Story and photos by the Rev. Canon Debra Low-Skinner (ret.)
We enjoyed a wonderful Asian New Year’s gathering with members of our DioCal Asian/Pacific Islander Commission on February 5 at the Tai Yuan Seafood Restaurant in Daly City. (Our last formal meeting was via Zoom a year ago.)
In the large group photo (left to right) are Francis Hung, Angela Pang, Rev. Merry Chan Ong, Fusi Pahulu, Rev. Sarah Stewart, APIC Chair Rev. Cn. Debbie Low-Skinner, Rev. Jureck Fernandez, Rev. Jay Watan, Rev. Canon Eric Metoyer (Canon for Racial, Social, and Environmental Justice), and Gordon Park-Li. We represent the Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, and Tongan congregations along with members of our Bay Area diocese.
We began our dinner by saying grace and observing a moment of silence in memory of the Rev. Dr. Fran Toy and the Rev. Deacon Vincent Jang, who passed away in the last two months. We shared how our first names reflect cultural traditions and values (such as “national hero” or “beautiful angel visit”). Rev. Jay shared photos from his well-attended wedding last fall at St. Matthew’s in San Mateo, extending our best wishes and blessings to the happy couple! We also reflected on how we have recently felt the presence of God. Fusi expressed how she is often moved to tears and tries to help whenever she encounters a homeless person. Recently, she bought groceries for a homeless woman she spotted in a Safeway parking lot. Fusi serves as an inspiring example of Christ-centered faith in action for us all.
