1. Taiwan

2. The General situation of Taiwan The Republic of China (Taiwan) is an oceanic nation of 23 million people (23.133.074 on April 2010, with a combined area of approximately 36,000 square kilometers making it slightly smaller than the Netherlands and a population density of 639/square km. It comprises the main island of Taiwan (see “Taiwan Proper”), the archipelagoes of Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, as well as a number of other islands.

3. Formosa The main island is blessed with a wide range of climatic zones from the tropical to the temperate, resulting in a wealth of animal and plant species, many of them endemic to Taiwan. Among the myriad mountains that give the island its varied topography, over 200 peaks tower higher than 3,000 meters above sea level. While average annual rainfall is high, Taiwan also enjoys plenty of sunshine.

4. Population Taiwan’s population was 23.133 million at April 2010. Han Chinese made up the overwhelming majority of people—at over 95 percent—with the remainder composed of Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) peoples and recent immigrants.

5. Multilingual society For its size, Taiwan is an unusually multilingual society. Mandarin, the official language, is almost universally used and understood, while significant portions of the population speak other Sinitic languages, mainly Holo and Hakka. In addition, each of Taiwan’s 14 officially recognized indigenous groups has its own language. Immigrants have also brought their own tongues, adding even more hues to Taiwan’s ever-growing linguistic tapestry.

6. Economy Taiwan is one of the world’s most dynamic economies and an essential partner in a number of high-tech fields. In 2008, it was the world’s 18th-largest trading nation, 26th-largest economy and No. 4 holder of foreign exchange reserves. In that year and for many years previously, it was among the world’s top three producers of some 30 major types of products. It had the top ranking in several categories of electronics while maintaining leading positions in the global markets for machine tools, precision instruments, special materials, functional textiles and chemicals.

7. Aboriginal peoples Taiwan’s indigenous peoples settled in the island thousands of years before other groups represented today in Taiwan arrived. Their languages belong to the Austronesian linguistic family, speakers of which number over 200 million worldwide and inhabit an area of the globe that stretches from Madagascar in the west to Easter Island in the east and from Taiwan in the north to New Zealand in the south.

8. 14 indigenous groups At the end of June 2009, the official indigenous Austronesian population was around 499,500. Of this number, around 30,000 did not identify themselves as belonging to a particular group. While 14 indigenous groups have received official recognition, activists continue to push for the recognition of other tribes, such as the Siraya.

9. Amis Numbering nearly 181,000 and residing mainly in valleys and coastal areas in eastern Taiwan, the Amis are Taiwan’s largest indigenous group. The tribe’s Ilisin harvest festival, which has rituals for celebrating the transformation of boys into men, is held between July and September and is well known for the vibrant singing and dancing of participants.

10. Map

11. Religions Taiwan’s religious landscape is richly variegated. According to the Ministry of the Interior, as of December 2008, 1,526 religious organizations were registered in Taiwan, with 750 at the central level and 776 at the local level. They belonged to some 26 registered religions and religious groups. Religions that have registered with the government and meet relevant regulations are granted tax-exempt status.

12. Pluralistic Mainstream religious beliefs in Taiwan— represented by Taoism, various Buddhist sects and other denominations that originated in mainland China—are largely polytheistic and syncretic. For example, the Bodhisattva Guan Yin, while originally a Buddhist deity, is also worshiped by Taoists. Likewise, many Buddhists will, on occasion, worship Taoist deities. Followers of I-Kuan Tao, moreover, revere Guan Yin as well as Jesus Christ and Mohammed.

13. Catholic Church According to the “Catholic Church Directory Taiwan 2010”, there are 299,938 Catholics, 15 bishops, 682 priests (326 Chinese and 356 Foreign), 99 brothers (33 Chinese and 60 Foreign), 1,053 (775 Chinese and 278 Foreign) Sisters and 65 major Seminarians. In the Archdiocese of Taipei there are 86,125 Catholics and 296 Priest (59 Diocesan and 237 Religious, 112 Chinese and 184 Foreign).

14. Claretians with Aboriginals In Taipei City, Taipei county and Keelung there are at least 10,000 Catholic Amis and there are two Claretian priest going around to celebrating Amis’ Mass once a month in every area and doing Pastoral work with them. At the moment the Catholic Amis have an Organization with 8 areas. There three Parishes with Amis Mass (the priest celebrating in Chinese but the community answer in Amis).

15. Claretian community in Taiwan Our community was established in 1994 with 5 members. At present our community has members: The first member was Fr. Francisco Carin (Paco) At present Fr. Arturo Morales (Chile), Fr. Peter Chao (Taiwan), Fr. Thomas (Joshy) (India) and Fr. Mario Bonfaini (Italy).

16. Community

17. 3 residences a) Taishan: a restructured four floor within three apartments, near to the Catholic University of Fu Ren, which we own. b) Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus (Keelung). c) Parish of Assumption (Keelung).

18. Apostolate Our main pastoral work is with the Amis in Taipei, Taipei county and Keelung and the care of two parishes. We have a special and important apostolate through our brother Peter, who is helping particularly in China: teaching in the National Seminary of Beijing,, given courses to seminarians, nuns, laity; helping the leper’s apostolate, etc. Other apostolate: Chaplaincies in different places but especially with the Dominican Missionaries of Saint Dominic and Dominican International School, Collaboration with the Pastoral Bible Foundation, Apostolate with Migrants, and Stella Maris, Accompany Huang Shan Christian Communities.

19. Pastoral When we speak of pastoral we have mission in china. One of our community members very actively involve in different ministries in china. His mission involves the teaching in National Seminary in Beijing. In a way we can say the formation of seminarians and also the formation of clergy in which he gives classes and facilitates retreat preaching and so on. Another main pastoral work is formation of religious women in collaboration with Jesuits especially working with leprosy patients. The community also accompany the spiritual and pastoral needs of our oldest mission in china i.e huang shan mission.

20. In Taiwan The mission in Taiwan is multiple in natures. We engage in manifold pastoral work. But the outstanding pastoral work of Claretian is the work among the aboriginals. Claretians take care of the spiritual and pastoral needs of this catholic group which constitutes 40% of catholic population. In collaboration with local church we also help the bishop in parish administration. Thus we render our services in 2 parishes. We collaborate with the bishop as long as he needs our help. Otherwise our main mission is to take care of the aboriginal people.

21. Chaplaincy Apart from these pastoral works we engage in chaplaincy in different religious women congregation, pastoral work in the old age home, taking care of the spiritual needs of the migrant workers, teaching in school and in the faculty of theology in the university.

22. Biblical Ministry We have Bible sharing groups.Trying to help them to share and understand Bible from our living condition. Helping the publication in Macau Arrange the Daily Gospel reading in Traditional Chinese Preparing the Aboriginal ministers to share the gospel in their native Language

23. Youth Ministry As a part of the formation we have the possibility to get few vocations. As a preliminary step we have decided to organize a Claretian youth group. We are going with a group from Taiwan to attend the World Youth Meetings in Spain.

24. JPIC& Mission Procure Working for the Pastoral needs of the shipmen in Keelung Port, the second biggest port in Taiwan. We are working with another name China Mission Procure

25. Thank you so much Fr.Joshy. CMF