 In 1957, a newly-graduated medical missionary named Gloria Watts boarded a steam-powered freighter and fulfilled a childhood dream to serve the Lord in this part of the world. Years earlier, she had heard Hyla S. Watters give a talk at her church about helping the down-trodden in Asia. Young Gloria knew then she had found her calling.
Much has happened in the 60 years since she first stepped foot here. For one, she is now a revered "elder statesman" of the Sisters of Our Lady of China, a Catholic religious community. Her tireless work has born much fruit to betterment of the medical and educational condition of Taiwan. Her significant contribution to the rise of this society to its lofty position today is why Sister Mary Paul Watts (華淑芳) was gratefully acknowledged with official Taiwanese citizenship, and presented with her naturalization certificate by Deputy Interior Minister Chiu Chang-yueh (邱昌嶽) and her Taiwan ID card by Chiayi Mayor Twu Shiing-jer (涂醒哲).
This latest civic recognition, in which the government waived the normal naturalization requirement to renounce original citizenship, follows many earlier accolades; the Ministry of the Interior granted Sister Mary Paul permanent residency in 2011 and, a year later, she was honored with The Medical Contribution Award.
Deputy Interior Minister Chiu thanked her today during a ceremony in the lobby of St. Martin De Porres Hospital for bringing medical devices and supplies from the United States in the 1950s and bringing medical services and public hygiene education to remote mountainous and coastal areas in southern Taiwan to the 1960s. She also helped raise funds to start a nursing school for girls, and guided many graduates of Chung Jen Junior College of Nursing (崇仁醫護管理專科學校) to further their education here and abroad. Generations of those she has touched can be found near and far.
"I am a true Taiwanese," Sister Mary Paul beamed with joy. "I am also a true Chiayian...my heart belongs with you."
We are overjoyed the government has officially recognized Sister Mary Paul as a citizen. To those who have worked with and been around her, she has been one of us for many decades.
UCA News article about Sister Mary Paul's Taiwanese Citizenship |
| Date：2017-07-11 |
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