Florence Li Tim-Oi
On this day, we remember the Rev. Florence Li Tim-Oi. Jan. 24 is the eve of her ordination, which took place on Jan. 25, 1944. Rev. Florence was the first woman to ever be ordained as a priest in the Anglican Communion. She was born in Hong Kong and felt the call to serve in Christian ministry in her mid-twenties when attending another woman’s ordination as a deacon. Li Tim-Oi went to theological college and served at All Saints Church in Kowloon, Hong Kong, for two years helping mainland Chinese refugees fleeing the Second Sino-Japanese War. After this time, her bishop, the Rt. Rev. Ronald Hall, sent her to serve in neutral Macau to tend refugee needs there. During this time, Rev. Florence briefly returned to Hong Kong to be ordained as a deacon. In Macau, Li Tim-Oi ministered to the congregation faithfully, performing baptisms, weddings, funerals, and all manner of pastoral care needed for residents and refugees fleeing war. There were no resident Anglican priests and, as the war progressed, it became impossible for any Chinese priests to travel to Macau churches to celebrate the Eucharist. Though it was unprecedented, Bishop Hall saw Rev. Florence’s faithful ministry and leadership and moreover, he saw the great need of the local church to have a priest during that time of great duress. He ordained the Rev. Florence Li Time-Oi as a priest on Jan 25, 1944.
Following the war, there was great resistance to her ordination in the Anglican Communion worldwide and, in great humility, she resigned her license to priestly ministry (though not her priests’ orders). Meanwhile, Li Tim-Oi endured severe political persecution and even work camps, but never denied her faith. Later, she transitioned to Toronto, Canada and was able to live into her priestly ordained ministry in the final years of her life. There is even more to her story, but what is most striking about Rev. Florence’s life is her enduring humility in the face of resistance to her ministry both inside and outside the church, as well as her courageous persistence in faithful service in ministry throughout astounding challenges and hardship.
Let us thank God for faithful servants of the church like the Rev. Florence Li Tim Oi and may He continue to raise up more!
Almighty God, who pours out your Spirit upon your sons and daughters: Grant that we, following the example of your servant Florence Li Tim-Oi, chosen priest in your church, may with faithfulness, patience, and tenacity proclaim your holy gospel to all the nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (“Lesser Feasts and Fasts,” page 88)
