Yuanlin, a community where faith is alive and generous

The city is home to one of Taiwan’s oldest Catholic settlements. Here belonging to the Church is a source of pride and joy, and meetings are lively and well attended. Everyone loves Pope Francis and shows respect for the elderly in person.

Taipei (AsiaNews) – Yuanlin (彰化 縣 員 林 市) is home to one of Taiwan’ oldest Catholic communities. With great humility, Mrs Nina Zhou, 40, says that her family received the gift of faith five generations ago: her children are the sixth generation of believers.

The local parish priest, Father Kan (甘 神父), admires this group of families, "which is characterised by a special enthusiasm. They never get tired, they are always looking for new ways to share and spread the faith in the Taiwanese towns in the central part of the island."

Last Sunday they organised a retreat for the beginning of Lent. More than 150 people registered right away via Facebook from neighbouring towns. The church was full from morning until late afternoon.

During the day of retreat, the focus was on sharing. Everyone took turns at the microphone and expressed his or her gratitude for the call received from Jesus.

"Here we attach great importance to active participation; no one is just listening,” said, Miss Chen, one of the most enthusiastic members of the group. “Everyone knows that even the smallest contribution can be very important to the whole community."

Nina has two teenage children, both of whom are very involved in the life of the parish community. Sunday night they celebrated their grandfather’s 70th birthday.

"From grandparents to grandchildren, we are three generations of Catholics who gather to celebrate a great event, and we are certain that when other families see our enthusiasm and our dedication to the good of the community, they recognise that mutual support fills our lives. Many people suffer from loneliness; hence belonging to a welcoming community is a very attractive, concrete way to feel God’s closeness."

The retreat focused on Pope Francis’ example, on his commitment to the protection of creation. In the parish, a group of young people will travel to Poland for the next World Youth Day.

"We want to share our passion and our faith with the pope. Taiwan faces major risks with climate change and the possible rise in sea levels. We want to work together to change things," said Jessica, who just started her university studies.

Mr Wu, secretary of the pastoral council, admires his co-parishioners’ eagerness. "The most interesting thing here is that no one is ever without ideas. We do not live in a big city like Taipei or Taichung. We do not have all the contacts and opportunities like those who live in certain contexts. Yet, we do our part to keep up and provide experiences of care and closeness to those who feel more marginalised, following Jesus’ message. Thanks to the Internet, our initiatives get around quickly, and we can get in touch with all the parishes in the region in a few seconds."

Sister Beatrice (黃 修女), who has lived in the parish for years, agrees. "The impact these people have on their neighbours is something special. Those who experience the activity and enthusiasm of this community cannot help but be struck in a profoundly positive way. What gives me the most joy is the care for the sick and the elderly. Each week we meet at the home of one family or one person and pray together; then we eat with them. This really creates a sense of community."

For the parish priest, "It is a great honour to serve a community like this.” It is “an encouragement to all the surrounding parishes and a good example for the entire island of Taiwan."

• taiwan
• catholic church
• faith
• pope francis
• families
• meetings