As a social worker who spends his days rushing through fishing ports, I don’t always stay in an air-conditioned office. Instead, I spend most of my time on the docks, where the air is filled with the scents of fish, sea breeze, and sweat. At the end of 2025, I had the privilege of introducing a group of MAGIS youth from Asia Pacific to my daily work at the Rerum Novarum Center. To me, this was more than a professional tour—it was a pilgrimage to help them find “Christ in the least of these”.
As I stood by the pier, I confessed my past weaknesses to the young people. When I first started advocating for the establishment of a Muslim prayer room, I struggled internally because of my Christian identity. However, my pastor gave me a crucial reminder:
“Did Jesus ever ask about the faith of the people he helped? He saw people’s suffering, not their labels.”
Jason Lee sharing with MAGIS participants about the Muslim prayer room
I realised that retreating because of religious differences would close the door to Christ’s mercy. My pastor’s words helped me see that walking with them in truth is about recognising their “thirst” rather than their labels. This prayer room has become a practical exercise in “imitating Christ and emptying oneself” (kenosis). In this space, we do not discuss doctrinal opposition; we speak only of defending human dignity. When I see fishermen find solace in this small space, I know that the love of Christ has triumphed here.
I walked with the MAGIS participants past the docks where the fishermen live aboard their boats. To an ordinary observer, watching them rest and cook by the shore might seem messy, but to a social worker, every detail is a cry for their rights.
Migrant fishermen working along the fishing port.
I shared with the young people that our efforts to secure shower rooms and coordinate living facilities—tasks that may seem trivial—are actually “done for the least of these brothers”. Though many fishermen still live in swaying cabins and we are far from achieving our ideal of “dignified housing,” we are like St John the Baptist in that we are “preparing the way of the Lord and making His paths straight”. Through every small improvement, we are preparing for the advent of the Lord’s kingdom of justice.
During a small gathering at the Zhengbin Fishing Port, Father Hsu said during Mass, “We cannot solve all problems, but please do not leave them.” These words profoundly stirred my heart. They perfectly encapsulate the essence of a social worker. When faced with legal barriers and limited resources, we often feel powerless. However, as Christians, our calling is not to “win” but to “love”. Accompaniment is not just a slogan but “standing at the foot of the cross”. When we don’t turn away, we provide the most steadfast support to lonely migrant workers in a strange land.
Fr Hsu Shen-yi SJ (left) and Fr Do Yun-ho SJ from Korea concelebrating Mass
As the sun set, the kitchen at Aodi Fishing Port transformed into a sanctuary filled with aromas. I watched the MAGIS youth and Indonesian migrant workers huddle together, chopping vegetables and laughing. Those who usually toiled on boats, in factories, or in homes were now completely equal to us at the dining table.
As I watched this scene, I felt grateful. This is what the Kingdom of Heaven looks like—no language barriers, only the joy of sharing. This meal warmed not only our stomachs but also our souls.
Br Jasper Ong SJ from Singapore (left) cooking with a fisherman
The sea breeze was cold on that night at the end of the year, but as I watched the young people depart, I knew that this journey had planted seeds of mercy in their hearts.
As a social worker at the Rerum Novarum Center, I believe my role is more than just a job; it is a vocation. Amidst the fishing lights of the harbour, I will stay on watch until every visiting brother and sister feels the constant, never-failing embrace of God on this land of Taiwan.
MAGIS youth and migrant fishermen enjoying dinner together
