Jaschko was inspired to start a school for disabled children when he saw many of them left in poor care as their parents worked in the fields. He set up his first classroom in a dilapidated Buddhist temple, Wu recalled.
In 1974, Jaschko was transferred to Hsinchu County, where he wasted no time in helping disabled children. One year later, the St Joseph Special Education Center had its grand opening. The center currently houses more than 160 children and is often credited as the birthplace of special education in Taiwan.
In 1983, at the age of 72, the silver-haired priest who then walked with the aid of a cane, decided to open Hua Kuang Cognitive Development Center. Established in the town of Guanhsi (關西) in Hsinchu, Hua Kuang, which is now headed by Wu, is what Jean and more than 200 residents call their home away from home.
One staffer, Peng Hsiu-yue (彭秀月), said the priest was a serious man, but whenever he was around children, he was all smiles.
“He didn't even mind when the students played with his beard,” Peng said.
“He saw himself as Taiwanese a long time ago,” Wu said, recalling that Jaschko had his alien permanent resident certificate, which he received in 2002, proudly hung up on his humble bedroom wall.
“The minute he found out that he was staying at a more expensive hospital room, he asked to be discharged because he wanted to be back at the center to be with his children, the residents,” said Jean's father, Hsu Yu-yuan (許玉源), who is also the president of the Parent Teacher Association, describing Jaschko as a “truly great man.”
On the morning of his passing, more than 250 people came to pay their final tribute. His body was immediately brought to the medical center in Taipei at noon.
“He has done an excellent job and his ministry has touched the lives of many people and brought the love of God to many people. We mourn for his passing and pray that God will reward him for what he has done,” said Monsignor Paul Fitzgerald, charge d'affaires of the Holy See to Taiwan.
A formal memorial service for Jaschko will be held next Tuesday at the chapel of the Hua Kuang center in honor of his life and legacy.
RSS