Part of our MMM history is the foundation begun at the end of 1961 in Taiwan, formerly known as Formosa. Mother Mary had met a Columban missionary, Father Aiden McGrath, who was encouraging missionary groups to establish houses in Taiwan as a stepping stone for entry into China.

Two MMM Sisters, Maria Glancy and Kieran Saunders, were the pioneers for MMM’s first and only mission in the East. Already experienced missionaries, Maria had been matron at our hospital in Anua, Nigeria and Kieran had been matron in Makiungu, Tanganyika (later Tanzania). They were to staff a hospital planned by the Swiss Bethlehem Fathers for Taitung, located in a mountainous region in the southeast. We had been invited to assist especially with obstetrics. Several Sisters eventually made their home there and St. Mary’s Hospital served the mainly poor, aboriginal people. However, it was a mission isolated from most of our other houses and the languages used were challenging, so regretfully, in 1974 our Chapter decided that we would withdraw.  We handed over to the Daughters of Charity, who continue to serve there.

So there was great excitement when, out of the blue in September, we received a phone call at the Communications Department from Sense Chen, the current CEO of St. Mary’s Hospital. He and Nicole Wu, an aromatherapist, were attending an aromatherapy conference at Trinity College Dublin. The purpose of Botanica 2012 was to ‘obtain an up-to-date global overview of the practical potentials, challenges and future of clinical aromatherapy and herbal therapeutics’. Their visit to Ireland coincided with the 50^th anniversary of the Hospital. They wanted to visit and thank MMM for the seeds we had planted in Taiwan.

As with many similar health institutions providing services for the poor, St. Mary’s has experienced ups and downs over the years, mainly due to the difficulties in obtaining funding. Funding now comes mainly from local sources. It is presently a 29-bed unit, offering many general services, with the exception of surgery because there are no doctors. Sense explained that they want to be seen as a healing centre, changing from a hospital atmosphere. They brought us photographs showing a home-like setting at the entrance.

A traumatic event was responsible for much of the current focus. Several years ago, a severe typhoon caused terrible damage and loss of life. While help was available to repair injuries and damaged infrastructures, it seemed that little could be done for those who had experienced longer-lasting trauma and stress. St. Mary’s was the first hospital in Taiwan to use aromatherapy, introduced as part of a holistic approach to improve people’s quality of life. Initially the medical staff saw this therapy as peripheral and not very important so aromatherapists were trained to give treatment.

A hospice unit was opened and aromatherapy with massage was seen to improve the quality of life for the dying. Through the generosity of three companies that produce essential oils, the aromatherapy is available free of charge for both the patient and family.

The staff, with thirty volunteers, engage in health promotion, encouraging people to be responsible for their own health. On the compound is an organic farm so that organic food can be provided for patients. In addition an outreach home care centre provides 1000 meals per day for poor people in the community.

Neither Chen nor Nicole had met the MMMs and they only knew their Chinese names, but they had brought pictures of St. Mary’s from its early days to the present. There was much excitement in identifying the Sisters, and Chen told us that some nurses who have worked in the hospital for over forty years still remember and miss the Sisters.

He said that he and Nicole appreciated this opportunity to meet with us because we have much in common. We have the same desire to provide care with love, especially in service of the poor. On behalf of the people of Taitung, he wished to thank MMM for bringing new life and for leaving so much behind.