by Xin Yage

Chinese Catholics "no longer want to complain because they are few, but are beginning to work harder to make themselves better known and especially to share the Gospel. This period leading up to Easter must be rich in fruits and testimonies." The story of Paul Su, a manager in the media industry.

Taipei (AsiaNews) - Mr. Paul Su (蘇誌郎 先生), a communications manager, is a passionate and fervent Catholic. The only question that he is ever asked is about the Lenten season underway. His answer reveals his belief in doing something really serious, "For me 'Lent' this year means announcing the Gospel, in an explicit way."

The reason is simple: "We realized that we are often too timid, that many people who do not know Jesus and the Christian faith in reality are in dire need of it. But I want to emphasize that this is not my mission, but a mission of our community. Because by being a community we are already giving a strong message in itself. "

Everyone, he adds, "needs to belong, to feel part of a group with desires and goals. We see the young Taiwanese on the news in recent months proposing group protests, even occupying the Parliament. And Jesus created the same membership, he created a community of friends that continues today. "

Then there is also a cultural reason: "We also noticed that the majority of people want to hear the message of Jesus from people who speak the same language, with the same accent. It is a mission that here, in our city, only we can do if we really want to. As a friend of mine in the parish said: 'This Lent we should stop complaining about being only a few: Let's roll up our sleeves and put to good use the talents we have!'. And he exclaimed this in a prayer of the faithful during Sunday Mass. "

Another example comes from the youth of the parish of the Holy Family (台北 聖 家 堂) in Taipei: "They (and the adults who support them) organize a big concert with music professionals every four months, each time with different acts, to attract peers and all those who are interested in the artistic and Christian message. The same groups of young and old people also take turns in visiting those who are sick in the hospital, those who have no relatives or who are far from home".

Then there is the parish of Xizi (台北 汐止 天主堂), "another example of great vitality in the context of the Diocese of Taipei. It has an ability to attract local young people that other parishes do not have. All these stories need to be told, and this is the work of the three Catholic associations that have recently began to collaborate at the encouragement of Archbishop John Hung Shan-chuan (洪山川 總 主教): Voice of Catholic Association (天主教 之 聲), Radio Veritas (真理 電台) and Kuangchi Program Service (光啓 社) ".

In short, resumes. Mr. Su, "this Lent for us is also the time to implement the projects we have been working on for a long time. First of all this means telling these stories of believers of the Catholic community in Taipei (and not only) that are meaningful to the rest of society through blogs on the internet, video streaming and radio. Many people in fact usually pass unnoticed but do things of incredible value. We need more visibility and have the means to be visible. By joining the forces of many industry professionals".

One of the first fruits will come to light shortly before Easter "It is a video program called 'Journey of Faith' (信仰 之 旅), targeting those who are looking for a valid message for their life. There will be thirty episodes of 30 minutes each put online from time to time with the testimonies of those who in recent years have embraced the Christian faith, were baptized and began their mission within the ecclesial community. We are more than convinced that these examples of generosity and service are what many people are looking for".

 

• TAIWAN
• catholic
• community
• witness
• evangelization