Rev. Fr. Peter Te-Yun Chiang was born in Hubei, China, Feb. 3, 1929, son of Chiang Kee Chuen and Kok (Mary) Man Nee. He was recruited by the Franciscan missionary in his hometown to enter the minor seminary when he was ten years old. Fr. Peter studied seven years in the minor seminary and followed by two years in the major seminary. In 1949, Fr. Peter left China for Hong Kong where his stay was short.
At 20 years old he was chosen along with a few others and sent to the seminary in Zaragoza, Spain. He was ordained a priest in Zaragoza on May 30, 1954.
After Zaragoza, Fr. Peter was sent to Rome for further studies. On completion of his studies, he did parish work for six years in Rome. He was persuaded by a fellow classmate to go to West Malaysia. He served in the Diocese of Penang for ten years. Whilst he was serving as a parish priest of the Church of St. John the Baptist, Sungai Siput, he spearheaded major fundraising to construct a chapel. Through his tenacious effort to raise funds, he eventually built the chapel of St. Anthony in Chemor. When it celebrated its 50th anniversary, Fr. Chiang was the guest of honour.
From West Malaysia, he was persuaded again by the now Archbishop Emeritus in Kuching, East Malaysia to transfer to Brunei, an Islamic country. Fr. Peter spent 20 years as a parish priest in Brunei before he was expelled by the authorities in 1990.
He was visiting a family member in the USA when his Jesuit friend invited him to take a sabbatical at Regis College, Toronto. It was his first spiritual year of rest, renewal, rejuvenation. In 1992, Archbishop Emeritus Adam Exner welcomed him to Archdiocese of Vancouver.
Since 1992, he served faithfully as chaplain at Shaughnessy, Children and Grace hospitals; Vancouver General Hospital; Pastor of St. John the Apostle, Pastor of St. Paul, Richmond and Pastor of St. Stephen, North Vancouver. Fr. Peter Chiang officially retired in 2008. He remained active and made himself available for replacement ministry.
His strong faith and trust in the Lord had brought him much joy in his priestly ministries. He celebrated his 65th ordination anniversary and 90th birthday in 2019 at St. Monica Parish with a Thanksgiving Mass and banquet.
After a short illness, he was called back by the Lord to enter his eternal rest on May 23, 2020. His funera mass will be livestreamed from the Holy Rosary Cathedral, 10:30am (PST), May 30, 2020. www.holyrosarycathedral.org
A special gratitude to all his caregivers at VGH and Rotary Hospice Care Home, Richmond.
“Jesus, I trust in you” is the motto he had chosen on his tombstone.
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will.
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only the grace to love you,
that is enough for me.
Prayer of St. Ignatius Loyola in the Spiritual Exercises
(Fr. Peter made the Sp. Ex. Long Retreat in 1992)
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Father Peter Chiang Te-Yun February 3rd 1929 May 23rd 2020..
Décès pour la Ville: Vancouver, Province: Colombie britanique