President Ma Ying-jeou on the morning of December 21 recognized 12 foreign clergy members for long years of outstanding service in Taiwan, conferring the Order of Brilliant Star with Violet Grand Cordon and praising the recipients for the many years they have spent caring for the needy, promoting education, and disseminating culture.
President Ma shared a number of touching stories about the recipients, such as Father Anthony Pierrot, who came to Taiwan 60 years ago and founded St. Joseph's Hospital to care for residents in the remote Huwei area of Yunlin County. Father Pierrot has shown a singular devotion to the hospital, and personally driven the hospital ambulance, helped fix medical equipment, and made frequent rounds to look in on patients. Later he set up a social services office and the St. Joseph Social Welfare Foundation as he devoted himself to caring for women, children, and the elderly. Even in his 90s, he continues to serve. The president also mentioned Sister Maria Keulers, who has been working for 43 years at St. Anne's Home in Taipei City caring for physically and mentally challenged children, many of whom called her "Sister Mom." President Ma mentioned that as mayor of Taipei in 2002, he once issued a letter of gratitude to Sister Keulers in recognition of her contributions.
President Ma then turned to Father Georges Etienne Beauregard, 102 years old this year, who established a hospital and a childcare center in the Nan'ao area of Yilan County, counseled dropouts to encourage them to return to school, and helped youth find employment. Father Brendan Michael O'Connell, meanwhile, founded St. Theresa Opportunity Center and the Bethlehem Foundation to help the developmentally disabled cultivate a stronger sense of self-worth. His many years of unflagging efforts are greatly appreciated, said the president. Also among the honorees was Father Andres Diaz de Rabago, who taught medical ethics at National Taiwan University for over 30 years. His past students now work throughout Taiwan as doctors, nurses, and pharmacologists, and President Ma stated that Father Andres deserves the greatest respect for his tremendous dedication to ethics in medicine.
The president then mentioned Father Gian Carlo Michelini, whose love for traditional Taiwanese culture and arts prompted him to create The Lan Yang Dancers, a renowned troupe that has performed throughout Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Africa, and was once received by Pope Paul VI. Father Michelini also helps run the Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival, and the Nan Ying International Folklore Festival. In his work he has not just spread the gospel, but has also brought attention to Taiwan's traditional arts and culture. Introducing Father Giovanni Rizzi, President Ma stated that he has long provided care for the poor and the sick (especially those suffering from leprosy), trained the nation's first batch of male nurses, thus helping alleviate the shortage of caregivers in Taiwan, and has on many occasions visited prisons out of concern for the well-being of inmates. President Ma then introduced Father Moal Yves Marie Joseph, who has been in Taiwan for almost 50 years and has very good command of Mandarin, Taiwanese, and the indigenous Amis language. Father Moal runs the St. Andrew Training Center for the Disabled, where the residents under his care engage in recycling activities. He has also established a second-hand bookstore, the earnings of which go to support the Training Center. President Ma mentioned that just a few weeks earlier, he had personally conferred a Presidential Culture Award in the humanitarian category on Father Moal in recognition of his selfless service to the people living along Taiwan's east coast.
Discussing the contributions of Sister Maria Schnetzer, President Ma noted that she has long cared for senior citizens living alone and for people with severe physical disabilities, relying on the power of religious faith to comfort the afflicted. She also cares for children of kindergarten age, thus providing them a brighter, happier childhood. Introducing the missionary Juanelva Rose, President Ma mentioned that she founded the Tunghai University Department of Music, where she taught as a professor for over 30 years and served over 20 years as dean of the department. In addition to actively assisting students from low-income families, since retirement she has continued to serve the department in other ways, and is much esteemed by students and faculty alike. Another honoree was Reverend David Bruce Alexander, who once hosted a television show in which he played the role of avuncular "Uncle Taiwan," using his fluent Taiwanese to teach English conversation. Reverend Daniel Lee Freeman, meanwhile, has established numerous churches all over Taiwan and worked to serve the physically and mentally disabled, children from single-parent homes, low-income households, youth, and immigrants. In addition, Reverend Freeman took active part in relief efforts after the devastating earthquake of September 1999. His deep concern for the underprivileged, said the president, inspires respect and admiration.
President Ma recalled that as a young boy, he lived in the Wanhua District of Taipei and often went to a Catholic church there to listen to sermons by Father Remi Van Hijfte. Extremely learned and friendly to everyone, Father Van Hijfte made a deep impression on the president. And as soon as any place where Father Van Hijfte was serving became prosperous, he would leave. Besides Wanhua, Father Van Hijfte also preached in remote Jinshan and offshore Matsu, spending a total of over 40 years in Taiwan. "He didn't follow the money; he followed the poverty and the underdevelopment," and in the process helped a lot of people in Taiwan, said the president.
President Ma then quoted from the Book of Proverbs: "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act." The president said that many foreign clergy members have exemplified those words, acting in the spirit of God's love for humankind, serving society and spreading the gospel in Taiwan for long periods of time. He added that the ROC government adopted the Mackay Program in 2011 so that foreign clergy members in Taiwan can receive old-age benefits comparable to those enjoyed by ROC citizens. This, he said, is a way of thanking them for their long years of service.
Speaking on behalf of all the award recipients, Father Pierrot said it was a great honor to receive such a distinction. He recalled that back when he first arrived in Yunlin County and discovered there were so many problems crying out for attention, he decided to establish St. Joseph's Hospital. All the staff members there were extremely hardworking, and always kept the good of local residents and the nation as a whole uppermost in mind. He also expressed hope that more people would become concerned about remote areas and the need for education, and urged others to work for a more prosperous future wherever they might be living.
Also attending the ceremony were Secretary-General to the President Tseng Yung-chuan (曾永權), Minister of the Interior Chen Wei-zen (陳威仁), and friends and relatives of the award recipients.