ASIA/TAIWAN - Some 6,800 first year students at Fu Ren Catholic University attend academic year opening ceremony presided by Grand Chancellor, Archbishop Cheng

Taipei (Agenzia Fides) - The Summer holidays over, some 6,800 first year students gathered at Fu Ren Catholic University on 15 September for the opening ceremony for the new academic year presided by the University’s Grand Chancellor, the Archbishop of Taipei, Archbishop Joseph Cheng Tsai-fa. The diocesan bulletin Christian Life Weekly, says the students, who have enrolled at 9 different colleges and institutes, listened attentively to the Archbishop’s address and received his blessing. Encouraging them to embrace the University motto - “Truth, Goodness, Beauty and Holiness” - the Archbishop explained the nature of Catholic teaching. “Our priority is to form new generations of intellectuals to be integral and responsible, capable of self-criticism, in a spirit of Christian charity so they may become the new corner stones of society.” President Bernard Li said “new students must follow in the footsteps of their predecessors, who are now excellent members of society”. The opening ceremony included also a film on the history and life of the university. After the singing of the University anthem, the students visited the campus accompanied by the older students.
Fu Ren University depends directly on the Holy See. It was founded in Beijing in 1925 by Benedictine fathers from the United States and was moved to Taiwan in 1961. Fu Ren has about 120,000 graduates all over the world formed according to the principles of the college motto ‘Truth, Goodness, Beauty and Holiness’. Fu Ren is deeply committed to promoting: dialogue between the Christian faith and Chinese culture; academic research to promote authentic knowledge in the world for the progress of humanity; respect for the dignity and rights of every human person; building team spirit and a spirit of service. (Agenzia Fides 28/09/2006 Righe: 26 Parole: 241)