Francis Chan, a lawyer from Hong Kong made a significant life change by moving to Rome. Driven by a desire to reconnect with his faith and explore the intellectual and spiritual richness of the Catholic Church, Francis shares his journey from the bustling streets of Hong Kong to the serene academic environment of Rome. He discusses the challenges and rewards of his decision and the profound impact of the friendships he has formed at The Lay Centre.
He spoke with Stefanie Bross about his studies and experience.
Steffanie: Francis, how was your life in Hong Kong before coming to Rome?
Francis: Like many ordinary people in Hong Kong, working late hours, and life is a bit intense. This is why I also came to Rome because, first of all, I wanted to take a break and rethink my life.
Were you raised Catholic?
Yes, I was born Catholic. I went to Catholic school, primary and secondary school, run by the religious order of John Baptist de La Salle, called St. Joseph’s College. Unfortunately, my family wasn’t really devoted, so I was not a practicing Catholic until a few years ago. A few years ago, I started practicing again and found a renewed interest in my faith.
How come?
Once I started working, I started asking myself about the meaning, the purpose of being here on earth. And I read many books. I think it was the wisdom of the Catholic Church that I didn’t realize before. There's also the mystical aspect of the Catholic Church. Coming from East Asia, there are many discussions about Buddhism and meditation. And I think there’s certainly a mystical side to meditation, but what I didn’t realize — and this is one of the things that brought me back to the Catholic Church — was the richness of its mystical tradition. Through conversations with friends, reading about figures like Benedict, and practicing Lectio Divina, I learned about the depth and history of Catholic mysticism, which I had not been aware of before. This realization, along with the intellectual and spiritual richness of the Church, drew me back. The Church has many facets, including faith, intellect, and spirituality, which I found deeply fulfilling.
How did you find out about studying in Rome?
I was reading a book. In that book, the priest mentions he is from the North American College (a college for seminarians in Rome). That gave me hope because, initially, I thought you could only study theology if you spoke Italian. But then, knowing about the North American College made me realize there’s a possibility to study in English in Rome. So, I emailed the hospitality team of the North American College and, to my surprise, they wrote back and said if I wanted to study in English in Rome I should go to the Angelicum. That’s how I found out about the Angelicum.
And what about The Lay Centre? How did you get to know about it?
A few of my friends recommended it to me. There’s a priest from Hong Kong who recommended The Lay Centre to me, and a friend of mine at church, who came to study a year before me, also mentioned it.
Looking back, would you do the same thing again? Are you happy with your experience?
Absolutely. It far exceeds my expectations. Intellectually, I learned a lot, but also spiritually, I’ve experienced a lot of graces, gifts, and surprises. The friendships I’ve formed have been very important as well, and they have enriched my experience in ways I didn’t expect.
What was your highlight of living here and in your studies?
I think the friendships at The Lay Centre, where there is genuine openness for discussion. We all come from different backgrounds in our studies and lives, so whenever I have a question, I know someone who can help. Also, the Wednesday evening community nights and the high-calibre guests invited by The Lay Centre have been very enriching. I’ve learned a lot about different aspects of the Catholic Church, including its spirituality, theology, and practical aspects of its functioning.
Do you think you will come back?
Hopefully.
