Our Lady of China

A Christian presence in Anxiliao since 1957

It is in the heart of the Tainan countryside, in the village of Anxiliao, that the story of Our Lady of China begins. In 1957, Father Joseph Fang, a Taiwanese Franciscan priest, founded a church there and began a mission among the local population.

The Holy Family Church of Anxiliao stands out immediately for its architecture. Far from the forms of Western churches, it draws on traditional Chinese architecture with its symmetrical lines, curved roofs, and upturned eaves. The Catholic faith is thus expressed through forms deeply rooted in local culture. Inside, this encounter continues even in the gestures of prayer: an incense burner bears witness to the integration of Chinese traditions into the spirituality of the place.

This encounter between Christian faith and local culture gives Our Lady of China its distinctive identity. It also reminds us how much churches, monasteries, and religious communities can take on very different faces depending on the country and its history.

The Brothers of Saint John serving the local population

In 1988, priests from the Community of Saint John arrived from France and continued the mission begun in Anxiliao. Since then, their presence has become deeply woven into the life of this rural village in Taiwan.

The brothers' mission extends beyond parish life. Anxiliao faces the realities of many Taiwanese rural communities: an aging population, elderly people living alone, and families experiencing economic hardship. Working alongside local partners, the brothers and those close to the community visit isolated individuals and support families in need.

Particular attention is also given to children and young people. Activities are regularly organized for them, while the community maintains ties with several local schools in the area, notably through French classes and extracurricular activities.

This life of prayer, presence, and service offers a concrete glimpse into the daily life of a religious community: a life oriented toward God, fraternal life, and the people around them.

A place to withdraw and find renewal

In 1997, a retreat center and rooms were set up at Our Lady of China to welcome individuals and groups alike. Today, anyone can come and spend a few days of spiritual retreat, in the quiet of the Taiwanese countryside.

Two priests currently live on site. Depending on their availability and individual needs, it is possible to request personal spiritual guidance. The community also organizes a monthly gathering centered on the Bible and philosophy, to deepen one's faith through reflection and dialogue. At Christmas, at Easter, and during the major seasons of the liturgical year, other celebrations and spiritual offerings mark the rhythm of life at the center.

Peaceful, surrounded by rice fields

Our Lady of China is set in a particularly peaceful environment. Around the church and the retreat center stretch mainly rice fields, farmland, and small villages that have preserved the rhythm of rural Taiwanese life.

The center has 13 single rooms and 6 double rooms, spread across separate buildings for men and women. A library, meeting and activity rooms, a dining room, and a small Marian garden complete the guest spaces and offer various spots for reading, praying, or simply taking time for oneself.

Bicycles can also be borrowed to explore the surrounding area. Nearby are Jingliao Old Street and the Tugou Rural Art Museum, while Xinying, about a twenty-minute drive away, is the main town in the area.

In this simple and unspoiled setting, a retreat is also an opportunity to find a different rhythm. An experience particularly well suited to those who feel the need to take a break and step back, away from the noise and bustle of everyday life.

Another way to discover the Church in Taiwan

Coming to Our Lady of China means discovering a place where spiritual life, Taiwanese culture, and presence among the local population are closely intertwined.

The Chinese architecture of the church, the presence of the Brothers of Saint John, the life of the village, and the quiet of the rice fields give a retreat here a very different character from what one might experience in a European abbey. Yet the approach remains the same: to leave one's daily life for a few days and become open to silence, prayer, and encounter.

A wonderful opportunity to discover why to go on a spiritual retreat, and also another face of the Catholic Church, on the other side of the world.