【慈幼通訊社
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2015
年
7
月
2
日中國香港訊】
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香港仔工業學校於本年度慶祝建校80周年，自1935年起，無數高度專業的慈幼會修士，全心全力地服務該校，有賴他們的努力，這種典型的慈幼會職業學校模式，亦傳到菲律賓等東亞大洋洲區其他區域。在這群修士中，有一名年屆90歲的年長荷蘭籍慈幼會士孔志剛修士，在該校服務逾60年，教導數以千計的學生。雖有現在他要依靠輪椅活動，然而有一名該校舊生負責照顧他的生活起居。以下是一則簡短的訪問：
可否分享你的慈幼聖召故事（作為慈幼會士、修士及傳教士）？
本人生於荷蘭，在我還很小的時候，母親每朝7時半便送我去參與兒童彌撒。母親認識一位虔敬的天主教徒，每天我帶食物給她。這位女士領我到慈幼會士那裡，請求他們收納我為備修生。那時慈幼會士剛展開在荷蘭的事業，而備修院亦僅於一年前，即1937年成立。備修院院長為德國籍Kremer神父，他收納我為備修生，並告訴我，當天是聖類斯公撒格的瞻禮(6月21日)。
這樣，我便要學習拉丁文及希臘文，我既不喜歡，也力有不逮。院長沒有要求我離開，卻問我是否喜歡與鮑思高神父一起，並建議我成為慈幼會修士。從此，我便樂於接受每一項交托給我的工作，漸漸地我開始了解慈幼會士的生活。
當第二次世界大戰於1939年展開時，我沒法進行正常學習，接著我便先後修讀了電力及電子相關的課程。戰事結束後，我們可以對外福傳了。我申請到中國去，於1947年達香港。
經歷了無數成果美滿的日子後，你認為鮑思高預防教育法對你有什麼裨益？
教育者臨在於喜歡學習並因而成長的青年當中，真是一件賞心樂事！我自1950年便在香港仔工業學校居住及工作，至今已逾60年。我曾先後教授電機及電子科。我亦曾擔位香港教育署電子科主考官達十年之久，直至80歲為止。我會有很多事情告訴你們。
有什麼可與東亞大洋洲區年輕的慈幼會士分享？
音樂讓我的生命充滿喜樂。我曾參與歌唱、學校合唱團及銅管樂隊，我與學生一起並為了他們進行這些活
動。由於現在我所能作的已經不多，因此十分苦惱。我經常默想：天主是愛，愛是天主。
雖然我的健康狀況，已大不如前，但我仍能為你們祈禱，並感謝所有關心我的人。請繼續在祈禱中記得我，我仍會時常在祈禱中記得你們。我誠心祝願，並祈求天主降臨你們及你們的事業！
What makes me truly happy?
(ANS - Hong Kong, 29 July 2015) –During this year the Aberdeen Technical School (ATS) in Hong Kong does celebrated the 80th anniversary. From 1935 there was a larger group of highly professional and dedicated Salesian Brothers. Thanks to them this technical and Salesian education model of ATS spread also to other EAO provinces, especially to the Philippines. Among those Brothers is also 88 years old Dutch Missionary Brother Arnold, who spent in ATS not less than 60 years of his life, educated and taught thousands of Bosconians and even now when is confined to live and move in the wheelchair, one of the ATS Past Pupils takes care about him. Follows a short interview:
Could you share your Salesian vocation story – as Salesian, Brother and Missionary ad gentes?
As a young boy in Netherlands my mother send me to the Holy Mass every day at 7.30 AM to attend the Children Mass. She knew one devote Catholic for which I bought her daily food. That woman took me to the Salesians to ask them to accept me as a Salesian Aspirant. The Salesians just had started in Holland that Aspirantate House one year before in 1937. The rector was a German, Fr. Kremer and he accepted me because as he told me it was the Feast day of St. Louis Gonzaga (June 21st)
So I had to study Latin and Greek which really I did not like and was not able to do. The rector did not send me away, but asked me if I liked to be with Don Bosco and proposed to me to become a Salesian Brother. From that day on I was happy to help in everything they ask me to do and so little by little I started to understand the Salesian life.
hen the Second World War started in 1940 and so my regular studies were impossible, then I started with corresponding courses in Electricity and later on in Electronics. Soon after the War, we could apply to go to the Missions. I have applied for China, in 1947 I arrived to Hong Kong, that time a British Colony.
After many fruitful years of what do you treasure from the Preventive System of Don Bosco?
Educative presence among the young people who like to learn and grow! Dear friends, I stayed and worked in Aberdeen Technical School from 1950, more than 60 years. I was teaching electricity and later on also electronics. Also for the Hong Kong Education Department I was Chief Examiner of Electronics for ten years, until I turned 80 years of age. I would have many things to tell you.
Any sharing for the younger generations of Salesians in our East Asia - Oceania Region?
What made me most happy in my live was music. I could take part in singing, school choir and school band and so was also with and for the boys. Now that I can do very little is my biggest problem. My meditation is: GOD IS LOVE AND LOVE IS GOD.
Although my heath is not that well as we should like to be, I can still pray for you and I am very grateful to all who care for me. Please continue to remember me in your prayers and I still will always remember you. With all my best wishes and prayers May God bless you and your work!