On 25 January 1944 history was made when the Rev Florence Li Tim-Oi was made a 'Priest in the Church of God'.
The Ordination in the Anglican Diocese of Hong Kong and South China took place in the Free China village of Shui Hing during the Sino-Japanese War.
It was conducted by Bishop R O Hall in order that Anglican Christians in Tim-Oi's parish of Macao, the Portuguese island colony, could receive the sacrament of Holy Communion properly authorised.
It was not until 1971 that the Anglican Communion agreed that further women might be ordained priest, and not until 1994 that women were priested in the Church of England.
In the same year the 'Li Tim-Oi Foundation' was launched to empower women in the Two-Thirds World for Christian mission and ministry.
'Empowering God,
you chose one woman to be the mother of your Son
and another woman to witness his resurrection;
you chose your beloved daughter Li Tim-Oi to be a priest in your church.
Where the need is greatest you now call women
to be ministers of change in your church and their communities.
Enable the Li Tim-Oi Foundation to empower each of them to fulfil their vocation
that your kingdom may come and your will done on earth as in heaven
today and in days to come.'
you chose one woman to be the mother of your Son
and another woman to witness his resurrection;
you chose your beloved daughter Li Tim-Oi to be a priest in your church.
Where the need is greatest you now call women
to be ministers of change in your church and their communities.
Enable the Li Tim-Oi Foundation to empower each of them to fulfil their vocation
that your kingdom may come and your will done on earth as in heaven
today and in days to come.'
