Founded in 2016, the Bethlehem Mission Society Friendship Circle connects friends, organizes community events and promotes the Bethlehem Mission Society, a Catholic organization. The Friendship Circle will commemorate over 70 years of Mission Society activity in Taiwan this month with an art exhibition beginning tomorrow. A 33 artist residency at the Bethlehem Mission Society House, which is located on Hangchou Street (杭州街) in the middle of Taitung, will also be open for public viewing.
“Works expressing the clergy’s devotion,” will be on display, according to a press-release, including artwork by artists of the Puyuma indigenous community. There will be sculpture, illustrations and big canvas paintings created by people “from a diverse background” that are united by a “mutual theme” — that is, “to record and pass on the touching stories of the Bethlehem Mission Society.”
The Bethlehem Mission Society (Societas Missionum Exterarum de Bethlehem in Helvetia or SMB), is a Catholic religious order that was founded in Immensee, Switzerland in 1895. Originally headquartered in Northeast China, the Mission Society relocated to Taiwan in 1953.
Photo courtesy of Bethlehem Mission Society
After establishing its headquarters in Taitung County, the mission helped found St. Mary’s Hospital as well as several local nursing homes, among them, St. Joseph’s Kung-Tung Technical Senior High School (私立公東高級工業職業學校) which was founded by the Taiwan mission’s founder, Father Jakob Hilber, in 1960.
In addition to missionary work, SMB priests and volunteers have, over subsequent decades, built more schools and hospitals, as well as professional training centers and kindergartens, often in remote, mountainous areas populated by aboriginal people.
Art and creativity has long be practiced and promoted by the clergy who are said to decorate their chapels and houses with art pieces made from “recycled and found materials” which has “deeply inspired” local artists.
Photo courtesy of Bethlehem Mission Society
■ Bethlehem Love Art Exhibition, Taitung County Arts Center (台東縣藝文中心), 25, Nanjing Road, Taitung City (台東市南京路25號); open house 34 Hangjhou Street, Taitung City (台東縣台東市杭州街34號)
■ Until April 16, open Tuesday through Sunday from 9am to 5pm
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