Reverend Peter C. Chen

Father Peter Chao Wang Chen was born in a family of generations of devout Catholics on July 6, 1932 in Ningteh Hsien, Fukien Province in Mainland China. He was the eldest of five children of his parents CHEN Deng-Ren and LAY Mey-Shuang. He started his priesthood formation in the Regional Seminary of South China (now Holy Spirit Seminary) at Hong Kong in 1959, and continued in Seminary St. Pius X . in Tainan, Taiwan. He was ordained on the 29th of January 1966 in ChiaYi, Taiwan. He served as pastor of Matsu, from 1970 to 1975, overseeing the construction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Chapel. Father came to the States in 1975 to pursue further studies at Seton Hall University, New Jersey. He went to Montreal, Canada in 1983 and assisted the missionary work of Father Thomas Tou. The Chinese Catholic community of the Mission of Sacred Heart of Jesus (now Sacred Heart of Jesus Chinese Church in Plano) was blessed by having Father Peter to be their pastor in February of 1998. He served in this position until his retirement in 2004. During this period, Father Peter oversaw the construction of the new multi-purpose building of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Chinese Church and witnessed its elevation to a parish from a missionary church. Upon retirement, Father stayed active and engaged in various services in Sacred Heart of Jesus Chinese Church in Plano and Christus St. Joseph Village in Coppell. He was an early bird, enjoyed exercise in the very early morning as well as all kinds of handyman work. After a brief illness, Father Peter peacefully surrendered his soul to our Savior on the 29th of April 2017 at his home, surrounded by a group of his beloved parishioners of Sacred Heart of Jesus Chinese Church in Plano.

Father Peter is survived by his brother Chang Wang, his sisters Jean Shiang and Jean Shii, his cousin Jeeshang, and numerous nephews and nieces in Mainland China and in Taiwan.

Friends and family will begin visiting at 5:00 p.m. Monday, May 8, 2017 at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Chinese Catholic Church, 4201 14th Street, Plano, TX 75074. A Vigil will be led by The Most Reverend Gregory Kelly and begin Monday, May 8th at 7:30 p.m. Father Peter will remain at Sacred Heart of Jesus Chinese Church through Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. The Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 10, 2017 in the Chapel of St. Joseph Village, 1201 E. Sandy Lake Road Coppell, TX 75019 with The Most Reverend Edward J. Burns, Celebrant and Brother Priests Concelebrants and joined by the Deacons of the Diocese of Dallas. Entombment will follow in the Mausoleum of Sacred Heart Cemetery in Rowlett, TX. If desired memorial donations may be directed to Sacred Heart of Jesus Chinese Church www.chinese-catholic.org