Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Taipei (Fides Service) - In this Jesuit Jubilee year - to mark the 5th centenary of the birth of St Francis Xavier and Blessed Pedro Fabro (1506), and 450 years since the death of 450 St Ignatius of Loyola (1556) - the Taiwan Regional Jesuit Province has launched a series of initiatives.
According to Christian Life Weekly bulletin issued by Taipei diocese, celebrations for the Jesuit Jubilee Year opened on January 4 with a successful meeting attended by many religious and lay people. Many other special events will follow.
For the occasion the local Jesuit monthly RenLai, launched two years ago, produced a special St Francis Xavier Jubilee issue. At the meeting Jesuit Fr Jerry Martinson spoke of some important events in the life of St Francis Xavier, and some of his virtues, obedience to superiors, sense of brotherhood, total love for God . Fr Robert Ronald sj, for 48 years a missionary in Taiwan shared his moving testimony. To show that the Jesuit missionary charisma is passed from generation to generation, young local Jesuit Fr. Ignatius Hung shared his experience as a “missionary heir to St Francis Xavier”.
The Jubilee celebrations opened with a solemn Mass attended by many members of the Society of Jesus and many local lay Catholics. (Agenzia Fides 19/01/2006 Righe: 24 Parole: 240)
