Fr Andrés Díaz de Rábago (賴 甘霖 神父) is now a myth that everyone knows
in Taiwan. Healthy and sick people alike. He is a Jesuit priest and a
doctor who visits Cardinal Tien hospital in Taipei to bless and pray
with patients.He has done so for almost 50 years and is no longer young. But on 2 October, he celebrated his 100th birthday (in China this is counted from the year of conception). A huge crowd gathered to fete him at the Sacred Heart Parish Church in Guting, a district in Taipei, not far from the National Taiwan University.
A solemn Mass at 10 am on Sunday morning he presided with great energy was followed by a long party with food, songs and dances performed by people of all ages. More than 5,000 people attended the event, some for just a few minutes, just to wish the clergyman Happy Birthday.
Taiwan’s Vice President of Taiwan, the Right Hon Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) and many other officials were also present. People lavished praise on the priest who accompanies those suffering and gives comfort to them with his person.
Father Rábago is very well known on the island for his strength of character, his great extroversion that breaks down all barriers and his ability to open every closed heart. It is impossible not to smile in front of his ways.
A large group of relatives came from Spain to Taiwan along with an official delegation to show the strong ties between the Díaz de Rábago family and their "uncle".
They expected big celebrations, but certainly not this big. "An entire crowd is here to celebrate our uncle, not only a parish! I was amazed by how many people know him!" said his niece Marta.
Father Andrés Díaz de Rábago was born on 17 October 1917 and entered the Society of Jesus in September 1940. His priestly ordination took place on 16 April 1952, five years after he arrived in Asia.
He had left for China in 1947, when he was thirty, and lived in Beijing and Shanghai, then had two brief missions to the Philippines, in Manila, and East Timor. Afterwards, he settled in Taipei to work in a hospital.
Fr Wilfred Chen (陳有海 神父) has been Fr Andrés’s driver and assistant for years. "Fifteen years ago, the provincial placed me by Fr Andrés’s side,” he explained, “so that I could replace him when he retired. After all this time, I'm getting old and he looks younger than before, 100 years and does not feel them at all!"
Father Andrés is proof that talking to people, especially those who do not think the same way, prolongs life. He has never been afraid to get involved and has never hidden behind excuses such being tired or being too busy. "My door is always open," he likes to say.
In addition to "talking extends the life," Father Andrés Díaz de Rábago revealed some other secret. "Be happy in your vocation, thank God every day and make the people around you happy. Eighty years of religious life have given me tremendous happiness and all the people I met made me feel God’s closeness. Every day, life is a great gift. And so be it, God bless you!"