Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Taipei (Agenzia Fides) - A pilgrimage is like "a spiritual retreat in motion". For this reason, the Taiwanese community of the Missionary Sisters of the Congregation of the Sacred Side and of Our Lady of Sorrows has chosen to live and propose to all a Lenten pilgrimage among the nature surrounding the city of Xinzhu, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth to Heaven of the Servant of God Eustachio Montemurro, founding priest of the Congregation. A journey made together with lay men and women who share the Ignatian spirituality with the community of religious. A day also spent contemplating the beauty of Creation. The pilgrims told the weekly of the Archdiocese of Taipei about the experience of reconciliation and inner healing experienced thanks to the pilgrimage. A healing experienced by hearts wounded "by greed and arrogance", who found relief in "doing beautiful things together: loving God, loving one another, loving our neighbour and loving Creation". At the end of the day, before the blessing imparted by the priests, the nuns prepared a sort of "wheel of fortune", from which everyone drew an act of penance and mortification to be performed during the days leading up to the Easter solemnities, to also show in this way the desire to be reconciled with God, with oneself, with others and with the earth. The pilgrimage, although short, was lived by all as an experience of purification of the heart during Lent.
The Congregation of the Sacred Side and of Our Lady of Sorrows was founded by Father Montemurro in 1908. Currently - informs the official website of the Congregation - there are 470 Sisters of the Sacred Side, distributed in 68 communities including the 5 scattered in Taiwan, where the mission of the sisters of the Congregation began in 1961. Today "the province of Taiwan comprises 4 communities and three residences, one in Taiwan, one in China and one in Vietnam". Thanks to their lively apostolate, the sisters in Taiqwan animate "three infant schools, courses on the Montessori method, direction of Ignatian Spiritual Exercises of various kinds", along with supporting pastoral activities in the parishes, hospital pastoral work and the training of volunteers, running a medical dispensary and spiritual accompaniment of seminarians. The sisters are also involved in human and Christian formation: among the Aborigines, through Nursery Schools, preventive social service and education. Taiwanese society expresses gratitude in various ways for the social work supported by the missionary sisters. In 2019, Civil Organisations donated 7 wheelchairs to the Xinzhu community because so many nuns who have dedicated their lives for the benefit of Taiwanese people are now elderly and have walking problems. "Now," the donors explained, "we are the ones who want to reciprocate this love". (NZ) (Agenzia Fides, 25/3/2023)
