From the 12th to the 17th of May, we conducted a Popular Mission in the spirit of St. Alphonsus at Christ the King Parish in Da Yuan, joined by brothers and sisters from our formation houses in the Philippines — Brother David John Au, Sr. Joy of the Cross, and Sr. Kuan Ren.
As many of you know, Taiwan is considered an emblematic mission and this experience reminded us once again of what that truly means. Taiwan does not have the crowds of Tanzania or the Philippines, nor are there are sweeping, high-energy moments that make for dramatic mission stories, and yet, none of us felt this mission was small.
Visits to Families
Each day, our missionaries went out alongside the faithful — visiting homes, praying the Rosary, and blessing families. The home visits were simple, and it was precisely in that simplicity, that God’s presence was felt. Families received us with a warmth that was almost disarming. It was seen on their faces the moment we stepped through the door.
One visit stays with us. A woman was deeply grateful we had come, sharing that her husband, though not Catholic, had always silently respected her faith. Something about the visit itself moved him. He opened up, sat with one of our sisters, and shared his thoughts on matters of faith with a candor none of us expected. And what struck us most was his understanding of the preambula fidei, which in its own way was remarkably sound. The Lord had been working in him long before we arrived.
Reflection on Truth
Brother Ou gathered the children and youth for a reflection on truth — walking them through a process of reasoning, inviting them to think carefully about what truth actually is, and whether God and Heaven are realities to be discovered, or merely matters of opinion. He left them with this question to carry: if it is true, what does that mean for how I live? It was a serious invitation to seek true answers.
Sister Kuan Ren alongside Brother David also brought a session on the virtue of honesty and sincerity to the students of after-school tutoring and care program2. Sister Kuan Ren drew beautifully on two Chinese classical stories — one from Han Feizi on the keeping of one’s word, and the beloved tale of Xun Jübo from Shishuo Xinyu, a man who refused to abandon his gravely ill friend even when it meant risking his own life. From there, she drew the line naturally to Christ on the Cross —showing the children that what the ancients glimpsed in their noblest stories, Jesus lived in its fullness.
Parish Level Family Outing
On May 16th, families from three parish catechism groups joined for an outing to the Angels’ Church. We celebrated Mass together, and during the liturgy, Fr. Pablo offered a crown of flowers to Our Lady3 — followed by each person coming forward with a single rose, a small and beautiful gesture of love for our Blessed Mother. The day continued with outdoor games and a visit to the Ximaopu Suspension Bridge, which spans the beautiful Emei River with views of the water and the surrounding Emei Lake Trail — and yes, there was ice cream!
A Mission of Presence
When we spoke with the young people of the parish, we asked them about their experience of the Church, of the missionaries who had been among them.
Their answer was simple: “Father has always been with us. He plays with us. He has always been there.”
Hearing this caused us to stop and reflect, because it was not about what Father had accomplished – it was neither the programs or events, nor the homilies. Simply — he has been with us. The presence of the priest and the sisters, that was the most telling of their experience with missionaries.
This reminds us to not underestimate what our missionary brothers and sisters have done here through years of quiet fidelity. A mission of presence is, perhaps, the most demanding mission of all.
To have built a family between the religious and the faithful — however small — is this not the very mission we are called to carry out?
Seeds of Vocation
The sharing of vocation stories by Brother Ou and Sister Kuan Ren stirred something profound in the parish on the last day of the mission. People listened with genuine attention and curiosity.
Brother Ou’s story, in particular, carried a weight that many in the congregation felt deeply. He had been a well-established lawyer at the age of thirty when the Lord called him. When speaking to families about vocations, he did not soften the truth: the sacrifice is never of the individual alone. It is the family that sacrifices as well. He challenged the faithful, gently but clearly — to not only pray for vocations in a general way, but to go further. They need to be disposed to offer their own child to the Lord, should He ask. The congregation received it in silence, but the idea landed in their hearts.
Come and See
What we witnessed these five days was not extraordinary by any visible measure — and yet none of us left unchanged. The Lord was at work, as He always is, in ways both seen and unseen.
This mission continues. There is still much to do, and much to hope for. If you feel moved to be part of it — through prayer, through presence, or simply by keeping this community in your heart — know that you are already part of what is being built here.
Pray for our mission, and God-willing, we will have you among us here in Asia.
Maria Filia Docilis, SSVM
- Yēsū jūnwáng táng ↩︎
- 桃園主僕兒童教育關懷站 (Táoyuán zhǔ pú értóng jiàoyù guānhuái zhàn) ↩︎
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