Chou Ting-Yu proudly shows the gift she made for her father on Father’s Day. - Photo: Sherryl Lou Capili
Hi! My name is Sherryl Lou Capili. I am a Columban lay missionary from the Philippines. Currently, I serve as the Coordinator of the Columban Lay Missionaries Central Leadership Team and am based in Hong Kong.
My first assignment was in Taiwan, where I served for 13 years. One story from my mission that I will always treasure is my encounter with the daughter of a Filipino immigrant. She was one of our Sunday school students. This happened eight years ago.
One Sunday, while the immigrant mothers were having their monthly meeting, this girl, named Chou Ting-Yu, was left in my care in the office because there were no other children for her to play with. She was seven years old at the time. She sat beside my desk and began browsing through the books on my table. One book that caught her attention was a guide to praying the Rosary.
She asked me, “Can I borrow this?” I was surprised because I thought children might find praying the Rosary boring. But she insisted, so I said, “OK, it's up to you.” She then asked what the book was about. I explained and took out a Rosary from my bag, slowly teaching her step by step how to pray it.
To my surprise, she already knew the basic prayers, so it wasn’t difficult for her. She was already on the second mystery when she stopped, apparently tired and catching her breath. She asked me, “Do I have to finish all five mysteries?” I told her, “Since you're new to this, it's up to you. You can stop and continue later.”
But I was amazed at her enthusiasm - she kept praying the Rosary. People entering the office noticed her. As her teacher, I felt so proud and moved. Seeing her like that inspired me to find creative ways to help children become more interested in prayer.
From that day on, during the following Sundays, our main activity became praying the Rosary. I tried various methods to teach them and we would pray together every Sunday. If it weren’t part of the plan, the children would ask, “Are we not praying the Rosary today?” So, I would adjust my lesson plan and we would pray the Rosary. We continued this for several months.
Looking back, that simple moment with Chou Ting-Yu became a turning point in my mission. It reminded me that even the smallest gestures - like sharing a prayer guide or teaching a child to pray - can spark something profound. Her quiet determination and genuine curiosity deepened my own faith and reaffirmed the importance of nurturing spirituality in young hearts.
That experience continues to inspire me today, reminding me that mission work is not just about programs or plans, but about being present, listening and allowing God to work through the unexpected encounters that shape our journey.
Chou Ting-Yu proudly shows the gift she made for her father on Father’s Day.
Columban lay missionary Sherryl Lou Capili lives and works in Hong Kong.
Related links
- Read more from The Far East - May 2026
