Solidarity of Taiwan Christians towards Japan

(March 24, 2011) Catholics and Protestants in Taiwan met Tuesday at the ‘paper dome’ in Taomi, a rural community in Puli, Nantou County, to pray for victims and survivors of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on 11 March. The service was organised by the New Homeland Foundation, an NGO based in Puli. Participants, including Catholics and Protestants, wrote messages on paper cranes, expressing hope that Japanese quake survivors will be able to return home soon. In Japanese, crane and ‘return home’ are pronounced the same. In Taiwan, after an appeal by the Bishops’ Conference, Catholic churches and three Catholic universities began prayers during Lent for Japan victims, calling for divine comfort. The bishops of Taiwan have already sent a letter to the Catholic Bishops Conference of Japan expressing their sympathy and solicitude. “Taiwan is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire,” the bishops added. “Sufficient preparations for earthquake are highly recommended. Parishes, lay faithful and families should actively prepare to deal with emergency scenarios.” The bishops urged all Christians engaged in the medical field to join rescue teams organised by the government or NGO to help Japan. According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency, the compassion of the Taiwanese population can be seen in the tonnes of material aid that arrived in Tokyo two days ago. The relief supplies, including coats, masks, blankets, generators and mineral water, arrived at Narita Airport outside Tokyo, along with instant food, generators and heaters. The church has served as a platform for exchanging ideas about community-building and post-earthquake reconstruction plans.