THE PILGRIMS M I G R A N T S ’ S U N D AY B U L L E T I N
A publication of the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants SEPTEMBER 26, 2010
ide s n i s ’ t wha • Message from the ECMI President ---! • Message from the Holy Father on Migrants’ Sunday ----
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• Sea Sunday Message 2010 -- 05 !2010
• Migrants’ Sunday Liturgy -- 06 !
• ECMI Updates ----
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• Bits and Pieces from the Diocesan Migrants’ Commission ---• • • • • • •
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! ! The Diocese of Tainan -- 14 AOS - Journey beyond the shore ----15 AOS Taiwan Sailing Onward 16 Daluyan Project ----18 CRBC/ECMI Pastoral directives ----19 UGNAYAN ----21 DIOCESE OF HUALIEN ---- 22 VMWBO ----23
AOS - TAIWAN SAILING ONWARD
THE PILGRIMS COVER PICTURE The Vietnamese comprises the second largest migrant workers and immigrants in Taiwan. They wear their traditional hat as a sign of migrants’ varied cultural and traditional background. Facing forward, as if they are on their way to find a greener pastures in the foreign land. They wear their traditional black vietnamese gown over white garment underneath symbolizes their pure intentions of working abroad to help their families but some end up in m i s e r i e s a n d d e s p a i r. Mo s t o f t h e Vietnamese are victims of trafficking where t h e y w o r k l i ke s l a v e s . Vi e t n a m e s e symbolizes the voiceless migrant communities in Taiwan.
APOSTLESHIP OF THE SEA TAIWAN Bishop Bosco Lin Chi-nan National Bishop Promoter Fr. Eliseo Napiere, MSP AOS National Director PORT CHAPLAINS: Fr. Mario Bonfaini, CMF - Keelung Port Fr. Eliseo Napiere, MSP - Taichung Port Fr. Gregorio Sebastian, SVD - Mai-liao Port Fr. Roger Manalo, CS - Kaohsiung Port Fr. Jean-Pierre Richard, MEP - Hualien Port
CHINESE REGIONAL BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerant People 移民觀光牧靈委員會 林吉男 主教 BISHOP BOSCO LIN CHI-NAN President 曾建次 輔理主教 BISHOP JOHN B. CHENG Member 李克勉 主教 BISHOP JOHN BAPTIST LEE Member 那禮叟 神父 FR. ELISEO NAPIERE, MSP Executive Secretary DIOCESAN COORDINATORS / 主教管轄協調 馬迪雅 神父 Fr. Leonilo Mantilla, CS Archdiocese of Taipei / 台北總教區 吳嘉德 神父 Fr. Peter O’Niell, SSC Diocese of Hsinchu / 新竹教區 洪耀仁 神父 Fr. Dominic Hung Diocese of Taichung / 台中教區 蔣 斌 神父 Fr. Gregorio Sebastian, SVD Diocese of Chiayi / 嘉義教區 黎明智 神父 Fr. Matthew Minh-Tri Li, SDB Diocese of Tainan / 台南教區
Fr. Ranulfo Salise, CS Diocese of Kaohsiung/高雄教區 呂約伯 神父 Fr. Jean-Pierre Richard, MEP Diocese of Hualien / 花蓮教區
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1 4 T H N a ti on a l Mig r a n t s’ Sunday
Bishop Lin & Fr. Loloy in Rome
移民日快樂！ 第十四屆移民日主題為:”未 成年移民與難民”多關注這些 未成年移民、難民因種種不同 理由而離鄉背井。
許多未成年移民在台灣因為經 HAPPY MIGRANTS’ SUNDAY! 濟因素而離開他們的家園。這 些未成年移民，就是教宗所說 As we celebrate the 14th Migrants’ Sunday with a theme: Minor 的 「 最 小 的 兄 弟 ( 瑪 2 5 : 4 0 , migrants and Refugees, we give particular attention to those 45)，」是社會的邊緣人。未 minor migrants and refugees throughout the world, who, by no 成年， 等於無助，是在這個 faults of their own have lived in Countries far away from home. 「文明社會」裡無助的難民。 In Taiwan, we too have minor migrants in the sense that, young migrant workers are forced to leave their country of origins in order to look for greener pastures to support their families back home. Who are the minor migrants and refugees? The Holy Father in his message clearly pointed out that minor migrants are those considered as “to one of the least in these” (Mt 25:40, 45). Those migrant workers and immigrants who are considered marginalized people in the Society. Minor, in the sense that they are helpless in every way. In their helplessness they become refugees in a so called “civil society.”
台灣天主教會持續賦予移民與 新住民保護與安慰。我們每年 藉著慶祝移民日來向移民團體 保證教會與他們同舟共濟的決 心。 我們呼籲地方群體、政府、公 司機構及每個因移民工人而受 益的台灣人士都能尊重移民的 人權，台灣的社會因這些移民 而受益。
The Catholic Church of Taiwan continue to offer its door to the migrants and new immigrants who need her protection and 最後，我想再次引用教宗所說 comfort. Every year, we celebrate this Migrant Sunday to keep 的：「我誠摯希望大家能關照 assuring the migrants communities that the Church is always 需要身體、文化、靈性、道德 one with them in their struggle for self-determination.
成長陶冶的無聲未成年移 民。」 願我們的政府、社會賢 My appeal to the local communities, Government and business 達人士都能堅持努力提升人權 institutions, and Taiwanese individuals who benefited to the 和人性尊嚴。 services of the migrant workers in Taiwan to always consider them as human persons with dignity. Our society has been benefited by their services where no young Taiwanese dared to 台南教區主教 林吉男 respond. Continuation on page 13-Message
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MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI FOR THE 96th WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES (2010) Theme: Minor migrants and refugees Dear Brothers and Sisters, The celebration of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees once again gives me the opportunity to express the Church's constant concern for those who, in different ways, experience a life of emigration. This is a phenomenon which, as I wrote in the Encyclical Caritas in Veritate, upsets us due to the number of people involved and the social, economic, political, cultural and religious problems it raises on account of the dramatic challenges it poses to both national and international communities. The migrant is a human person who possesses fundamental, inalienable rights that must be respected by everyone and in every circumstance (cf. n. 62). This year's theme – “Minor migrants and refugees” – touches an aspect that Christians view with great attention, remembering the warning of Christ who at the Last Judgement will consider as directed to himself everything that has been done or denied “to one of the least of these” (cf. Mt 25:40, 45). And how can one fail to consider migrant and refugee minors as also being among the “least”? As a child, Jesus himself experienced migration for, as the Gospel recounts, in order to flee the threats of Herod, he had to seek refuge in Egypt together with Joseph and Mary (cf. Mt 2:14). While the Convention on the Rights of the Child clearly states that the best interests of the minor shall always be safeguarded (cf. Art. 3, 1), recognizing his or her fundamental human rights as equal to the rights of adults, unfortunately this does not always happen in practice. Although there is increasing public awareness of the need for immediate and incisive action to protect minors, nevertheless, many are left to themselves and, in various ways, face the risk of exploitation. My venerable Predecessor, John Paul II, voiced the dramatic situation in which they live in the Message he addressed to the Secretary General of the United Nations on 22 September 1990, on the occasion of the World Summit for Children. “I am a witness of the heart-breaking plight of millions of children on every continent. They are most vulnerable, because they are least able to make their voice heard” (L’Osservatore Romano, English edition, 1 October 1990, p. 13). I warmly hope that proper attention will be given to minor migrants who need a social environment that permits and fosters their physical, cultural, spiritual and moral development. Living in a foreign land without effective points of reference generates countless and sometimes serious hardships and difficulties for them, especially those deprived of the support of their family. A typical aspect of the migration of minors is the situation of children born in the host country or of those who do not live with their parents,! who emigrated after their birth, but join them later. These adolescents belong to two cultures with all the advantages and problems attached to their dual background, a condition that can nevertheless offer them the opportunity to experience the wealth of an encounter between different cultural traditions. It is important that these young people be given the possibility of attending school and subsequently of being integrated into the world of work, and that their social integration be facilitated by appropriate educational and social structures. It should never be forgotten that adolescence constitutes a fundamental phase for the formation of human beings. Continue on page 3 - Pope’s Message
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Continuation from page 2 - Pope’s Message
A particular category of minors is that of refugees seeking asylum, who,! for various reasons, are fleeing their own country, where they are not given adequate protection. Statistics show that their numbers are increasing. This is therefore a phenomenon that calls for careful evaluation and coordinated action by implementing appropriate measures of prevention, protection and welcome, as set forth in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (cf. Art. 22). I now turn in particular to parishes and to the many Catholic associations which, imbued with a spirit of faith and charity, take pains to meet the needs of these brothers and sisters of ours. While I express gratitude for all that is being done with great generosity, I would like to invite all Christians to become aware of the social and pastoral challenges posed by migrant and refugee minors. Jesus' words resound in our hearts: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me� (Mt 25:35), as, likewise, the central commandment he left us: to love God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our mind, but together with love of neighbor (cf. Mt 22:37-39). This leads us to consider that any of our concrete interventions must first be nurtured by faith in the action of grace and divine Providence. In this way also hospitality and solidarity to strangers, especially if they are children, become a proclamation of the Gospel of solidarity. The Church proclaims this when she opens her arms and strives to have the rights of migrants and refugees respected, moving the leaders of Nations, and those in charge of international organizations and institutions to promote opportune initiatives for their support. May the Blessed Virgin Mary watch over us all and help us to understand the difficulties faced by those who are far from their homeland. I assure all those who are involved in the vast world of migrants and refugees of my prayers and cordially impart to them the Apostolic Blessing. From the Vatican, 16 October 2009
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
The 5th World Congress on Migration and Refugees November, 2009 at the Vatican City, Rome The 5th World Congress on Migrants and Refugees November, 2009, Vatican City
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2010 親愛的兄弟姊妹們： Ď 世界移民晉難民日的慶祝， 再次給我機 會表達教會對於那些以不同方式經驗移居生活的 人的不斷關懷。這種我曾在「與真理中實行愛 德」的通諭中所敘述的現象，使我們煩心。因為 這攸關眾多人民，且引發許多社會、經濟、政 治、文化及宗教的問題，使本國與國際團體受到 嚴厲的挑戰。移民是有信德的人，他們具有基本 而不可剝奪的權利，必須在任何環境下受到每一 個人的尊重。(參閱「通諭」62章)。 Ď 今年的主題是「未成年移民與難民」， 碰觸到基督徒非常注意的一面，提醒我們基督在 最後審判時，任何為「最小的兄弟中的一個(參 閱瑪25:40; 45)」所做或沒有做的，被視為直接為 祂所做或沒有做。我人豈能不將未成年移民與難 民視為「那最小的」嗎？耶穌童年時，也經歷過 移居，一如福音所記載，當時為了躲避黑洛德王 的威脅，祂必須與若瑟和瑪利亞避難埃及(參閱 瑪2:14)。 Ď 雖然兒童人權大會清楚聲明，未成年人的最 大利益常應該得到保障(參閱第三條第一節)，承 認他獲他的基本人權與成人的權利相同，不幸的 是實際上並未如此。 Ď 雖然大眾愈來愈意識到需要立即加強保障未 成年人的行動，可是卻大多讓他們自己面對各種 受剝削的危機。我可敬的前任教宗若望保祿二 世，曾於1990年9月22日「世界兒童高峰會」的機 會上，向聯合國秘書長致函表達兒童們所生活的 悲痛情境。 Ď 他說：「我在各大洲見證了千萬兒童痛心的 處境。他們是最易受傷害的，因為他們最沒有辦 法使人們聽到他們的聲音(1990年10月10日〈羅馬 觀察報〉英文版第13頁)。」我熱切希望能給予未 成年的移民適當的關懷，他們需要一個允許他們 發展他們身體的、文化的、屬靈的及道德的成長 的社會環境。生活在一個陌生的土地上，沒有有 力的著力點，為他們會產生無數嚴重的困難，特 別是那些缺乏家庭支持的兒童。 Ď 未成年移民的典型一面，就是在客居國家出 生的兒童情況，或是那些沒有與父母生活在一起
的兒童，他們在兒童出生後移民，後來再與兒 童相聚。這些青少年屬於兩種文化，對他們的 雙重背景有利亦有弊；不過這種情況能給予他 們機會得到不同文化傳統交流的豐富經驗。重 要的是這些年輕人應有機會上學並在以後投入 工作。適當的教育和社會架構能有助於他們融 入社會，絕對不可忘記青少年是人格陶成的關 鍵階段。Ď Ď 尋求庇護的未成年難民是一個特殊的族 群，他們由於種種原因逃離了自己的國家，在 本國得不到適當的保護。根據統計，他們的人 數正在增加。因此這種現象須要仔細的評估和 共同的行動，實施適當的預防、保護及接納的 措施，猶如兒童人權大會所指出的(參閱第22 條)。 Ď 現在我特別轉向堂區及許多天主教善會， 他們本著信德和愛德的精神，努力幫助我們的 這些兄弟姊妹們的需要。我向他們表示感激， 他們以積極慷慨的心做這一切，同時我願意所 有的基督徒意識到由於未成年的移民和難民帶 來的社會和牧靈的挑戰。 Ď 耶穌的話在我們心中迴響，祂說：「我作 客，你們收留了我(瑪25:35)。」同樣，他給我 們留下的主要命令是：你要全心、全靈、全意 愛上主你的天主，並愛你的近人(瑪22:37-39)。 Ď 這一切引導我們注意我們的任何具體干 預，先要由於信德受恩寵及天主上智的滋養。 這樣的款待陌生人和與外方人共同承擔，特別 是兒童們，也成了守望相助福音的宣報。教會 宣報此福音，是在她張開雙臂爭取移民和難民 的權力得到尊重，推動各國領導人以及那些負 責國際組織和機構的人，促進支持移民及難民 的適當行動時。 Ď 願真福童貞瑪麗亞垂顧我們並幫助我們了 解那些遠離他們家鄉者所面臨的困境，並誠心 給予他們宗座的降福。 教宗本篤十六世 2009年10月16日發自梵蒂岡城 Translated by Bishop Joseph Wang
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PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF MIGRANTS AND ITINERANT PEOPLE Sea Sunday Message 2010 Dear chaplains, volunteers, friends and supporters of the Apostleship of the Sea, The International Maritime O rg a n i z a t i o n ( I M O ) h a s Archbishop Veglio declared the 2010 “Year of the Seafarer” to pay tribute to the 1.5 million seafarers for their unique contribution to the society, and increase awareness on the difficult situations created by nature, but often also by people, in which many of them found themselves, while sailing across the seas of the world. As seafarers are usually defined as “invisible people”, passing quickly through the ports, the annual celebration of Sea Sunday invites the Christian communities to see and recognize them as “real people” who, with their hard work and sacrifices, make our life more comfortable. The seafarers are workers different from the ones on land, also because we do not see them going to work every day. Their contract requires from them to leave wife, children, family and friends, for a long period of time. They sail from port to port often in isolated places with little time to go ashore before they sail out again. The perimeter of the vessel is the limit of their world, the confine space of the cabin is their home and they share their work with people of different nationalities and religions, often using a “Babel of languages” to communicate. For seafarers loneliness is a constant companion, injustices are frequent. Moreover in these times of economic crisis crews are easily abandoned in foreign ports, pirates attacks are becoming more frequent and when an accident occurs criminalization and detention are sometimes the price they pay on behalf of the vessel owner or the charter. The technological progress has made many changes on the maritime world improving safety and reliability of the vessels and fast turnaround in port but little has changed on the human needs of
seafarers and fishers. These needs are simple, a warm welcome in a foreign country, a van to transport them to the city, a telephone or a computer to connect with their family and loved ones, a priest to celebrate the Holy Mass – if they are Catholic – or bless them, a friend to listen to their stories and problems, a volunteer or a pastoral agent to visit them in hospital or in jail. The Apostleship of the Sea was founded by a small group of committed people in Glasgow on the 4th October 1920, to provide spiritual and material assistance to “neglected” Catholic seafarers and to provide for their needs. Since then it has grown behind any expectation, and in looking back at its humble beginning, we can see the providential hand of God in the way in which the Apostolate has spread throughout the world. Providing pastoral care, especially through ship visiting, for seafarers and fishers remains our main concern as it was at the origin of this Apostolate. Therefore, we would like to encourage everyone to continue to support this “Work” hoping that the local Churches will be more and more involved in this pastoral care. The Apostleship of the Sea, with its network of “Stella Maris” and Centers around the world, is always available to respond to the seafarers‟ requests, welcoming them in a home away from home‟ and making their life a little easier. The chaplains and volunteers in many ports of the world are visiting hundreds of vessels, welcoming thousands of seafarers of all religions and nationalities offering counseling, clothing, telephone cards, money and providing a safe and secure port‟ in time of crisis and also, last but not least, helping to maintain in their life the openness towards the transcendental values. Continuation on page 13 - Sea Sunday 5
2010年航海主日文告 海員使徒工作的各位輔導司鐸、 志工、朋友及友持者： 國際航海組織（IMO）宣佈 2010年為「海員年」，旨在向 150萬海員致意，他們對社會的 特殊貢獻，並加強意識他們在世 界的大海中航行時 ，所遭遇到 的大自然以及來自人們所產生的 困境。海員往往被稱為「隱形 人」，由於他們在港口快速經 過，每年舉行的航海主日邀請基 督徒團體，要把他們視為「真實 的族群」，由於他們的辛苦工作 和犧牲，使我們的生活更舒適。 海員與在陸地工作的工人之 不同，也是因為我們看不到他們 每天上班，他們的合約要求他們 長期離開妻子、兒女、家庭和朋 友。他們從一個港口到另一個港 口，短暫地在孤立的地方登岸， 然後又再出海航行。輪船的週圍 就是他們的世界，船艙的範圍就 是他們的家，他們與不同國籍和 宗教的人分擔工作，往往應用 「巴培爾言語」溝通。為海員來 說，孤獨是他們經常的同伴，又 常遭受到不公。此外，在此經濟 危的時刻，在外地港口船員很容 易被遺棄，海䙿的攻擊愈來愈 多；當遭遇意外時，刑事責任及 拘留往往是他們代替船主或公司 付出好代價。 科技的進步在航海界作了很多 的改變，改善了船隻的安全和可 靠性，也加速了在港口的作業， 可是對海員及漁民的人性需求改 善極微。這些需求很單純：在外 國得到接待，一輛車子可載他們 去都市，一部電話或電腦讓他們
和家庭及家人聯絡，一位神父 為他們舉行彌撒—假如他們是 天主教徒，或是降福他們；一 個朋友能聽他們故事和問題； 一個志工或牧靈工作者在醫院 或監獄中探望他們。 「海員使徒工作」是1920 年10月4 日，由一小群投入的 人在在英國格拉斯高城成立 的，主要是為「被忽視的」天 主教海員提供屬靈的及物質的 幫助並供給他們的需求。自那 時起，有了想不到的發展，自 簡陋的開始到現在，可以看出 天主上智的手使這個使徒工作 在全世界發展。 我們主要的關懷，就是為海 員和漁民，經由船上的訪問， 提供牧靈照顧，這也是使徒工 作的原始宗旨。因此，我們願 意鼓勵每一個人繼續支持此 「工作」，希望地方教會越來 越能投入此牧靈的照顧。
義的工作。 為紀念海員使徒工作成立 九十週年並慶祝「海員年」， 我們願向各國政府呼籲，加速 批准2006年航海勞工大會，那 是改善海員工作及生活條件的 基本工具。 最後，邀請每一個人為海 員靜默片刻並為他們和他們的 家庭祈禱，把他們效託給瑪利 亞「海星」聖母，使輔導司鐸 及志工們每天慷慨地沿碼頭行 走，攀登舷門，向那些「為了 各種原因在航海界生活和工作 的人」表達愛和關心。（「海 星」 自動諭，前言） 主席：衛里奧總主教 秘書：馬蓋篤總主教 台中教區榮休主教 王愈榮主 教 翻譯
海員使徒工作，藉世上 「海星」網狀組織及中心，常 有效的回應海員們的要求，歡 迎離開家鄉的他們在我們的中 心找到一個家，使他們的生活 稍有改善。 世上許多港口的輔導司鐸 和志工們，訪問了千百艘船， 接待了不同宗教和國籍的船， 提供諮商、衣服、電話卡、金 錢，以及在艱困時刻給了安全 的港口，最後，幫助他們在生 活中保持對超越價值的開放。 在國際及國家層面，海員使徒 工作也做促進海員的權利及正
Crisis/Trauma management training Bohol, Philippines 6
MIGRANTS’ SUNDAY LITURGY
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Sept. 26, 2010) GOSPEL READING
A Reading from the Gospel of Luke (16:19-31) Jesus said to the Pharisees: "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.' He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"
Tr u s t i n g t h e F a t h e r ’s l o v e a n d providence, we say: R - LORD, PROTECT AND GUIDE THE MIGRANTS and Seafarers C — That our Church leaders, especially the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, and the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants, may continue to guide and support the priests, religious, and lay people who assist the migrants and seafarers, we pray: (R) C — That our government officials overseeing the migrants’ rights and dignity and combat all forms of exploitation, we pray: (R) C — That our migrant workers and seafarers may accomplish their work with professionalism and a sense of responsibility, and remain strong in times of temptation and loneliness, drawing inspiration from our human values and Christian faith, we pray: (R) C — That our young people preparing to migrate may acquire the necessary knowledge for their future employment so as to serve the country with honor while helping their families through honest work, we pray: (R) C — That our migrant workers and seafarers who have ended their earthly voyage through accident or sickness may be part of the heavenly family, and that the families they leave behind may be comforted by the thought of reunion in that eternal home, we pray: (R) Priest: Father, receive these prayers we offer for our migrants and Seafarers in Taiwan. As we honor them, may they in turn honor you, their country, their host country and their families with their life and Service. This we ask through Christ our Lord. All: AMEN
THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
P - As we celebrate National Migrants’ and Seafarers’ Day in Taiwan, let us pray for all migrants and Seafarers. May prayer and Christian love be the unbreakable bond that unites them in spirit and affection.
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food for thoughts Gospel Reflection: The readings remind us that riches are means, not an end. The Gospel emphasizes true wisdom: “Know what is more important in life. Establish proper relation between means and the end, between riches and destiny of our life.
come empty-handed before God.
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• Sin of omission: The rich man does not do anything evil to L a z a r u s . He d o e s n o t h u r t Lazarus. But neither does he do anything good for Lazarus.
This is an invitation to the rich and the poor, employer and employee to reflect that richness is In the Gospel we can learn the temporary and it should be used to following: live in dignity and a means to attain eternity by using it wisely for the • Use properly your riches. Jesus’ warning is evident: “Do welfare of the others. not focus your attention on the means but on the end. Do not let riches hinder you from becoming more human. Instead, let riches make your more in solidarity with the n e e d y. ” - G o d ’s j u s t i c e prevails in the end. The rich man is not able to bring his riches unto life thereafter; he repents too late. The poor man, on the other hand, is rewarded with eternal happiness. • Trust in God, not in your • riches. The Gospel does not accuse or condemn the fact o f m e r e l y b e i n g r i c h . It condemns those who are rich yet do not care about the welfare of others. - Jesus calls foolish those who put their trust in things that are “passing” and not in God. These could not be their “passport” to life. The rich seems to have everything but
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Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI) UPDATES
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he Episcopal Commission
for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People is a pastoral arm of the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference (CRBC) for migrants and immigrants concerns. It has a Dicastery in Rome called the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. Under this Dicastery is the sections for the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) commonly known as Stella Maris that caters to the pastoral needs of Seafarers and Maritime Workers throughout the world. The ECMI in Taiwan focuses mainly on the pastoral care of the Migrant workers and new immigrants and now, it is strengthening its pastoral concern for international seafarers visiting Taiwan major ports in cooperation with the local and international Maritime welfare providers. ECMI-Taiwan has attended several International congresses The proposed Stella Maris International Service Center in Kaoshiung. The ECMI / AOS is urging everyone to support the project of the Scalabrinian Fathers and the Diocese of Kaoshiung in cooperation with International Transport Federation - Seafarers’ Trust (ITF-ST). For more information please contact Fr. Ranie Salise, CS and Fr. Nilo Mantilla, SC at +886225947914 & +886988454363.
THE 5TH WORLD CONGRESS ON MIGRATION. VATICAN CITY, ROME. NOVEMBER 9 - 15, 2009
and conferences on migrants and seafarers concerns. The 5th World Congress on Migration and refugees held in Rome emphasizes on strengthening the local Churches’ involvement in taking care the migrant workers and immigrants and to draw a more comprehensive pastoral program that will respond to the needs of the people on the move. The Apostleship of the Sea International Desk, the sect-
ions of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, has also urged the Bishops to strengthen its pastoral care for seafarers visiting in the ports under their jurisdictions. The Congress also encouraged the Bishops’ Conferences to lobby to their respective governments for the ratification of all International Conventions on Labor and Migrations as well as the Maritime Law Conventions of the ILO.
2010: IMO-designated “Year of the Seafarers” 2010 is an IMO-designated “Year of the Seafarers.” A International Maritime Organization (IMO) Diplomatic Conference to Adopt the Amendments to the Convention of Seafarers’ Training, Certification, and Watch keeping Code was held in Manila on June 21 to 25, 2010. The Convention was led by H.E. Ethimios E. Mitropolous, IMO Sec. General. The International Committee on Seafarers’ Welfare (ICSW) together with the International Transport (Workers’) Federation (ITF) had organized a “Party-in-the-Park” to promote seafarers’ Welfare and in support to the IMO-designated “Year of the Seafarers.” The Southeast Asian welfare providers, including AOS-Taiwan, were invited to join the celebration. Fr. Loloy Napiere, AOS National Director, represented Taiwan’s Seafarers’ Welfare providers.
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Bits & Pieces from the diocesan commissions on migrants & Migrants’ NGOs in Taiwan ORDEALS IN THE HIGH SEAS:
S o m e t i m e Seafarers We l f a r e i s about being alongside the seafarers when they feel they have no one else to turn to. A young 20 years old seafarer had been in his ship for three months. It was his first ship and his family had made great sacrifices to get him on board. Now his family needed him as his young sister needed urgent hospital treatment but his company had not paid him and no allotments had been sent home. He felt that he had let his family down and under the pressure and feeling there was no one he could talk to he decided to take his own life. Fortunately he was found and rescued and rushed ashore to hospital where he received excellent medical care. Fr Eliseo Napiere and volunteers from the AOS in Taiwan visited him in hospital and negotiated with the Philippine agency and the owner of the vessel to take responsibility on the hospital expenses on humanitarian ground and the agency and owner agreed wholeheartedly. Fr Eliseo contacted the office of one of the newly elected Senators in the Philippines and negotiated that his two sisters be given assistance on their
studies and the senator agreed to put them on the senator’s scholarship program. Also the agency promised to give him land job closer to his family. Now the seafarer realized that life is wonderful with people around who love him so much. -----------------------
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Historically, the actual Stella Maris International Service Center in the Diocese has been in existence for almost 40 years having been started in 1968 by the Jesuit Priest Fr. Joseph Donahue, SJ who wanted to provide a safe place for the American soldiers who were taking their “Rest & Recreation” in the port City of Kaohsiung, Taiwan (R.O.C.). At the end of the Vietnam War, Fr. Donahue’s attention was devoted to the increasing number of commercial ships, mostly with American crew, importing all sorts of goods to
Fr. Popong with the Vietnamese Migrant workers at SMISC
(Fr. Eliseo Napiere)
SMISC - “A Home Away from Home”
Ta i w a n . I n 1 9 9 2 , a s t h e seafarers’ faces were becoming more Asians, the ministry was taken over by the PIME Fathers (Pontificio Istituto Missioni Estere or Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions). Eventually, the PIME Fathers decided to close their mission in Kaohsiung: the demands from the migrant workers needed a greater commitment from their Institute and the service to migrants was not in line with their charism. In February 1996 the first Missionaries of St. Continuation on page 12 - SMISC
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bits & pieces.... HSINCHU CATHOLIC DIOCESE MIGRANTS AND IMMIGRANTS SERVICE CENTER (HMISC)
supported the Filipino immigrants in Hsinchu to form HAPI - Hsinchu Association of Filipino Immigrants. Continuation on page 13 - Hsinchu -------------------------------------
Hsinchu involvement in advocacy Santacruzan in Hsinchu
During the last year HMISC has been an active member of the International Campaign for the Rights and Recognition of Domestic Workers (DWs) to support the ILO Convention on Domestic Work. Fr. Peter O’Neill, HMISC director, was a member of the Migrant Forum in Asia delegation to the International Labor Conference in Geneva from June 2-12, 2010. An historic decision was taken at the Conference in support of an International Convention on Domestic Work. As a member of the Taiwan Anti-Trafficking Alliance, HMISC attended meetings and press conferences to review and monitor the implementation of the Taiwan Human Trafficking Prevention Act which came into force on June 1, 2009. In May 2009 HMISC opened its shelter for male victims of labor trafficking, and continues to run its shelter for female victims of trafficking. Every Tuesday morning the HMISC staff visit the migrant workers detained in the Hsinchu detention center assisting them to retrieve money confiscated by their legal employers. In December last year HMISC
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Continuation from page 10 - SMISC
Charles (Scalabrinian) arrived in Kaohsiung and officially started the mission on July 1 to respond to the urgent and relevant pastoral care for the human and spiritual needs of the migrants. Since then, the Scalabrinian Missionaries had been consistent in their commitment to make SMISC become a center for the human rights protection and promotion of gender equality “where strangers are brothers and sisters and migrants are at home.” The Missionaries of St. Charles (Scalabrinians) or otherwise known as the Missionaries for the migrants manifested the thrust of their charism and lived as witnesses to their missionary commitment in the management of the center, which is for the advancement of human dignity and welfare of migrants, seafarers and refugees. The Stella Maris International Service Center (originally called “Stella Maris International Seamen’s Center”) is a Catholic Institution of the diocese of Kaohsiung. The mandate given by the Bishop was clear and specific: assisting all migrant workers and coordinating the pastoral ministry for foreigners in the Diocese of Kaohsiung together with the responsibility of Apostleship of the Sea. Working in the center is a constant call to learn and unlearn from the past to be able to adapt and adjust to the constantly changing demands of the ministry. Finally, upholding a tradition of opposing the logic of
discrimination and the rejection of one’s neighbor is our battle cry. We believe that we are only instruments in making others experience equality, accept and realize that nobody is so poor who cannot welcome a migrant, nobody is so rich who wouldn’t need the migrants’ help, and no one is really so bad who could not make migrants find their “home away from home.” Taiwan: Church calls attention to plight of migrant domestic workers TAIWAN, 13 December 2009— Spearheaded by the Migrants’ Empowerment Network in Taiwan (MENT), Church-based organizations and local NGOs in Asia call attention to the plight of domestic workers and caregivers in Taiwan with a public rally and statement.
the Asian region, ECMI joined with the Migrants Empowerment Network in Taiwan (MENT), an NGO alliance whose members are mostly faith-based NGOs, including the local concerned citizens of Taiwan, in presenting a statement on the need to improve migrant protections at the December rally. Echoing the statement’s call for the ratification and effective implementation of international conventions pertaining to migrant rights—especially for vulnerable women—the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) has been active in promoting the issue internationally. To g e t h e r w i t h N G O s , government representatives, international organizations, and labor organizations, ICMC joined members of the UN Committee on Migrant Workers Continuation on page 13 - Taiwan
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“All too often, we see that migrant domestic workers and caregivers become victim of unfair labour treatment”, notes Fr. Eliseo Napiere, Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI) in Taiwan. “We are distressed by the fact that these individuals continue to be unprotected.” In an effort to call attention to the situation of migrant domestic workers and caregivers in
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Continuation from page 1 - Message
To reiterate what the Holy Father said: “I warmly hope that proper attention will be given to the voiceless (minor) migrants who need a social environment that permits and fosters their physical, cultural, spiritual and moral development.” This can only be done if our Government and the civil society will adhere to the call for a concerted effort in promoting human rights and dignity for all peoples. +Bp. Bosco Lin Continuation from page 5 - Sea Sunday
On the international and national level the Apostleship of the Sea also does advocacy work to promote sea-farers rights and provide justice for seafarers. In remembering its 90th Foundation Anniversary and celebrating the Year of the Seafarer, we would like to make an appeal to the States to speed up the ratification of the 2006 Maritime Labor Convention, a fundamental instrument to improve the working and living conditions of seafarers. Finally everyone on this occasion is invited to pause for a moment and pray for them and their families and recommend to Mary, Star of the Sea, the chaplains and volunteers that every day generously walk along piers, climb gang ways and show love and concern for “those who for various reasons live and work in the maritime world” (Motu Proprio Stella Maris, Introduction). ! Archbishop Antonio Maria Vegliò President
!Archbishop Agostino Marchetto Secretary Continuation from page 12 - Taiwan
in October 2009 for a day of discussion on Migrant Domestic Workers. The event allowed ICMC to provide an international voice to the concerns of its Member organizations, and contributed to a process that the International Labor Organization (ILO) has launched to develop an international convention with labor standards for all domestic workers. “Many of ICMC’s members are directly engaged in providing services, advocacy, even rescue and emergency shelter to migrants working as domestic workers around the world,” explains Johan Ketelers, Secretary General of ICMC. “Domestic work and workers are almost universally excluded from the protection of labour laws and foreigners working abroad in private settings typically hidden from view—a majority of them women—need the protection that a special framework of migrants can offer.” ICMC Press release 13 Dec. 2009
Filipino migrants on the importance of saving their money to begin investment projects when they return home. HMISC
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continuation from page 11 - Hsinchu
Several family activities have already been organized by the members of HAPI. HMISC continues to provide pastoral services to the mainly Filipino Catholics; sacramental programs for the children; and organizes cultural and religious activities for migrants and immigrants. Now that the financial crisis is over HMISC is once again expanding its Migrant Savings for Alternative Investment Program to educate the
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THE DIOCESE OF TAINAN A PASTORAL CARE TO THE MIGRANTS AND ITINERANT PEOPLE
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ainan Diocese is actively involved in the Pastoral Care to the migrants and itinerant people under the leadership of Bishop Bosco Lin Chi-nan, the Bishop of Tainan a n d t h e Pr e s i d e n t o f t h e Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Car of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI). There are 4 Churches that cater to the pastoral needs of the migrants, namely: Mary Help of Christians in Yunung Road, Immaculate Conception Church in Jungshan Road, St. Joseph Church in Nanningjye, and Sacred Heart of Jesus in Shengli Road. The coming Migrants’ Sunday celebration will be held at the new Diocesan Migrants’ Center i n S h a n h u a To w n s h i p . Fr. Matthew Minh-Tri Le, SDB is the Diocesan Migrants’ Coordinator assisted by Sr. Angie Tamayo, D.C. who is in
Bishop Bosco Lin Chi-Nan and Sister Angie Tamayo celebrates Christmas with the Filipino Migrant workers in the Diocese of Tainan.
charge of assisting the migrant workers in distress as well as to their catechetical formation.
The Migrants in the Diocese of Tainan is a one happy catholic community sharing the gift of faith and The Diocesan program also c u l t u r e s t o t h e l o c a l g i v e i m p o r t a n ce to t h e Church. formation of the new immigrants and their families. NEW PASTORAL CENTER
Bishop Bosco Lin Chi-Nan with the Filipino Migrants’ Community in the Diocese of Tainan.
The New Diocesan Migrants’ Pastoral Center
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Apostleship of the Sea: A journey beyond the shore. The International Committee on Seafarers’ Welfare - Southeast Asia (ICSW-SEA) Regional Coordinator, Mr. Budiasa, and Mr. Roy Paul of the International Transport Federation - Seafarers’ Trust had visited Taiwan on July 18 - 25. The visit was facilitated by Ms. Daphne Su of the National Chinese Seamen’s Union and Fr. Loloy Napiere of the Catholic Church’s Apostleship of the Sea. The purpose of the visit was to promote the ILO’s Maritime Labor Conventions and to negotiate for the establishments of Port Welfare Committee in every major port in Taiwan. Meeting with the president of the National Chinese Seamen’s Union, Mr. Jerry Sun
with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) in Taipei Light moment at Soushan, overlooking Keelung port
A courtesy visit to the Archbishop of Taipei
Lunch hosted by the Glory Shipping agency in Taichung port
Meeting with Harbor chief in Taichung Port
Ship visit at Taichung port with Bishop Su, Bishop of Taichung
with Bishop Phillip Huang, Ke Ming Feng, Port Immigration Officer, and Chen Shao-Liang, Secretary General of Hualien Harbor Bureau A visit to Mai-laio Harbor Bureau, Capt. Liow Sze Ming
Meeting with Mai-laio Port Immigration Bureau
A visit to ECMI/AOS Office in Changhua City
Courtesy meeting with Archbishop Peter Liu of Kaohsiung AOS-Hualien with Buddy
Meeting with Mr. Ting-Yi Tsai, Kaoshiung Harbor Master
with M/T Tosa Crew in Hualien
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AOS - TAIWAN SAILING ONWARD “Think globally, act locally” these are the words of His Excellency Most Rev. John Hung, the Archbishop of Taipei and the President of the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference (CRBC), in one of his interviews. True enough with regards to the Catholic Church’s concern to the international seafarers’ visiting the ports of Taiwan. The societies have been benefited by the unique contributions of the 1.5 million seafarers around the globe. The church identified them as “invisible people”. The 2010 Sea Sunday message emphasizes that the seafarers are workers different from the ones on land, because people do not see them going to work every day. Their contract requires from them to leave wife, children, family and friends, for a long period of time. They sail from port to port often in isolated places with little time to go ashore before they sail out again. The perimeter of the vessel is the limit of their world, the confine space of the cabin is their home and they share their work with people of different nationalities and religions, often using a “Babel of languages” to communicate. For seafarers loneliness is a constant companion, injustices are frequent. Moreover in these times of economic crisis crews are easily abandoned in foreign ports, pirates attacks are becoming more frequent and when an accident occurs criminalization and detention are sometimes the price they pay on behalf of the vessel owner or the charter. 2010 has been designated as a “Year of Seafarers” by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Different Maritime Organizations, Seamen’s Unions, and Seafarers’ welfare providers (including the Catholic Church’s Apostleship of the sea) are campaigning for the ratification of the ILO's Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 which p r o v i d e s c o mp r e h e n s i v e r i g h t s a n d protection at work for the world's 1.5 million seafarers. The new labour standard
A crew of Sea Angel, a Thailand flag vessel sunk near Mai-liao
consolidates and updates more than 65 international l a b o u r standards related to seafarers adopted over the last 80 years. The Convention sets out seafarers' rights to decent conditions of work on a wide range of subjects, and aims to be globally applicable, easily understandable, readily updatable and uniformly enforced. It has been designed to become a g lobal instrument known as the "fourth pillar" of the international regulatory regime for quality shipping, complementing the key Conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Welfare program for the seafarers is new to Taiwan society. The five major ports have basically no facilities provided for seafarers’ welfare by the ports’ authorities. The government has ratified a national seafarers’ law with a provision for the seafarers’ welfare. But the pertinent authority, which is the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) has not given importance to it in the past. The Church in Taiwan has considered it the least of its concerns because of the shortage of local priests and trained chaplains to handle this apostolate as well as the absence of funds for this purpose. The 2010 Sea Sunday Message has identified the simple needs of these seafarers: a warm welcome in a foreign country, a van to transport them to the city, a telephone or a computer to connect with their families and loved ones, a priest to celebrate the Holy Mass – if they are next page please - 17
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AOS TAIWAN SAILING...p. 16
Catholic – or bless them, a friend to listen to their stories and problems, a volunteer or a pastoral agent to visit them in hospital or in jail. The Catholic Church’s mandate is to provide pastoral care to the Seafarers based on the vision of the Apostleship of the Sea which was originated by a small group of committed people in Glasgow, Scotland in October 4, 1920 and was adopted as a section of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People. Following the universal mandate of the Church on the pastoral care of seafarers, the Church of Taiwan is responding locally by establishing a comprehensive pastoral plan for the welfare of the international and local seafarers in every port of Taiwan through the authority of the local ordinaries and in collaboration with civil authorities, International and local welfare providers. The creation of a National Seafarers’ Welfare Board (NSWB) composed of the different Government / shipping agencies, Seamen’s Union and the Apostleship of the Sea of the Catholic Church marks a new beginning of a collective welfare program for seafarers in Taiwan.
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Ministering to the crew of a Ukrainian vessel in Taichung Port
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Dr. Austin Ou TCMF Executive Director
The Taiwan Catholic Mission Foundation Since its inception in 1997, it has already served a lot of disadvantaged people, children, migrants and immigrants, and victims of calamities throughout Taiwan and abroad. It has 34 care stations in Taiwan, Philippines, Brazil, Argentina, Thailand, Mongolia and one of them is the "daluyan" in Changhua City which is the 13th Care Station that serves the migrants, immigrants and their families and many other are still waiting for the foundation's assistance. Since the start of the "daluyan" program in 2005, TCMF was already there and it has been the back bone of this project by providing aids and financial assistance to our different activities in favor of the migrant workers, the foreign spouses and their children. In order to sustain our program, I would like to encourage the people of goodwill to continually support the Taiwan Catholic Mission Foundation and its noble task. Taiwan has entered into a generation of sharers. It is not only ethical to be concerned with the disadvantaged people in society but it is a moral virtue as well to give more importance to "being over having" and to "persons over things." Taiwan, with its fresh minds and hearts, has entered into a generation of social co-responsibility. The Government, Business institutions, Local and Multi-National Cor porations, private institutions and individuals in Taiwan are
now becoming more open to their role in the society in taking part to this social coresponsibility. Children and young people in Taiwan are growing in their emotional intelligence where they become more concerned to the less advantaged children in the world. Looking at these development, surely Taiwan will again experience a holistic economic miracle in the near future. A miracle of the economy of communion where everyone is responsible for one another and that would be a real miracle which is deeply rooted on ethical and moral values. Foundations like TCMF is an avenue for the society to express its generosity and to exercise its role in social coresponsibility. TCMF is a channel (Daluyan) of the people's generosity to the less advantaged members of the global community. As the saying goes: "The more we give, the more we receive!" Our daluyan program is continually trying to be a channel of welfare to those in need. The culturally mixed up children, the voiceless migrant workers, the victims of human trafficking, innocent ladies dreaming for a decent life who ended up in miseries and hopelessness. If we care, we need to be a daluyan “channel� of love to everyone. WE ARE BLEST BECAUSE WE CARE! At Daluyan mini-library
Driving the kids home after class Daluyan Chinese Class
Our computer facility
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CRBC - ECMI PASTORAL DIRECTIVES CRBC/ECMI
T h e C h i n e s e Re g i o n a l Bishops’ Conference (CRBC) during its spring plenar y session last April has approved the 3-point agenda of the E p i s c o p a l Commission for the Pa s t o r a l C a r e o f Migrants and It i n e r a n t Pe o p l e (ECMI). The approved Agenda for implementations are the following: A) Mi g ra n t s ’ Sunday Contributions are divided into 70% / 30% sharing. 70% of the Diocesan total co#ection wi# go to the Migrants’ Commission of the Diocese for its migrants’ pastoral fund and 30% should be remitted to the CRBC/ECMI account. B) Starting 2011, a National Day of prayer for the Migrants and Itinerant people wi# be held every 1st Sunday of Lent. This is in solidarity with the Universal Church as she celebrates the annual World Migrants’ Sunday in every first Sunday of Lent. Migrants’ Coordinator in every diocese should initiate prayer activities and instruct pastors of the Churches with migrants’ parishioners to organize prayer activities, like: lenten recollections/ retreats, adoration to the
B l e s s e d S a c r a m e n t , Vi s i t a Iglesias, Novena prayers, High Mass, prayer vigils, etc. and encourage the local parishioners to join the prayer activities of the migrants.
United Nations’ International day of Migration. C) The Local Ordinaries officia#y assigned Port Chaplains in the ports under their jurisdictions. T h e f o l l o w i n g Po r t Chaplains/Coordinators are: • Ke e l u n g Po r t - Fr. Mario Bonfaini, CMF • Taichung Port - Fr. Loloy Napiere, MSP: Port Coordinator
= Migrants Annual Celebrations in Taiwan: • First Sunday of Lent - National day of Prayer for the Migrants and Itinerant People. Catholic Church’s designation for the Wo r l d M i g r a n t ’s S u n d a y. (Exclusively for Catholic migrants’ Communities) • Last Sunday of September National Migrants’ Sunday. The Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference’s designation to celebrate a day for all the Migrants and immigrants regardless of race, color and creed. An expression of migrants’ cultural affiliation and ecumenical celebration of faith. • December 18 (usua#y being held every 2nd Sunday of December) A Migrants Non-Governmental Organization’s (NGO) initiative to hold a Migrants’ day of Advocacy in solidarity with the
• Mai-liao Por t - Fr. Greg Sebastian, SVD: Port Coordinator • Kaohsiung Port - Fr. Roger Manalo, CS • Hualien Port - Fr. Jean-Pierre Richard, MEP Port Chaplains are those who are directly involved in the seafarers ministry. The Port Coordinators are those who are coordinating in port apostolate due to lack of priests to handle direct port ministry. All Po r t Chaplains/ Coordinators are enjoined to c o o r d i n a t e w i t h t h e AO S National Bishop Promoter, Bp. Bosco Lin Chin-Nan, and the AOS National Director, Fr. Loloy Napiere, MSP, for a concerted effort to establish a pastoral care program for the seafarers in every major port of Taiwan.
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UGNAYAN MIGRANTS AND IMMIGRANTS’ CENTER
UGNAYAN Migrant Ministry in Taichung City and Tanzi celebrates Migrant Sunday on September 26, 2010 with PINOY GOT TALENT Contest, Season 2. OFW in Taiwan are invited to join the contest. First Prize winner will receive NT$20,000.00 and more. PINOY GOT TALENT Season 1 contest was a huge success last June 20, 2010 when UGNAYAN celebrated the 112th Philippine Independence Day. First Prize winners received NT$80,000 and the runner ups and other contestant received additional NT$30,000.00 in prizes. The Yellow Ribbon Movement joined in the celebration. Thanks to all the hard work of the volunteers and the cooperation of the community in all the UGNAYAN Migrant Ministry programs.
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DIOCESE OF HUALIEN The Catholic Migrant Chaplaincy of Hualien or CMCH is a non-profit, pastoral, humanitarian, and socially-oriented mission program of the Church in Hualien. It is designed to cater to the pastoral, spiritual, and support needs of foreign migrant workers in Hualien Diocese. Catholic foreign workers as well as seafarers, students and tourists in Hualien attend the Sunday English Mass of the mission program.
envisions a community of Catholic migrants St. Paul’s Catholic Church who live according to the Gospel truths and Church moral teachings, who are aware and cognizant of their God-given rights and duties and duties as laborers and stewards, secured and protected in their workplace, fulfilled in the performance of their tasks, and contented and grateful with the fruits of their labor and with the blessings of God.
The mission and ministry for the Filipino migrant workers in Hualien was originally a personal initiative of Father Auguste Lespade, MEP, the former parish priest of St. Paul's Catholic Church. With the help of God, Father Lespade served the Filipino migrants for fifteen years. After him, the Bishop of Hualien appointed Fr. JeanPierre Richard, MEP, to take over the service to migrants. He has been serving migrants for seven years.The service provided for Filipino migrants has mainly been the celebration of Mass in English, hearing confession, prayer meeting, and spiritual and personal counseling. Fr. JeanPierre Richard has always tried to help migrants in their trials and problems as best as he could, at times with the need of a nun or a lay missionary catechist.
MISSION:
The mission of CMCH is to provide pastoral and social services to the migrant workers in Hualien Diocese so that their spiritual and moral well-beings are properly maintained, their rights as laborers are duly protected, their human dignity is upheld and secured, and their Catholic faith is strengthened. CMCH also
The Mission of the Migrant Chaplaincy in Hualien are as follows:
The mission of the Catholic Migrant Chaplaincy is to provide pastoral and social services to the migrant workers in Hualien Diocese so that their spiritual needs are properly addressed and their Catholic faith is strengthened. VISION: The CMCH envisions a community of migrant workers in St. Paul's Catholic Church who live according to the Gospel truths and Church teachings; who are fulfilled in the performance of their tasks; and contented and grateful with the fruits of their labor and with the blessings of God.
1. to worship God; 2. to preach the Gospel and educate his people; 3. to serve God by serving His children.
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TaiwanACT’s Vision Justice and human rights for the Vietnamese Workers and Vietnamese Brides in Taiwan by empowering them with education, knowledge and awareness through direct and indirect actions / influences from the three geographical "forces" : Taiwan, the United States of America and Viet Nam. Mission Statement T h e Ta i w a n A l l i a n c e t o C o m b a t Trafficking (TaiwanACT) is a non profit organization based in Taiwan. It works in partnership with other NGOs in Taiwan and Viet Alliance to Combat Trafficking (VietACT) in the US with the goal to combat human trafficking from Vietnam to Taiwan. It: Commits to provide immediate relief to the victims of abuse Eradicates and prevents trafficking. Provides legal advices and assist in litigations. Empowers the victims with knowledge to rise up together to fight for human rights and human dignity of Vietnamese brides and migrant workers. OUR GOALS Though we now use the bulk of our time providing direct services, we also see the need to concentrate on advocacy work to push for policy changes at the systemic level in the coming years. This involves:
1. Policy (Taiwan): We have started to work with like-minded nongovernmental organizations (NGO) and sympathetic politicians. Though we have made some inroads, this is an extremely time consuming process since these policy changes need to be well coordinated, aggressively pursued, then implemented and monitored. 2. Policy (Vietnam): Work needs to be done with the Vietnamese government and NGOs working in Vietnam to stem the trade in foreign brides, to better regulate the migrant workers program, and to penalize ruthless employment agencies. We have formed a network with internal NGOs based in Vietnam to work on prevention and reintegration programs for prospective brides and migrant workers. 3. Policy (US): The U.S. State Department needs to take an active role in monitoring and raising the issue of human trafficking in Taiwan. The latest report still paints a rosy picture of Taiwan as fully cooperating with the international community in stemming the human trade, but our experience has been quite to the contrary. 4. Education: An education and cultural awareness campaign is necessary to change the Taiwanese public’s negative view toward foreign brides and migrant workers by working closely with local academics, politicians, and the press.
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APOSTLESHIP OF THE SEA TAIWAN Tel. # +886930577056 aostaiwan@gmail.com