【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2013 年 6 月 8 日台灣台南訊】 ─ 台灣慈幼大家庭全情投入，參與慶祝首批慈幼會士來台五十週年紀念(1963年6月7至8日)。他們的慶典，環繞著這批會士中唯一仍在生者，現年八十六歲的馬永定神父，他是成立台灣第一個團體的五名會士的長上。
台灣慈幼會金禧紀念活動，分佈於整個2013年。首個紀念活動於一月份，在台北於聖鮑思高瞻禮中舉行。整個活動的高峰，是在耶穌聖心及聖母聖心瞻禮一連兩天，於台南舉行的慶祝活動。稍後，於十月七日玫瑰聖母瞻禮，在潮州少年城（慈幼事業於寶島開展的第三站）將舉行閉幕禮。
首天慶典的第一部份，只為慈幼會士而設。六月七日午餐後，他們於部分慈幼會士先驅埋葬的台南永光墳場聚集、祈禱和憑吊。然後返回台南會院，由陳興翼神父概述了慈幼會在台灣早年的歷史，接著舉行晚禱及晚餐。稍後，在母佑堂，與信友一起舉行耶穌聖心感恩祭。並由來自香港的陳日君樞機主持。
第二天的活動，是為整個台灣的慈幼大家庭而設。他們來自台灣各地，北至台北，南至潮州屏東，還包括來自香港的培育團體。早上舉行一連串的活動，首先由陳樞機主持專題演講，內容有關天主救贖計劃角度中鮑思高神父及他的神恩性使命。接著由慈幼大家庭不同團體，舉行活潑生動的分享環節。下午舉行遊戲活動及誦唸玫瑰經，接著舉行感恩祭。
隨了我們的樞機主持及講道外，感恩祭尚有兩名當地主教共祭：包括台南主教林吉男蒙席及嘉義主教鍾安住蒙席。
林主教向大家分享，一名德國籍道明會會士如何給他領洗聖名鮑思高；而鍾主教則分享他年輕時代的慈幼學校生活。
活動的尾聲，是在學校禮堂舉行的家庭聚餐，當中來自不同地區、不同國籍、不同年齡的人士，進行的歌唱及舞蹈表演，把節目推向高潮。他們涵蓋了接受慈幼服務的不同文化語言人士：包括說普通話及台語人士、原住民及來自菲律賓及越南的移民。這也在顯示，慈幼大家庭的過去五十年的工作，如何成為鮑思高神恩在台灣繼續發展的基礎。在參與者互相說再見時，青年人都喜樂地互相祝願，期待於2063年百週年慶典中重聚。
【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2013 年 6 月 8 日台灣台南訊】 ─ In the past two days, the Salesian Family of Taiwan have participated in an engaging programme to commemorate the arrival of the first Salesians in Taiwan exactly 50 years ago (7-8 June 1963). They celebrated around the only surviving pioneer, 86 years old Fr. John Ma Yeong Ding, the leader of the five Salesians who started the first community in Taiwan.
The Golden Jubilee of Salesian Taiwan is being celebrated throughout the whole year of 2013. The initial commemorative event was held in Taipei during the Feast of St. John Bosco last January. Now, these two days in Tainan, on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, constitute the peak of the commemoration. Later, a concluding event will take place on 7 October, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, in Boystown, Chaochou, the third Salesian presence in the Beautiful Island (Formosa).
The first part of yesterday’s
event was meant for the Salesians only. They gathered at the cemetery where
some of the pioneers are buried. Fr. John Baptist Zen gave a historical
review of the early years in Taiwan. This was followed by vespers and supper
together. After this, the Holy Mass in honor of the Sacred Heart was
celebrated in the Mary Help of Christians Parish together with the
parishioners. Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, SDB arrived from Hong Kong to
preside at this Mass.
The second day was for the whole Salesian Family in Taiwan. They came from
all over, from the north (Taipei) till the south（Pingtung, Chaochou). Even
the formation community arrived from Hong Kong. In the morning - a series of
events- Cardinal Joseph Zen offered a magisterial lecture on Don Bosco and
DB's charismatic mission seen from the point of view of God's plan of
salvation. Next was a lively sharing session from various members of the
Salesian Family. There was also the afternoon games and the recitation of
the Rosary and then the Holy Mass.
Aside from the presence of our Cardinal who presided and also preached the homily, the Mass was also graced by two local bishops: the bishop of Tainan, Msgr. Bosco Lin and the bishop of Chiayi, Msgr. Thomas Chung.
It was interesting to hear Msgr. Bosco Lin who shared with us how a German Dominican gave him the baptismal name Bosco, while Bishop Thomas Chung spoke of his life in the Salesian School as a young man.
The event concluded with a family agape in the same school hall, brightened up by songs and dances from participants, young and old, coming from different regions and nationalities. This reflects the variety of cultures and languages that are recipients of the Salesian ministry: the Mandarin and the Taiwan speaking people, the native people and the immigrants from the Philippines and Vietnam. This also revealed how, after 50 years, the commitment of the Salesian Family is an assurance for the future of Don Bosco’s charismatic mission in Taiwan. As the participants bid their goodbye's, the younger people were wishing one another with the joyful optimism of seeing each other at the centennial celebrations 2063!