Taiwan's First Catholic Church

In early March, Pingtung in southern Taiwan was touched by a gentle spring drizzle.

I came alone to explore the possibilities of a future pilgrimage walking route in Pingtung.

At the foot of Dawu Mountain lies a quiet village. I walked into a place known as Taiwan's first Catholic church—the Wanjin Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. With a history of about 160 years, the basilica bears stone plaques engraved with the characters “奉旨” (“By Imperial Decree”) and “天主堂” (“Catholic Church”), carved from granite. Most of the villagers who live here are Catholics, and Wanjin has therefore earned the beautiful name “the Village of Heaven.”

Continuing upward toward the mountains, I entered the land of the Paiwan people. The Church of Our Lady of Fatima in Jiaping felt like a prayer woven together with faith and culture. Known as one of the most beautiful churches, it is adorned with glass beads and hand-carved wooden angel columns crafted by priests. Paiwan mythology and Catholic faith come together here, creating a church filled with a distinctive sense of artistry and spiritual beauty.

Leaving the mountains behind, the road gradually opened up. I headed south, passing rice fields and following the river toward Chaozhou. The breeze became gentler, carrying with it the salty scent of the sea. Eventually, Donggang Catholic Church appeared before me, and I found myself stepping into the everyday life of a small town in southern Taiwan.

Walking at such a slow pace, I began to see the connections between each church and the land around it. Little by little, I learned to see that faith can take root in the land, and it can also live on through the stories of its people.