By Fr. Wens Padilla, CICM

Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.

With 20 million people, Taiwan is the Worlds most densely populated country. In this article Fr. Wens Padilla, CICM, a Filipino missionary in Taipei, tells us about a day in the life of a Superior of a dynamic group of missionaries.

Hearty Welcome
As the days and months come go, the office unfolds itself to familiarity. The file cabinets are time and again revisited, the sometimes squeaky sliding doors of the various bookshelves are slid with much frequency, the chairs in the reception are not underused, for the four –line administrative telephone, together with the black colored one with a wireless receiver, are given plenty attention, and, an electric typewriter gets plugged in daily and keep on changing ribbons and correction tapes. Day is and day out, at atmosphere of busy-ness” prevails over the room. As the former occupant used to say, “There is always something to be done.” But anyone who comes in and goes out is given a hearty welcome…if not by the man behind the table, at least by the ever-ready –to-be-seatled-on-easychairs.

Appointment Book Never Empty
My appointment book is never empty and doesn’t escape notice as I start my day. Day time is usually spent for meeting and personal engagements. Night time is reserved for visits to confreres, friends, or acquaintances.

Knock, Knock
When you knock at the door of room 1003 in the Central Building in Taipei, Taiwan, and you’re ushered in, you could see at ounce four easy armed chairs whose caution could immediately testify that they have been constantly pressed on and abused by the weights of those who have been seating on them with uneasy dispositions. Halfway of this rectangular room is a wooden divider with big holes which provides you an access to see the office proper which is at the other half of the room.

Days Filled to the Brim
After four years of being provincial, I could not refrain myself from saying that the responsibility and work is rather tough and full of challenge. Not to mention the task that I do for the Major Religious Superior of men in Taiwan and my involvement in the Archdiocese, my job as a superior could already fill my days to brim. I am glad and grateful that, up to now, I have a healthy disposition to cope up with my pressures and tensions of the work. My thanks, too, for the support, cooperation, and encouragement of the confreres in the whole CICM Chinese Province (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore) My visits to them are no only pleasurable tours, but more so, journey filled with much fulfillment and true camaraderie in the Lord and in the CICM.
May God’s love and mercy ever prevail in whatever we do!
…Some of us have to do our mission work chained to a desk.