America, Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Ignite Hope Project @ Vancouver “Walk with God”
This year, the Vancouver Walk with God 2020 Planning Committee added a new project called “Ignite Hope”. The aim of this project is to instill positive messages and ignite hope to people who are worried, hopeless or depressed due to the COVID-19 pandemic through participating in different activities. We believe Christ is our hope. The Walk with God 2020 Planning Committee has produced a series of video clips of these activities to share with you. By watching these videos, we hope that you will experience God’s consolation and reignite your spirit.
Ray of Hope Project
The “Ray of Hope” Project of Fountain of Love and Life (FLL) aimed at bringing hope to seniors living in long-term care facilities, who are isolated from the families and the outside world during the COVID-19 pandemic, through handmade artwork by youths that radiate truth, goodness and beauty.
Over the summer and fall, over 160 participants/volunteers, including 140 students from 57 schools across 14 cities in the Greater Toronto Area (including Toronto, York, Durham, Halton and Peel regions), participated in this meaningful project. A total of 361 original artworks and 610 greeting cards were donated to five long term care centres (three long term care centres of Mon Sheong Foundation, Mariann Home and Langstaff Square Care Community). What an amazing project these students had created! What a wonderful youth project team who led the project to success!
Toronto Virtual “Walk with God” @ Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Virtual Race
Toronto's "Walk with God" team participated in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Virtual Race this year, raising over $410K for FLL and winning the first prize in the "Largest Amount of Funds Raised" in the Charity Challenge.
New Rendition of FLL Theme Song by Dicky Cheung
In celebration of FLL's 15th anniversary, we invited a renowned Catholic artist, Dicky Cheung, to sing a new rendition of the FLL theme song.
FLL 15th Anniversary Virtual Gala
The Fountain of Love and Life 15th Anniversary Virtual Gala was held successfully on November 21 (North America time). Highlights of the show include a video series about the history, development, mission and vision of FLL, showcase of the winning entries of the FLL Theme Song Contest, and the premiere of a new rendition of the FLL Theme Song by reknowned Hong Kong Catholic artist, Dicky Cheung. We have raised over $170,000 through the virtual gala (including pre-gala donations, one-time donations, new monthly and additional monthly donations [x 12 months], the pre-gala and gala-day matching funds, excluding donations in Hong Kong dollars). We are tremendously thankful to all your support!
“Love and Life” Micro-Movie Event
The Fountain of Love and Life 15th Anniversary Virtual Gala was held successfully on November 21 (North America time). Highlights of the show include a video series about the history, development, mission and vision of FLL, showcase of the winning entries of the FLL Theme Song Contest, and the premiere of a new rendition of the FLL Theme Song by reknowned Hong Kong Catholic artist, Dicky Cheung.
Advent Online Retreat (One-Day)
Fr. Francis Ching held a one-day Advent retreat, titled "Persisting In Prayer - A Spiritual Battle", for us.
Advent Online Retreat (4-Week)
The Fountain of Love and Life Hong Kong team produced an Advent Online Retreat - "Welcoming Jesus into Our Hearts", inviting everyone to spend 15 minutes a day with God to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus Christ. Participants receive a daily email with the retreat content, including priests' talks on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and reflection materials, prayers and testimonies on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Sound Colour Pilgrimage
We bring you pilgrimages. There is sharing of photos, music, and songs about seeking God in some remote places in the world.
Chinese RCIA by Deacon Paul Ma (Mandarin)
A lot of people are interested in learning about the Catholic faith in a systematic way. FLL has invited Deacon Paul Ma to partner with us in producing a Mandarin RCIA program which can benefit believers who would like to deepen their knowledge, those who are interested in the Catholic faith as well as RCIA teachers who need supplementary materials.
Back to Galilee – Sr. Po Yee Yeung
Sister Po Yee Yeung brings you back to Galilee, following the footsteps of Jesus.
Letters of St. Paul – Stanislaus Lee
Stanislaus Lee has lead more than 100 pilgrimages to various pilgrim sites. He has also visited many St Paul's places for 2 months. He will share with us the letters written by St. Paul.