Helen and St. Mary's Canossian College
HELEN, a Colleague and a Friend - by Sr. Ida (2006)
I had just returned to St Mary’s after an absence of five years in Rome, and I was cracking my head to find a suitable member of the Staff, when Alice Siu, one of my past students, walked into my room with the familiarity that distinguishes her. I had known her for many years, as a student and as a friend. She had been my first Chinese teacher, and a strict one at that. Matter-of-factly she told me that she had a good person who responded to all my expectations. I asked her what her name was and she said, Helen Ip. That was the first time I head that name.
The next day Helen appeared, accompanied by Alice, of course. I still remember the scene: I was sitting at my desk and from the door right in front of me I saw Helen appearing in person. Frail, smiling, outgoing and yet reserved, I knew at once that she was the person I wanted.
Thus Helen joined out Staff. I needed someone to teach Psychology and Religious Education in higher forms and a class of English in the lower forms. Helen declared herself willing, and we became Colleagues, and, soon friends. She had some experience from a former school, and that was an asset. She was not a novice which made things easier.
What I liked in Helen was her dedication, her availability, her simplicity. It did not take long for me to realize that she was a good teacher. Her gentle dealing with the students, not disjoint from firmness, allowed her to control the class without tension, her deep religious conviction (Helen was a practising Catholic!) and open mind made her understanding of youthful frailties, her gentle attitude made her acceptable to her charges.
Nor did I take long to find out that the students appreciated her. They trusted her and she held them in her hands, tactfully leading them on, without giving the impression of doing so. In the Staffroom Helen was accepted, too, and soon made friends with her Colleagues.
We Canossian Sisters stress the importance of the cooperation of lay persons, especially Teachers who can do much to make up for our limitations both in number and abilities. When, after three years, I felt that this was the right time to do so, I asked Helen whether she would like to join out Lay Canossians Association, she simply said yes. By then she had absorbed our spirit and education inspiration which is based on very simple principles: instil into the young Gospel love and concern for others, train them to be dutiful, serious, honest, and hardworking, while offering them the opportunity of exercising leadership through a variety of extra-curricular activities. This straightforward system has given rise to a number of outstanding women who work in society, government, and other fields with poise and success.
Helen was sent abroad to take part in an international meeting of Lay Canossians, to represent Hong Kong, and from this experience she not only enriched herself but found the way to enrich her charges, and, above all, students.
So, you may imagine my dismay when in 1987, after nine years of happy and harmonious cooperation, Helen told me that she and her husband Roque intended to emigrate, I was disappointed. In vain did I try to convince her to stay on: the family had its plans and, regretfully, she was to leave St Mary’s?
After she immigrated to the States I kept in touch with her through correspondence and E-mail and soon heard that her health was far from satisfactory. The Lord asked much from her, and, as He deals with his good friends, He did not spare her sufferings. In pain Helen remained the same, serene and calm, seeing God’s will, even if difficult, as a proof of His love.
Now she is with Him and I, who enjoyed her friendship for nine years, feel that I must thank her for what she was and did for myself, for the students, for her Colleague and for St Mary’s as a whole.
Thank you Helen, and please do not forget us now that you enjoy the vision of the Lord.