07 Dec 2020
Walking alongside those in need
The Southern Cross | Fr Stan Lim SJ
The Southern Cross | 7 December 2020
Walking alongside those in need
Whether it was helping street kids in the Philippines, holding the hands of dying homeless men in Melbourne or teaching students in Adelaide how to play Aussie Rules footy, Fr Stan Lim SJ says in his 50 years of ministry he has always felt he was “where I was meant to be”.
Now living back in Adelaide where he is an assistant priest at St Ignatius parish, Norwood, it has been an interesting and well-travelled journey for the 82-year-old Jesuit.
Born to Chinese parents who met in Singapore, Fr Stan said he may not have had the opportunity to serve God at all if events in his early days had played out as they were meant to.
His father, who was fluent in English, Japanese and several Chinese dialects, was working for the British Army in Singapore when World War II broke out. As the Japanese army began advancing through South East Asia, his family – which included three siblings – were directed to relocate to India for their safety.
“We left two days before Singapore fell in February 1942 but in all the confusion we took the wrong boat and ended up in Australia,” he said.
“My oldest brother was six at the time and when we had to go to the wharf he couldn’t be found because he was mucking around with some friends. Eventually we all jumped in the car and went to the wharf and by that time all the ships had cast their moorings and were out in Singapore Harbour and there were Japanese planes overhead.
“Dad asked a harbour policeman in a little boat to take us out to the nearest ship…some time later when we were on board we learned we were on the wrong ship and were going to Australia. The ship we were supposed to take was sunk by the Japanese.”