The Holy Spirit infuses evenings of prayer by tribal Catholics in Taiwan.
By Leanne Hester

Leanne Hester (red shirt) prayed with an Atayal family during one of the Catholic community’s prayer services.

In these villages in the heart of Taiwan’s bamboo-fleshed mountains, our parishioners, members of the indigenous Atayal tribe, take turns welcoming each other into their homes for weekly shared prayer and reflection. I sense that the Holy Spirit is strong in these small groups, who come not from a sense of Sunday obligation, but from a desire to keep their faith alive during the week.

As we walk up the path to a neighbor’s home, no stained glass or domed windows greet us. The only adornments are a wood cross, a candle and a Bible placed on an Atayal weaving. They remind us where we have come from and why we are here.

We pack ourselves into a small living room or form a circle on stools under a foggy night sky. On chilly nights a fire warms our hands. Some children settle at the feet of their grandparents, while others scamper off for one last hour of play before bedtime. A dog or cat may stroll through, a motorbike may rush past, but our parishioners, undisturbed by such accustomed sights and sounds, quiet down to begin.

Old & New Traditions
We start with a traditional Atayal song, the lyrics of which have been adapted for use in Christian prayer. Although I do not understand all the words, I can hear that the tune, with its rhythm of long patience, is in itself a timeless prayer.

Looking at the faces of the adults here tonight, I picture their grandparents, who not so long ago sang this same tune in tribute to the ancestors.

Tonight, assembled again as a tribe, we mingle old traditions with the new, and I imagine that their voices are singing with us. Our faiths may be different from those ancestors, but in these gatherings we remain united through music and prayer and reverence to the Spirit here among us.

Our voices grow stronger and higher, and then some of the lyrics unveil themselves to me: “Musa sami damuvun su sali su ga Yava Kayan” (“Let us go to your house to pray, for you are God”). How appropriate these words are, for we are not in a church building, but in the first church, the home. Through these prayers and songs, we invite God into our homes, and thus our homes are made holy.

As the service proceeds, I feel I am truly a guest in the home. Parish leaders guide us, while a priest, catechist and missionary participate as one with the family of the faithful. In these house prayer services, the idea of church as a family of believers comes into reality.

With the opening prayer, the importance of home and family is emphasized, as one member asks God to bless the family hosting us tonight. After the scripture reading and sharing, parishioners offer their own prayers and petitions in Mandarin or Atayal, whichever language they prefer.

The small group is an extended family whose members are well known to each other. This allows us to feel more comfortable when speaking, especially for those who are shy about sharing what their heart knows.

Toward the end the host family stands together, bowing to present the offering as representatives of us all. Because they are united in faith, they transmit the traditions of faith and culture through their family.

Food & Laughter
After a concluding song, we share the happenings of our day over a simple meal prepared by our hosts. Children who had fallen asleep awaken to sample sweet pea soup, while adults savor more traditional aboriginal dishes, such as roasted flying squirrel and preserved turnips.

At times laughter upsets the dishes placed on the wooden tables, giving the large-eyed dogs their chance to sneak a bite as well. During the meal, we discuss tasks for the coming week: decorating the church, visiting a sick parishioner, practicing for traditional dances and rituals.

The meal is finished, and we prepare to return to our own homes, reminding each other at which home we will meet the following week. Before parting,

I think again of the words to the song. On this day, we don’t need to go to church to pray. We are already here.