“I wish to serve the Amis Aboriginal Catholic group, encourage them to learn our own culture and language. I wish I could make God known to more children and young people and make them understand God’s love for each of them.”
I am Dong Chong Wen (Cyril) from Amis Tribe of the eastern part of Taiwan. I am 18 and currently studying at the Fu Jen Catholic University Taipei. Since childhood, I longed to serve the church and her people. This came from the lots of love and care that I received from the Church since childhood. And I want to reciprocate it and give it back to the people who need it now.
As a young boy I saw the Claretian Missionaries coming to our home town and taking care of the pastoral needs of the faithful, especially of our tribe. I saw how they learned and loved our culture and language. They celebrate Masses in our mother tongue. And come to think of it, they are all foreigners! I feel the love, care, and the dedication they give to our people and to work with young people. Their missionary presence attracted my attention. Now, I am discerning. I discovered God’s call while I am in the university.
These past few years, they gave me the chance to join local and international youth programs: Taiwan-Japan Youth Encounter in 2013; both AEYG + CF in the Philippines and Indonesia; the WYD in Poland. And now that I am staying with them in their community, they gave me time to do pastoral ministry in the parish. I really want to be like them.
Dong Chong Wen (Cyril)
(Amis Aboriginal Tribe – Taiwan)
