Love God and Love Our Neighbours Unconditionally

Irene Law reflects on the profound experience of attending a Cantonese Mass in Cambridge celebrated by the priest who baptised her, sharing his inspiring journey of faith and encouraging others to trust in God and love unconditionally.

I heard that Father Pierre Lam Minh would be celebrating a Cantonese Mass on 18 May 2025 at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Cambridge. I was thrilled to learn this, as I was baptised by Fr Lam in 2003 at St Peter’s Church in Aberdeen, Hong Kong. Time truly flies – it’s been 22 years. I never imagined I would receive Holy Communion from him again, and certainly not here in the UK.

Today’s Gospel was about how Jesus loves us. He gave His life on the Cross to save us from sin and offer us new life. Fr Lam reminded us to love God and to love our neighbours unconditionally.

He also shared his personal story of responding to God’s call. Born into a Catholic family in Vietnam, his parents had migrated from Chaozhou, China. Though his mother didn’t speak Vietnamese or Latin, she still attended daily Mass in Latin. Fr Lam said, “God is the same God everywhere.” Even if we do not speak the local language, we can still attend Mass and receive Holy Communion. This was an encouraging reminder for those of us who have recently arrived in the UK – language should never be a barrier to our faith.

When Fr Lam was about to start school, his mother prayed they could find a flat near the parish. He explained that when we pray for simple necessities, God answers. From a young age, he served the parish as an altar server, a member of the Legion of Mary, and as part of the choir. He was deeply inspired by the priests who shared the Word of God and the Good News not only with Catholics but also with non-Catholics. As a mother myself, I found myself reflecting on how I can be a role model for my son and bring him closer to God.

Because of war and the restrictions imposed by the Communist regime in Vietnam, Fr Lam was unable to pursue his vocation there. He later fled to Malaysia, where he stayed in a refugee camp for nine months before moving to France. During his first two years in France, he often questioned why God had brought him there. Life was difficult – he had no identity as a refugee and missed his family dearly. Yet, he placed his trust in God. Eventually, the Diocese of Bordeaux accepted him for priestly formation. After serving in France for some years, he was sent to Hong Kong where he could truly serve the Chinese community.

As newcomers in the UK, many of us face our own challenges and uncertainties. Fr Lam’s story teaches us to remain faithful and to wait patiently for God’s answers to our prayers.

At the end of the Mass, Fr Lam gave each of us a candle – a “light of hope” which he had brought from Hong Kong. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, he encouraged us to keep our hope in God and to love the people around us.

What a blessing it was to participate in the Cantonese Mass today.

Thank you very much, Fr Lam!

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