Rev. LIBERATORE, Ottavio PIME
何達華神父

Death of Father Liberatore, P.I.M.E.
R.I.P.

Father Ottavio Maria Liberatore, PIME, died in the Bishop’s House, Hong Kong , early on Tuesday, 10 December 1972, aged 71.

Father Liberatore was born at Caserta, Naples Province, Italy, on 8 April 1901, and was a grand-nephew of Father M. Liberatore, SJ, the originator of the 19 century revival of Schoastic philosophy. He entered the PIME seminary at Monza, Milan Province, in June 1922 and was ordained priest in June 1927.

He set out for Hong Kong in August 1927, arrived in January of the following year, and spent the rest of his life in the service of the diocese of Hong Kong. The list, given below, of the posts he filled is the record of a busy life, but it cannot convey any idea of the great personality who filled the posts - the great frame, the vigour, the sudden dart of his mind towards the unexpected, the kindliness. The true monuments to such a man are to be found only in the memories of those who knew him. There is, however, a tangible monument to his vigour, St. Jude’s Church, North Point, which he built in the late 1950s.

Severe heart trouble led to his retirement in 1965, after which he lived in the Bishop's House, knowing the death could come at any moment. It came suddenly, as he had expected. He was found dead in his room on Tuesday Morning.

RECORD OF A BUSY LIFE
February 1928: Assistant in the District of Wang-Lak, Wai-Yeung, Kwangtung.
27 October 1930: Rector of the District of Tam-Tong (Wai-Yeung District).
June 1932: Diocesan Vice-Procurator, and Procurator from October 1932.
July 1934: Rector of the District of Saikung, New Territory.
January 1936: Rector of Cheung Chau, Tai O and adjacent islands.
October 1937: Parish Priest of the Precious Blood Parish, Shamshuipo.
1946: Parish Priest of Holy Cross Church, Shaukiwan.
June 1947: Delegate of PIME Fathers at the General PIME Chapter in Rome.
December 1947: Parish Priest of St. Margaret’s Church in Happy Valley.
October 1948: Regional Superior of PIME Fathers in Hong Kong.
September 1950: Diocesan Procurator and Rector of the Catholic Centre.
March 1955: Rector of the new St. Jude’s Chapel in North Point: became Parish Priest on the opening of the new St. Jude’s Church in December 1957.
1965: Retired to the Bishop’s House because of severe ill-health.
15 December 1972

何達華神父
本週二病逝

宗 座 米 蘭 外 方 傳 教 會 何 達 華 神 父 於 一 九 七 二 年 十 二 月 十 日 病 逝 ， 享 壽 七 十 一 歲 。 十 三 日 下 午 三 點 半 在 聖 瑪 加 利 大 堂 舉 行 安 所 彌 撒 ， 四 點 一 刻 出 殯 ， 安 葬 於 跑 馬 地 天 主 教 墳 場 。 何 神 父 義 大 利 人 ， 一 九 二 七 年 晉 鐸 後 經 香 港 入 惠 陽 傳 教 。 一 九 三 四 年 開 始 ， 先 後 在 新 界 西 貢 、 長 洲 、 大 澳 、 寶 血 修 院 小 堂 及 筲 箕 灣 等 堂 區 服 務 ， 曾 任 公 教 進 行 社 社 長 ， 聖 猶 達 堂 和 聖 瑪 加 利 大 堂 主 任 司 鐸 ， 及 宗 座 外 方 傳 教 會 香 港 區 會 長 ， 近 幾 年 來 常 在 病 中 ， 居 於 主 教 公 署 ， 今 蒙 主 召 ， 魂 歸 天 國 ， 盼 各 信 友 為 其 代 禱 。
1972 年 12 月 15 日


◆ From Milan to Hong Kong 150 Years of Mission, by Gianni Criveller, Vox Amica Press, 2008.
◆ 從米蘭到香港150年傳教使命, 柯毅霖著, 良友之聲出版社, 2008.
◆ 先賢錄－－香港天主教神職及男女修會會士 (1841-2010), 天主教香港教區檔案處, 2010.
◆ 先賢錄－－香港天主教神職及男女修會會士 (1841-2016), 天主教香港教區檔案處, 2016.
◆ 西貢傳教士 Priests in Sai Kung, 田英傑著, 黎國偉譯,聖心堂 (西貢) 出版組編印, 2022.
◆ 西貢傳教史 Evangelization The Missionary Story of Sai Kung, 田英傑著, 黎國偉譯, 聖心堂 (西貢) 出版組編印, 2024.


LIBERATORE Ottavio.pdf