By Francis Kuo, Taipei

A group of three young men, led by a Filipino Jesuit priest, has completed a bicycle pilgrimage around the island of Taiwan.

Father Jerome Emmanuel Guevara (far right) with his group of island-touring pilgrims

Father Jerome Emmanuel Guevara and his team began their 10-day tour from Taipei’s Church-run Tien Educational Center on July 19. They returned on July 29, in good time to celebrate the feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founding father of the Society of Jesus.

“We intended to return by the feast day on July 31, so that I could truly report that I have put the Jesuits’ magis spirit into practice,” the priest said jokingly.

In Catholicism, magis, which can be translated from the Latin as “more,” refers to Saint Ignatius’ exhortation to constantly seek ways to do more for God.

The two-wheeled pilgrims had to endure exceptional heat and storms as they traveled through eastern Taiwan before turning north to Taipei. “It was exhausting, but we relied on prayers to sustain us through the tour,” said Father Guevara “and we dedicated our daily Masses to youth vocation and evangelization work.”

The group also offered prayers for women who have lost unborn children through abortion or miscarriage, when they visited the Franz Home in Chiayi city. The Catholic-run home takes care of babies left by mothers who have chosen not to have abortions.

One of the cyclists recalled that the sky suddenly turned dark with thunder as they neared the Immaculate Conception Minor Basilica, Taiwan’s oldest Catholic church, in Kaohsiung diocese.

“The storm began just as the church came into sight and we were so moved, we made the sign of the cross to thank God for his protection,” said 29-year-old Qubit Chiu, who was baptized this year.