Hospice Service is the concept of restoring"the patient" to "a person." 

In the summer of 2003, beloved Father Xi passedaway in St. Mary's Hospital. Much to everyone's surprise, the mortuary sent asmall truck without any canopy. The hospital staff insisted that the drivercould not take his body away and after a heated argument, the driver leftangrily. This incident is a potent reminder of three important things:

1. The living should be respected –even in theirlast moments

2. The dead should respected –even though theyare gone

3. All people are human –even those living inthe most remote regions

With this in mind, St. Mary's Hospitalestablished the first and only hospice care center in Taitung in 2004. Underthe guidance of caring doctors, nurses, aromatherapists and volunteers, St.Mary's is now the last stop in the lives of many Taitung people, a place wherepatients can prepare for death in peace and comfort, and with dignity.