Taipei (Fides Service) - Two Divine Word Missionaries who have served for 50 years in Taiwan and have taught for more than 20 years at the Catholic Fu Ren University have been rewarded for their dedication. Fr. Heinz Hesselfeld was awarded an honorary doctorate in Science and Fr. Arnolde Sprener and honorary docorate in Literature. Fr. Hesselfeld was the second Rector of the Institute for Science and Engineering from 1974 to 1985. Fr. Arnolde Sprener was dean of the Faculty of German Language studies from 1967 al 1983. Besides serving in Taiwan, the priests also went on mission to mainland China to provide formation at university level.
In 1987 Fr. Hesselfeld opened the Institute of Science of Food at Jiang Xi University. Fr Arnolde is well known in the circle of German language studies in Beijing having taught for ten years at the famous Second University for Foreign Langauges in Beijing.
Among those present for the award ceremony in Taiwan, Cardinal Paul Shan, chancellor of Fu Ren University, Archbishop Cheng of Taipei and the provincial Superior of the Divine Word Missionaries in China.
(Agenzia Fides 28/04/2005 Righe: 19 Parole: 190)