• 英文寫作比賽：為提升學生的英語習動機，鼓勵學生進行英文寫作，提升英語寫作能力及風氣特舉辦英文寫作徵文比賽，而本校位於屏東縣，屏東縣是臺灣最南端的縣，是國內不可多得的觀光聖地，也有獨特的風土民情，故本次徵文比賽的題目由學生自訂屏東相關主題。

•英文閱讀心得比賽：藉由徵文活動鼓勵學生多加閱讀英文書籍，培養閱讀習慣以提升英語閱讀及寫作能力，因本校英文基本能力通過標準多為B1級別，故本次閱讀題材要求程度B1等級以上。
感謝各位同學踴躍參與，恭喜得獎的同學。

What comes to your mind when you think of Christmas? Is it the giant trees on display at the malls or is it the presents that you are excited about? A special series of events taking place every year around Christmas in the village of Wanchin, Pingtung, come to my mind. As I found the origin and history making it so different from other parts of Taiwan interesting, I have dug deeper into novel ideas in recent Wanchin Christmas’ events. Besides, I have dove into the legacy of the Catholic church in the region with reflection on the Christmas celebration itself.

In 1861, Fernando Sainz, a Spanish Dominic priest, gathered the earliest group of believers. Later in 1874, the imperial minister, Shen Baozhen, who came to Taiwan at that time. With the sinicized priests and the followers getting along with each other, he considered it as the possibility in settling the ethnic conflict among different races. Emperor Tongzhi then bestowed the stone of “Order” and “Catholic Church” upon the church, and they can be found in the church’s gable and lintel. At that time, Catholicism played a vital role in reducing bloodshed between the Han people and the indigenous. Before the 1960s, immigrants disconnected with the homeland, reunited by Catholicism. The link between the catholic and the non-Catholic communities forming a self-identity of a member in the big Wanchin family. After that, there’ s a symbol called “The blessed virgin of Wanchin”, suggesting the notable and exotic appearance that presented the specialty of the population in the district to the external side. Nonetheless, the consistent and compatible imagery of mother reflected the progress of internal diversity gradually intermingled and eliminated. It constructed the core values of the collective identity in Catholicism, sharing the mutual history and body experience via the series connection of space, people, and region. Over the years, they have developed some unique rituals and events that are tailored to the local culture. Due to the work of the diligent missionaries during the Qing Dynasty and the locals’acceptance of the Catholic Church, Wanchin eventually became one of the few settlements dominated by Catholics in Taiwan. In the early days, enthusiastic villagers organized Song-Jiang Team, Che Gu Zhen, Lion Dance, and other traditional Taiwanese folk art groups to participate in this activity. Nowadays, praying the Rosary or its hymns are performed in lieu of the gongs, drums, and firecrackers.

The current form of Christmas celebration was inaugurated in 2011 in collaboration with the Pingtung County government. If someone who is intended in anime girls, one will be keen to know about MAGI, the figure made by the members of the ACGN club at NPUST, which has endorsement from the Wanchin Basilica. The club members were inspired by the biblical story, in which wise men from the East (also known as Magi) were led by the angels and the Star of Bethlehem to the infant Jesus in a manger. By collaborating with various events and anime convention annually, MAGI show the true meaning of Christmas as well as the cultural side of Wanchin. If someone who is eager to appreciate mapping shows, one will be astonished at the masterpieces projected onto the basilica. White as snow in daylight, the church is transformed into a colorful spectacle at night as the mapping brings the building a brand-new life. When the light show was performed in 2016, it incorporated the theme of four seasons, and at the end of the performance, Neverland and a paradise consisted of candy and gifts were shown upon the basilica.

By holding annual celebrations, whether believers or non-believers have become closer together. Not only is the gospel spread through these events, but tourism and other industries are also given a boost! This is indeed a win-win situation for the communities. And to some, it’s a prime example of how churches can connect with their neighborhoods and bring them to God. Nevertheless, not everyone agrees. In an interview where three local teenagers discussed the issue of the Christmas events at Wanchin, Casey, who practiced folk religion, said that the residents might not even know the real culture of Wanchin. Yet, he was refuted by Brian, who believed their culture had been what they were doing every year. Another boy, Adam, a Catholic, agreed with Brian on the necessity of the Christmas Season, but each had different ideas toward the spirit of Christmas. The former saw no conflicts between secular and religious culture, but the latter worried about the commercialization of such an important event in the Christian calendar. He questioned whether people in Wanchin put much emphasis on the benefits of the commercial activities over the true meaning of Christmas.

Through the interview, we were given a glimpse into what the locals really think of the Christmas Season. Christmas celebration has been an effective tool for the church to attract non-believers and to share the gospel. Without these events, these people might not ever get the chance to hear about Jesus’s story. All the commercial activities are merely an extension of that. From the church’s perspective, believers will be glad that everyone is indulged in the Christmas stories and celebrate together. To sum up, I will be ecstatic if I have the opportunity to participate in such eye-catching events! Pingtung is absolutely a county with numerous indigenous and historical activities!