Making a blessing bookmark
Drawing a prayer symbol on camphor wood
Group photo of English teachers
Praying in nature on a beautiful campus
Praying in the chapel
Collecting today's experiences into one work
Bringing back the touch of God from nature
Sharing the meaning of blessing bookmarks
The Taiwan Sacred Heart Spirituality Center regularly organizes spiritual practice activities for Sacred Heart teachers every year to help them grow closer to God. The theme of our spiritual activity for girls' middle school teachers in 2023 was “Abundant Life,” aiming to help teachers experience the power of love in their lives and live the richness they already have.
In 1960, the Religious of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ) came to Taiwan and founded the Sacred Heart School for Girls, near the Tamsui River in Bali, northern Taiwan. Further up the hill on the campus, a boat-shaped building designed by the renowned Japanese architect, Kenzo Tange, was constructed, originally for the Sacred Heart Women’s University. The design was intended to create harmony between buildings and nature. It is now the Sacred Heart Spirituality Center.
We have two people on the staff of the spirituality center. We work in collaboration with the Taiwan RSCJ community of the KOC Province. Since 2019, we have been working with the Sacred Heart Primary School and the Sacred Heart Girls’ High School to provide spirituality programs for the teachers. Together with Sister Kim Eun-Jeong, we have organized a spiritual care ministry with the aim of spreading the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus through peace and mindfulness. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, we have made efforts to continue our spirituality programs for the teachers. Our focus has been to help the teachers establish a loving relationship with God through immersion in the natural surroundings on campus. This has also helped create and deepen good mutual relationships among the teachers.
We call this ministry the Spiritual Professional Learning Community, or Spiritual PLC for short. We meet in the Spirituality Center, organized each day by groups of teachers who teach the same subjects. The day begins with an introduction of spirituality practices, such as espacio (finding space to develop the ability to be silent and in tune with mystery) , contemplation, mindful reflection and meditation. We then invite the teachers to have some silent time outside on the campus. We gather back together to spend some creative time with art, photography and crafts to share and bless each other’s experiences.
The retreat them this year was “Abundant Life,” which was inspired by the passing of Sister Sun Chihwei in March. She was one of the founders of the Sacred Heart School in Taiwan. Those who knew her felt wholeheartedly that she dedicated herself to the glory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Thanks to Sister Sun, the “joy and wisdom of God” will be forever in our hearts.
Our spirituality center serves many Christians from outside the campus, and also allows the graduates and other members of the Sacred Heart family to continue to know our spirituality and to experience the love of God.
As a member of the staff, as well as a graduate of the Sacred Heart Girls’ High School, I am very grateful to the Religious of the Sacred Heart in Taiwan. They gave me the opportunity to study at the Fu Jen University of Theology of St. Robert Bellarmine. After graduation I came to work at the spirituality center, to serve people and to stay close to God. I also feel blessed to be able to share what I have learned with the teachers, and to experience the flow of God’s love freely among us all.
Through watching the shared video, you will be able to revisit the retreat we had with the teachers from the Sacred Heart Girls’ High School. As we journey together, I believe that the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus will accompany us and lead us forward, helping us to become more united as one body. Best wishes to everyone!
Chang Liwen
Staff of the Sacred Heart Spirituality Center in Taiwan