Taiwanese Catholics take steps to fight for world’s hungry

(May 11,2010) Catholics in Taiwan, from toddlers to the elderly, took part in a walkathon to highlight the plight of the world’s hungry. Immaculate Heart of Mary Father Willy Ollivier told more than 500 participants on Sunday that 183 countries around the world were holding the event on the same day with an aim to end hunger by walking with love. The Belgian missionary said people in some parts of the world do not have food to eat, while elsewhere food is wasted. “This is not right from a Christian stance. We should strive to balance the two so that food will reach , especially those who suffer from hunger,” he said..
The priest is the coordinator general of the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Desk, which is part of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in Taiwan, one of the organisers of the event. Other organizers included Taipei archdiocese, Caritas Taiwan and several youth groups. Many youth had pasted stickers with the words, “End Hunger, Walk the World,” on their arms and foreheads to attract passersby.
This was the second time that Taiwanese Catholics had held a walkathon in response to a call from the World Food Program, which aims to eliminate hunger among children by 2015.