ASIA/TAIWAN-Three events for the Diocese of Kao Hsiung: 130 years since the foundation of a parish, 30 years of priesthood for three Dominican missionaries and the opening of the new Center for the Laity

Kao Hsiung (Agenzia Fides) - The Diocese of Taiwan's Kao Hsiung celebrates three major events at the beginning of the month of Mary. According to the various bodies of information and information gathered by Fides, the three events that concern the diocesan are: 130 years of the founding of the parish of S. Vincent Ferrer, 30 years of priesthood of three Dominican missionaries and the opening of the new Centre for Laity.
Mgr.Peter Liu, Archbishop of the Diocese of Kao Hsiung, Fr. Juan Veneros the parish priest, Fr Javier Gonzalez provincial superior of the Dominican province of the Rosary, Fr. Tomas Miguel Blazquez, Superior of the Dominican community in Taiwan presided over the inauguration and blessing of the new Center for the Laity.
Exactly 130 years ago, the Dominican missionaries in the province of the Rosary, inaugurated the parish of St. Vincent Ferrer. To commemorate the occasion, the Archbishop of Kao Hsiung, Mgr.Peter Liu, presided at a solemn Mass in the afternoon of Sunday 1 May, concelebrated by 17 local priests and missionaries, in front of 700 faithful. During the Mass, the sacrament of Confirmation was administered to 9 faithful and the First Communion was administered to 12 children.
The faithful paid tribute to Kao Hsiung with immense gratitude, to the three Dominican missionaries - Fr. Juan Veneros, Fr. Jose Ignacio Moronta and Fr. Ricardo Cemteno Valdivieso – who celebrate 30 years of priesthood. All three are involved in the evangelization of the island and, according to the taiwanese, "they speak the Chinese language better than the Chinese." Each year, in preparation for the Easter solemnity, Fr. Ricardo Cemteno Valdivieso brings a huge cross on a pilgrimage to the island, to remind everyone of the great love of Jesus, and his gesture has led to numerous conversions, touching the Islanders.
The Dominicans are the precursors of the second evangelization in Taiwan, they celebrated 150 years of mission in 2009. The Diocese of Kao Hsiung of Taiwan is the place where the first missionaries landed. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 09/05/2011)