JOSEPH LOFTUS CELEBRATES HIS 25TH SACERDOTAL ANNIVERSARY

Joseph Loftus who has been working in manland China and Taiwan for 15 years for the Chinese Province , celebrated his 25th sacerdotal anniversary last June 18, 2009 with some confreres from Taipei and a few DCs and friends. After celebrating the Eucharist in Tienmu, everybody went to a certain restaurant on a hill, where they enjoyed the buffet lunch.

Congratulations to you Joseph!

DAWU INSTALL NEW PASTOR AND BID GOODBYE TO FR. DANDY

Last June 7, 2009, on the Feast of the Holy Trinity, Dawu Parish witnessed the installation of their new parish priest, Fr. Dominic Hong, CM. It was the first time for all the parishioners to witness such touching ceremony. Bishop Zheng, the assistant Bishop of Hualien Diocese presided the liturgy.

After the Mass, a farewell program was held in honor of Fr. Dandy who will be leaving soon for further studies. Participated by as many as 400 parishioners, the event made everybody have a heavy heart seeing Fr. Dandy leave.

FORMER PROVINCIAL, JOHN WANG CELEBRATES 25TH ORDINATON ANNIVERSARY

Fr. John Wang, the former provincial, celebrated his 25th ordination anniversary last June 4 at his assigned parish of St. Vincent in Kaoshiung. Attended by members of the Vincentian Family and his immediate family, the Eucharist was filled with emotion for Fr. John as he reminisced his ordination and as he thanked his family.

Afte the Mass, banquet was served at the nearby restaurant. A spontaneous presentation by each nationality created an atmosphere of celebration.

DAWU PARISH WELCOME THEIR NEW PRIEST

Last May 31, 2009, on the Feast of Pentecost, Dawu Parish offically welcomed Fr. Dominic Hong. The Provincial, Fr. Kusno attended the said celebration participated by almost 300 parishioners.

The Youth Ministry was in-charge of the liturgy and the program, to show to everybody and to the new priest that they are the emerging group in the parish. The youth presented their guitar-playing skills with much satisfaction from the audience.

DAWU PARISH HOLD NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Dawu Parish once again held Novena Masses to the Holy Spirit which begun last May 22 and ended on the eve of Pentecost. The novena Masses, attended everyday by more than a hundred people went from one chapel to another.

Sharers were invited to share their faith-experiences about the theme for the day. Everybody was satisfied listening to the varied faith-experiences of
the sharers. After each Mass, heavy snacks were offered and shared by all.

2009 PROVINCIAL RETREAT

Sixteen confreres from Taiwan, a confrere working in Mainland and two seminarians gathered last May 11-26, 2009 at St. Paul's Patoral Center in Hualien for their yearly retreat. Fr. Guo, a certain priest from Chiayi Diocese facilitated the retreat by presenting his talks with the aid of powerpoint.

The liturgy for this year's retreat was more organized and prepared due to advance planning by each house. Multi-media aids were used to make the liturgy more alive and touching.

At the last day of the retreat, Gao Xiang, a novice who took his novitiate formation in the Philippines, took his Bon Propos in the presence of the confreres. The event gave a flickering hope for the ageing Province.

CM-DC Easter Gathering

Last April 13, 2009 the CMs of the Kaoshiung House organized an Easter Gathering of the CMs and DCs residing in southern Taiwan. They invited confreres from Tainan House and the Daughters of Charity from Liu Kui and Tainan to join in celebrating the spirit of Easter. At 12 noon, all were gathered at the St. Vincent Church to pray, then went to a nearby restaurant for a sumptuous meal sponsored by the Kaoshiung House. Enjoy the video here:

HOLY WEEK 2009

Like every the Catholic parish all over the world, Dawu Parish celebrated the traditonal Holy Week. That week were opportunites for the 9 chapels to be together in celebrating liturgies. Parishioners were all enthusiastic to participate in the most solemn liturgy of the year.

Here are the pictures:

Asia-Pacific Visitors' Meeting in Taiwan

Last March 16 to 21, 2009, the APVC met in Taipei to discuss some matters on inter-provincial collaboration. The Visitors from North and Southern India, China, Indonesia, Philippines and the regional Superior of Vietnam were all present. The Provincial of the Australian Province was not around due to some domestic matters that need o be solved. Serfain Peralta, the APVC secretary was also present on the said meeting.

After 2 days of intense meeting, they have 2-day break by going down to Taidong and Kaoshiung to visit confreres there and see some of their ministries. By Friday, they went back to the meeting table to continue their discussion.

AT LAST, WE GOT A NEW PAIWAN ABORIGINEE PRIEST!

After waiting for almost 20 years, a new priest from Paiwan tribe was ordained last January 1, 2008.

Six Vincentian priest were present in that big ocassion attended by more than 3,000 faithful. The ordination was held in Jinlun where the Vincentian presently administer it. Why the ordination was in Jinlun? Because Fr. Xie Hui Nan is a native of Tuban Village which is part of Jinlun Parish.