Under the blessing of our heavenly Father, the annual Famine Lunch graced our school hall on 5 March 2025, coinciding with Ash Wednesday — a day of solemn reflection on human fragility and divine reconciliation, marking the dawn of Lent. The event drew fervent participation from all S1 to S3 students, as well as other Catholic schoolmates in senior forms, who embraced its penitential spirit. While some may question the necessity of experiencing hunger when donations could suffice, the true essence of Famine Lunch lies in understanding the hardships faced by the impoverished. By forgoing a full meal, Holy Familians confronted the harsh realities of global poverty, transforming empathy from abstraction into visceral understanding.
This year, we were honoured to welcome Ms Virginia Leung from the Mongrel Club, who illuminated another facet of societal neglect — the plight of Tang dogs. With poignant clarity, she dismantled stereotypes surrounding these loyal yet often overlooked animals. Her heartfelt appeal resonated deeply, reminding us that compassion extends beyond humanity. It compelled us to speak for the voiceless and the vulnerable, whether through adoption or heightened awareness. This reflection on compassion extended beyond the immediate theme of hunger, inviting students to embrace empathy in various facets of life.
All participating students and teachers enjoyed a humble hot cross bun for lunch, symbolizing self-denial and sacrifice during Lent. The clink of coins followed as students donated their lunch money to the Catholic Church Lenten Campaign. Their small but significant contributions rippled outward to uplift the marginalised.
This year’s Famine Lunch holds particular significance as the Catholic Church celebrates its Jubilee Year under the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. By embracing hunger, we became fellow travellers with the poor, mirroring the pilgrimage of faith and solidarity. The event was a microcosm of our greater journey — one where hope is nurtured through action, and empathy is the compass guiding us forward. As Holy Familians left the hall, hearts and stomachs light, gratitude lingered in the air. May this tradition continue to ignite sparks of compassion, reminding us that even in hunger, there is nourishment in unity and hope.
4D Sum Chun