by Xin Yage

The prelates issue a pastoral letter for the opening of the Year of Faith. The bishops note that charity is a "fruit" that is born from faith in Jesus. They call for studying the history of Christianity and the examples of some important figures, like Card Paul Shan.

Taipei (AsiaNews) - "I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly," said Jesus. With these words, Taiwan's bishops open their letter on the Year of Faith. Proclaimed by Benedict XVI in his Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei in 2011, the Year began on 11 October, 50^th anniversary of the start of the Second Vatican Council.

In their message, the prelates stressed that "faith is a calling" and a "gift that is entrusted upon us." Educational institutions and charities set up through the work of the Church are not simply a initiative of solidarity, but become "the fruit [. . .] born from the faith of Jesus." For this reason, it is necessary, according to the bishops, "to read together the Bible and rediscover the Creed." At the same time, it important to study thoroughly "the history of our faith, and remember the Catholics who are best known in local history."

In order to analyse the most significant elements in the bishops' letter, AsiaNews interviewed Fr Ding Li-wei (丁立偉), head of pastoral activities in the Diocese of Hsinchu and professor at the Research Center for Aboriginal Theology at the Faculty of Theology in Taipei.

For the clergyman, "faith is a calling," as noted in the first part in the bishops' letter, as well as "a great gift that we do not build on our own, but is entrusted upon us, and which we can nurture."

Often working among poverty-stricken aboriginal communities, "we go out of our way to alleviate human suffering, reduce economic poverty and meet the educational needs of kids."

Reflecting upon the bishops' letter, Fr Ding said that it is evident that the Year of Faith is "an opportunity to understand more thoroughly the contents of our faith." It is "about realising where our commitment comes from. Because we are disciples of Jesus," he explained, "we spend all our energies to build up the community of believers."

The Year of Faith, the clergyman added, becomes a good opportunity to deepen the witness in charity. "Faith and charity are related and complementary according to the bishops. A strong faith is incarnated in acts of love. Since the Church in Taiwan has many educational institutions as well as cultural and humanitarian organisations, we want them to show more openly that the fruit of charity comes from faith in Jesus, so that everybody is aware of that and that we do not reduce our work to an ordinary humanitarian service."

When asked what understanding "more thoroughly the contents of our faith" means, Fr Ding said that the bishops' letter contains two very simple indications: reading together the Bible and rediscovering the Creed.

"We believe that not only understanding the content of the Bible is helpful, but so is the habit of reading and correctly articulating the faith of the Church, starting with children's language, simple images, and Jesus' parables that reveal God's gift."

The conversation with Fr Li-wei continued on other aspects that define the history of the Church in Taiwan. "Another decisive thing is to outline the history of our faith, and remember the Catholics who are best known in local history, starting with Card Paul Shan who in his last addresses said that 'God's last calling in my life is to bear witness to my faith.' Card Shan's story has become the best demonstration," Fr Li-wei noted, "of the dialogue between Church and society and the best way to attract non-Christians to Jesus Christ."

Another example explicitly cited in the letter is the strong acknowledgement by the Interior minister of foreign missionaries, like Fr Istvan Jaschko (who passed away in 2009) and Fr Franz Burkhardt (who passed away in 2002), as well as the many nuns who helped the people and society of Taiwan. Heartened by their example, Taiwan's bishops and Christian community can prepare for the Year of Faith.

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