Talking with Fr. Zallo

弘宣天神父 / 李宗文譯

The other day I went to the “back mountain” at Ching Shan and
had this conversation with Fr. Fernando Zallo:
“Your friends are preparing a book, and ask me to write
something about you. What should I write?”
“Why do they have to do that? No need! The same as Marcelino
Andreu, the only thing I want is that they reflect about the meaning of
death and human life and, especially, that they keep knowing Jesus
more and more. He is the one who gives full meaning to our human
life. Thanks to him, I have gone through almost 80 years of,
sometimes, no so easy life.”
“I know.”
“During my life as a Jesuit, I have passed by many places and
communities, from China, to the Philippines and even in Taiwan:
Hsinchu, Tainan, Taichung, Taipei. My happiest time was in Taichung.
There I was with my best friend, Lino Andreu. We studied together
Middle School at the same place Francis Xavier was borne. From
there we went to the novitiate at Loyola. While in Taichung, I had
another good friend, Mariano Manso. Once in a while, we would go
out to walk, talk and have simple meals.”
“Well, you probably were doing most of the talking”.
“Do not be naughty! Once, Lino, Ricardo Ferreira, you and I went
on an excursion through the Central Mountains of Taiwan, during
winter. It was beautiful and we had a wonderful time. Do you still
remember?”
“Of course I remember. I found the pictures a few days ago.”
“Later on, I used to take several older Spanish speaking Jesuits on
tours and they enjoyed it very much. During the last years, when we
all were getting older, the farther we could go is Hsinpu, where we
used to enjoy Brother Bernardo’s hospitality.”
“Yes. Wonderful meals and pleasant conversation!”
“As far as work is concerned, one of the happiest times in my life
was the years in Taichung, working with the Tung-hai and Fëng-chia
Students, especially, during Christmas and Easter. We used to prepare
the celebrations very carefully and many people liked to attend them.
I was, for several days, running from Tung-hai to Fëng-chia and back.
It was tiresome, but I felt extremely happy.”
“Yes, yes. You prepared the liturgy very well.”
“And you also. Chin Yüng-tai’s funeral was wonderful. There was
a real prayerful atmosphere.”
“Thanks. You told me about it. Sorry I could not participate in
yours because I was celebrating another funeral for the father
of a friend ”
“Within the students work, there was the CLC work, in the several
groups I accompanied in Taichung and at the national level:
Formation week, meetings and retreats of group-presidents, and even
once I attended the Month of Faith and Life, when you were away in the
year 1986. During those activities the relation with the other
sisters and priests was particularly interesting and exciting.”
“Yes. Very exciting sometimes.”
“Anyway, we could still remember so many activities and,
especially, people we have known together. But you have work to do
and I have just told you that what really has kept us going is the
friendship among ourselves initiated and supported by our friendship
with Jesus. Several times I have felt accepted and encouraged by you
in a simple and unnoticeable way. I am very grateful for it.”
“Yes, I have noticed it and I was very happy about it. You also
have expressed your appreciation for me and my work in
different occasions. It has been a great encouragement and I
thank you for it. Are you sure you do not want me to write more
about you? Do not complain later on…”
“No. No. I do not complain any longer. Don’t worry.”
“O.K. Say hello to Lino and so many others and remember
us”.

弘宣天神父

弘宣天神父為耶穌會士，在彰化靜山修道院服務。

與宣神父聊天

弘宣天神父 / 李宗文譯

不久前有一天，我走到彰化靜山的「後山」時，和宣國榮神父談道：
「你的朋友正在出一本書，他要我寫一些有關於你的點滴， 我該寫些什麼呢？」
「他們為什麼要這麼做？沒有必要！就如同袁國柱神父一樣，我唯一的請求，就是去反省死亡及人類生命的意義，更特別地是持續不斷地越來越認識耶穌。只有祂會賜予我們人類有完整的生命意義。多虧祂，我渡過了近80年中有時不太平順的生活。」
「我知道。」
「在我身為耶穌會會士的一生中，我經歷過許多地方及會院，從中國到菲律賓，甚至在台灣也待過新竹、台南、台中、台北。我最快樂的時光是在台中。在那兒我與最好的朋友袁國柱神父共事。我們曾在聖方濟沙勿略出生的地方一同讀中學。畢業後又一起到羅耀拉當初學生。在台中時，我還有另外一位好友馬志鴻神父。有時我們會一起去散步、談天和吃簡單的餐食。」
「喔，那可能大部份都是你在說話。」
「別淘氣！有一年冬天，袁國柱、費俊德、你和我健行穿越過台灣中央山脈。風景好美，我們也玩得很愉快，你還記得嗎？「當然記得，前幾天我還找到那些相片。」
「之後，我習慣帶幾位說西語的年長耶穌會會士去旅行，而他們也玩得十分高興。但這幾年間，我們年事漸高，我們能去最遠的地方就是新埔，在那兒我們習慣享受白雲山修士的款待。」
「是的，美好的食物和愉快的交談。」
「至於工作，我一生中最快樂的時光，是在台中為東海及逢甲的學生服務。尤其是在聖誕節及復活節期間，我們習慣全力地準備慶日的禮儀，而許多人也很喜歡參加。我則須好幾天在東海、逢甲之間來回奔波。很累，但我感覺特別地快樂。」
「對，對，你準備的宗教禮儀特別好。」
「你也一樣，秦永泰教友的葬禮十分莊嚴，充滿著真正祈禱的氣氛。」
「謝謝。你提過了。因為我要為一位朋友的父親主持葬禮， 很抱歉無法參與你的葬禮。」
「服務學生的工作中，在台中我輔導了基督生活團的幾個小組，而全國性的則有一週生活營，主席營的會議及避靜，甚至在1986年你不在的時候，我還曾參與信仰生活月。在那些活動期間，和其他修女神父的來往特別有趣及刺激。」
「是的，有時非常刺激。」
「不管如何，我們仍能回憶這麼多活動，尤其是我們都認識的人們。但你還有工作要做，而我曾告訴過你，就是藉著耶穌和我們同在一起的友誼的支持及啟發，才能使我們繼續往前推進。好幾次經由你，以一種簡單且不經意的方式讓我感到被接納並受鼓舞；我非常感激。」
「是的，我已注意到並且非常快樂。你在許多不同的場合也已對我及我的工作表達了謝意。這一直是很大的鼓勵，我十分感謝。你確定不需要我再多寫些有關你的事嗎？以後不要抱怨…」
「不會。不會。我不會抱怨了。別擔心。」
「好吧。請向袁神父及許多其他的人問候。要記得我們。」

李宗文

百達第一屆會友(1967年畢業)， 受百達服務的精神所影響， 大學四年，熱衷參與育幼院服務，開創東吳幼幼社。服兵役前甚至住進育幼院三個月，協助輔導，退伍後曾擔任救國團輔導員、組長，並管過台南學苑、青年館。後轉任屏女、 鳳山商工擔任英文教師，民國91年退休。