Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tao Yuan (Agenzia Fides) – A display on the missionary life of the “Treasure of the Country of Fu Xing,” the thanksgiving celebration, and the farewell ceremony in the presence of the Bishop of the Diocese of Hsin Chu, along with crowds of faithful...these were the initiatives sponsored by the indigenous parish of San Min di Tao Yuan, in honor of its Pastor, Fr. Alberto Papa, OFM (Ba Yi Ci is his Chinese name), an Italian missionary who has spent 46 years at the service of the poorest among the indigenous of Taiwan. Having now reached the age of retirement, he will return to Italy, taking the affection and gratitude of the Taiwanese indigenous people with him.
According to information gathered by Agenzia Fides, on July 4, the parish began a series of events to bid farewell to Fr. Alberto, along with the beginning of the Year for Priests, presenting the religious as a model priest and missionary. Civil authorities, the Buddhist community, and all the faithful paid homage to this truly beloved missionary who has rightly been designated “Father of the People of Tai Ya” (indigenous). The local mayor says: “When I was little, I saw Fr. Ba (his Chinese last name) distributing aid to those most in need. I have grown up and he keeps going in his mission. He has never stopped.”
In 1963, the then 25-year-old Franciscan Fr. Papa, born into a humble family of the working class, was sent to the mission on the island of Taiwan. The young religious asked his superiors to send him to the most far-off land, to work with the poorest of the poor, to carry out his mission. And thus, he has been nearly half a century working at the service of the Tai Ya indigenous people of the County of Fu Xing, earning him the title of “Treasure of the Country of Fu Xing.” He learned not only perfect Mandarin Chinese, but also the indigenous dialect of the Tai Ya, helping them to preserve their own culture and traditions. He made them understand that “without writings it is impossible to preserve the culture.” He wrote many texts himself, transcribing the alphabet into Roman letters. He also composed pieces of sacred music and translated passages from the Gospel into the native dialect. Thanks to his work, the area now has 12 churches. 12 texts have also been published in the Tai Ya language. He has promised his people that he will return to them, to continue transmitting the Gospel and the culture of the Tai Ya. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 13/7/2009)
