Recollection in Ta Hu Church
This was planned by the two main parishes that serve mostly the aborigines of that area: Ta Hu and Nan San Tsun Tai An Hsiang. Later other Catholics joined: San Yi, Gung Guan, Bei Miao and Nan Miao. Altogether 139 priests, religious sisters and lay faithful came and we formed 3 main sub-groupings: Ta Hu, Tai An and the other parishes who were few in number to form the third group for Gospel sharing and to discuss the pastoral questions. The small group encouraged the aborigines to be more spontaneous and to share in their own mother tongue.
For the parishes of Tai An and Ta Hu it was an achievement to bring so many together to discuss the questions on pastoral challenges in preparation for the Diocesan Pastoral Convention. It was an eye opener for many when the question “What are you willing to offer for the Church” was raised, helping them to realize that they too are co-responsible for the mission.
The schedule included topics on:
- the vocation of lay people citing Vatican II documents,
- the main features of the preparation for DPC as process with emphasis on being Christ-centered, enhancing the sense of belonging and sense of mission, and the participation of all, from the parish level.
- Introducing and experiencing Gospel sharing, and
- Reflection and sharing on the questions of the DPC pastoral challenges clustered as: Being God’s people, a communion of communities and following Jesus in mission.
Ta Hu parish felt honored to be host of this event and they hope similar event can be organized in the future with special attention to meeting the needs of the aborigines.
大湖堂區避靜
此次在大湖天主堂所舉行的避靜，原是由兩個多數為原住民教友的聯合堂區：大湖和泰安鄉所籌辦。在楊安仁總鐸的鼓勵下，三義、公館、北苗和南苗等其他堂區的教友也來參加。我們將139位參與的神父、修女和教友，按大湖、泰安、及其他堂區等分成三組，進行福音分享及討論牧靈挑戰。原住民教友在小團體中，可以講自己的母語，因而更能作自發性的分享。
對泰安及大湖兩個聯合堂區而言，可以一次聚集那麼多教友，為準備牧靈大會，一起討論牧靈挑戰的問題，是一項成就。當被問及：「您願意為教會奉獻什麼？」時，很多教友因而擴大了眼界，開始了解他們也能為教會的使命共同負責。
此次避靜的時間表中，包括了以下的主題：
–梵Ⅱ文獻中所提及的教友的聖召
–籌備牧靈大會的主要原則：牧靈大會是一個強調透過堂區，以「基督為中心」、加深教友歸屬感和使命感、以及全體參與的過程
–福音分享簡介及實習
–回應並分享牧靈大會提綱牧靈挑戰針對兩大方向：「天主子民～各團體之間的共融」及「追隨耶穌的福傳使命」所提出來的問題
大湖堂區很高興能主辦此次聚會，也希望未來能特別為原住民教友的需要，舉辦類似的活動。
