We commend, Lawrence Siuyung Cheung, Priest, to God and give thanks for his diverse ministry in so many parts of the church and the world.
Lawrence was born in Hong Kong and died in Burnaby, BC.
He is survived by his wife Yvonne, and daughters Cheryl (Gordon) Kao and Jeanette (Jason) Leigh, and three grandchildren. Yvonne and Lawrence married in the Philippines where they met in 1966. Lawrence did his field education in Yvonne’s parish.
Lawrence attended the Diocesan Boys’ School, an Anglican boarding school in Hong Kong. He completed a degree in Civil Engineering from the National Taiwan University in Taipei, graduating in 1961. His theological training took place between 1963 and 1967, at the Tainan Theological Graduate College in Taiwan and at St. Andrew’s Theological Seminary in Manila, Philippines. He obtained a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 1978.
He was ordained to the diaconate at Tainan Theological College in May 1967, and to the priesthood at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Kaohsiung, Taiwan in November 1967, by Bishop James Wong of the Missionary Diocese of Taiwan of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States.
In the Diocese of Taiwan, Lawrence served as Vicar of St James’ Episcopal Church, Taichung from 1967-1969. In the Diocese of Central Philippines, he was the Pastoral Assistant at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Manila, Philippines from 1964-1966, and the Assistant Chaplain at St. Stephen’s High School, Manila, from 1964-1965. Lawrence did his Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Luke’s Hospital, Quezon City, Philippines.
Lawrence was a Lecturer in Social Work at Hong Kong Baptist College from 1983 to 1988. In the Diocese of Hong Kong he served as Chaplain and Counsellor at St. John’s Cathedral from 1982-1983, and as Vicar, of Holy Nativity Church from 1978-1982.
Lawrence’s canonical residence was transferred to the Diocese of New Westminster from the Diocese of Hong Kong and Macao in March 1993.
In this diocese Lawrence served as Honorary Assistant at Christ Church Cathedral from 1993 to 1998, as Vicar of St. Chad, Kitsilano from 1998 to 2002 (part of the Jubilee Cluster ministry from 2001-2002), and Chaplain at Vancouver General Hospital and Health Sciences Centre, from 2000 to 2003. He was a counsellor with the North Shore Counselling Centre, Family Services of Greater Vancouver, and SUCCESS.
Lawrence and Yvonne were active with the St. Peter’s, Manila, Members Abroad Group, attending many reunions and planning the Vancouver reunion of this group in 2003. He also assisted with a group of visiting youth from Taiwan in 2004.
At the time of his death he was a member of Christ Church Cathedral. A memorial service will be held at Christ Church Cathedral and details are pending.