Mary Queen of the Apostles of Baosang - Light of the Upper Room in Taitung

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In a quiet street of Taitung, the church of Baosang invokes the Virgin as Mary Queen of the Apostles. Its architecture leads to a light that descends upon the presbytery: a particularly expressive image of Mary in the Upper Room, gathered in prayer with those who would receive the Holy Spirit and go out to proclaim the Gospel.

A church born to host a growing community

The National Register of the Taiwan Cultural Memory places the immediate origin of the temple in the growth of the Catholic community of Fujian Road: the existing church could no longer house all the faithful and the missionaries of Bethlehem chose a new site on Baosang Road.

In 1963, Father Hong Keming, then vicar of Fujian Road, took over the preparation of the new church. The project was the work of brother Julius Felder, a Swiss religious whose architectural work is part of the footprint left by the Missionary Society of Bethlehem in Taitung. The first building was completed in 1964: the church occupied the ground floor and the priestly residence, the upper one.

The present temple and the light on the altar

In 1996, the community gathered funds to raise the current church, formally dedicated to Mary Queen of the Apostles. The cultural record highlights the shape of its cover: a vault that is narrowed up and culminates in a circular light shed. The natural light is thus collected and directed towards the space of the altar.

This resource is not just decorative. In a church consecrated to the Queen of the Apostles, the descending light can help to contemplate the gift of the Holy Spirit. Architecture provides the space for the assembly to listen to the Word, celebrate the Eucharist and be sent back to the city.

Mary in the Upper Room

After Ascension, the Acts of the Apostles present Mary by persevering unanimously in prayer together with the apostles and other disciples. She does not take the place of Christ or replace the action of the Spirit: she maternally accompanies the Church who awaits, receives and testifies.

St. John Paul II explained the advocation by looking precisely at Pentecost: Mary, Mother of the Church and Queen of the Apostles, remains with those who prepare to evangelize, strengthening her courage and joy. Benedict XVI recalled that the Council invites her to be called Queen of the Apostles and to help those who serve in the ministry.

Queen for service, not for domain

Mary's royalty participates in the way her Son reigns: humility, dedication and service. To call her Queen of the Apostles does not mean to attribute political power to her or to place her above God. It means recognizing in her the first disciple, the close mother of the apostolic and intercessor community of those who proclaim Jesus Christ.

This advocation invites us to unite contemplation and mission. The prayer of the Upper Room results in understandable languages, encounter among peoples, care for the weak and public witness of the Gospel. Every mature Marian devotion leads to listening to Christ and serving others.

Baosang within the Catholic history of Taitung

The church belongs to the diocese of Hualien and the urban pastoral network of Taitung. GCatholic classifies it as a parish of Roman rite and collects two missions linked to it: Taiping Veterans Home and Longtian. This relationship shows that Baosang is not only a building, but a centre from which other communities are accompanied.

The cultural record also recalls the extensive service of the missionaries of Bethlehem in the region since the mid-1950s. The page retains this context without presenting the mission as an individual company: the present temple was also made possible by the contribution of the faithful themselves.

Verified location

The cultural record of the Government of Taiwan identifies the place by name and address and publishes the coordinates 22.758208, 121.150791. The diocese of Hualien shows the church under its Chinese title and the ecclesial directory coincides in the direction of Road 399, Lane 3. The convergence of the three sources makes it possible to set the marker in the correct enclosure.

To visit

It is an active parish, not a permanent open monument. It is appropriate to telephone or consult with the diocese before moving to confirm masses and access. During the liturgy you must remain silent, avoid photographs without permission and not interfere in the ordinary life of the community.

Prayer to Mary Queen of the Apostles of Baosang

Mary, Queen of the Apostles, remains with the community of Baosang as you remained in prayer in the Upper Room. Teach us to wait for the Holy Spirit, to listen to your Son and to serve without seeking dominion. Save the families of Taitung, strengthen those who proclaim the Gospel and make the light received before the altar become comfort, justice and peace for all. Amen.

Sources consulted

• National Cultural Memory of Taiwan: history, architecture, direction and coordinates.
• Diocese of Hualien: official identification and image of the temple.
• GCatholic: title, parish condition, jurisdiction, year and contact.
• Benedict XVI: Mary, Queen of the Apostles and help of the ministry.
• St. John Paul II: Mary with the Apostles in Pentecost.

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