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Catholics mark 150th anniversary

A float with a 130-year-old statue of the Virgin Mary from Pingtung County’s Wanchin Basilica arrives in Taipei yesterday on a tour around the country to mark 150 years of Catholicism in Taiwana. PHOTO: LU CHUN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES

Thousands of Catholics joined a parade to honor a 130-year-old statue of the Virgin Mary from Pingtung County’s Wanchin (萬金) Basilica that arrived in Taipei yesterday on a tour around the country to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the second coming of Catholicism.

After saying prayers and shooting firecrackers, the thousands of Catholics escorting the sedan carrying the statue of the Virgin Mary from the basilica started their parade in the afternoon while singing hymns and holding roses and banners.

The Wanchin Basilica, built in the 19th century by Spanish Dominican clergy, is one of the oldest churches in the country and is considered the most sacred church by Taiwanese Catholics.

“We’re holding the tour to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the [second] coming of Catholicism in Taiwan,” said Augustine Hsu (許德訓), secretary-general of the Office of the Archbishop of Taipei.

The Dominican Order first established churches in Taiwan when the Spanish occupied part of northern Taiwan in the 17th century. However, the Spanish left the island after less than 20 years following their defeat by the Dutch.

It wasn’t until 1859 that the Catholic Church reached Taiwan again.

“The tour of the Immaculate Conception started [in September last year] from Wanchin Village, the place from which Catholicism spread throughout the country,” Hsu said. “After the Immaculate Conception’s arrival today, she will stay in the Taipei Archdiocese for two months before moving on to Hualien and Taitung and then returning to Pingtung.”

Everyone in the parade was excited about the event.

“We’re very happy to be here today,” said Tang Ning (唐寧), a sophomore at National Tsinghua University who grew up in a Catholic family. “We want to speak out loud about our love for our faith.”

A few of them brought guitars, drums and electric keyboards to play music on a small truck in the parade, while dozens of other young people sang and danced along.

A young Italian priest, Paolo Costa, got on the truck and sang a popular Mandarin love song — I’m Willing (我願意) — but rather than singing about love for a person, he was singing about his love for God.

While most people in the parade were from Taipei, the eight-­member team that escorted the statue from Wanchin had participated in the entire tour.

Escort team captain, Pan Chen-hung (潘振宏), shared some interesting stories from along the tour.

“In Tainan, we invited local temples to join our parade, so we actually had a procession of two religions at the same time — it was quite a sight,” Pan said, smiling.

He also mentioned that in Lunbei Township (崙背), Yunlin County, locals set up tables along the way and burned incense to pay respect to the Virgin Mary.

“Some village chiefs announced our arrival when we passed through their villages and without knowing exactly what was going on, the villagers decided to pay respect to the Virgin Mary in their own way,” Pan said. “They set up tables with sacrifices and burned incense as we marched past.”

The procession finished at the Sacred Heart Girl’s High School next to the Cathedral of Taipei and a ceremony was performed to pray for the well-being of Taiwan and all Taiwanese.
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