Over the past 10 years, I have experienced the Magis Youth Center as a truly blessed ministry. With the strong support of the Jesuit Chinese Province youth apostolate and in collaboration with many Jesuit institutions in Taiwan, we have built a stable and experienced team. All five of our full-time staff members have more than 10 years of ministry experience. Over the years, we have accompanied young people through programmes, such as the Magis Experiment Camps and 15 editions of MAGIS Formation—known in Taiwan as the Magis Awakening Movement—held across northern, central, and southern Taiwan, as well as multiple World Youth Day journeys. Together, these experiences have formed a solid foundation for youth formation.
Precisely because of this decade-long grounding and preparation, when the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) invited us to host the Magis Asia Pacific gathering in Taiwan, we knew we were ready to respond to God’s call with open and desiring hearts.
At the end of last summer, I accepted the role of overall coordinator for this event. On the surface, the responsibility involved overseeing progress, shaping the overall structure, facilitating communication, and motivating the team toward a shared goal. Yet for me, the heart of this role was always the formation of a shared mission spirit.
Through years of collaboration, we have developed a deep mutual understanding. We know the importance of the Examen of Consciousness and Magis Circles, and we firmly believe that inner authenticity matters more than external perfection. Therefore, throughout the preparation process, I repeatedly reminded our team: the focus of every Magis event is not on how many people come to “help” but on discerning true mission companions.
Whether youth, Jesuits, or lay collaborators, the key question is always the same: Is there an inner desire to respond to God’s call? Can they truly appreciate the experience, find joy in it, and be present with God throughout the journey?
In our two major planning meetings, we intentionally avoided focusing on “how to do things” or “what exactly to do”. Instead, we kept returning to a deeper question: What spirit and values are we called to transmit? We gathered to listen, sense, and respond to God together. This awareness of being called proved far more important than any method or strategy.
Finally, on 27 December, we welcomed young people from across Taiwan who had previously participated in MAGIS Formation programmes and MAGIS World Youth Day experiences. Through activities such as the Human Library and City Exploration, youth from different countries were able to share their lives closely with one another.
What deeply moved me was that, despite having only one online briefing beforehand, the Taiwanese youth stepped naturally into their roles. Drawing from years of formation, they each offered their talents generously and responsibly. So once the event began, the peace I had felt only deepened. I devoted myself fully to coordination and connection, attentively receiving each message we were called to convey. It was a resonance that transcended language and nationality. In those moments, I became keenly aware that I was standing within the broader mission of the Society of Jesus, living out Ignatian spirituality in a very concrete way.
As youth ministers, our role is to place young people where they can flourish—to create space for them to shine freely. That evening, when we returned to the Magis Youth Center and saw Taiwanese youth accompanying friends from across Asia Pacific with such genuine presence, my heart was filled with profound joy.
Among the seven Magis Experiment groups, we shared the diverse realities of Taiwan as hosts. In addition to serving as overall coordinator, I also joined the media team. Each day, I travelled between different experiment sites to film, and each night, I edited footage into short videos and wrote reflections.
For the media team, uploading daily records became a form of collective Examen. While documentation is important, what mattered even more was noticing how God was working alongside us. We had our own Magis Circles, reminding ourselves that media is not only about images but also about discerning God’s presence in the process.
We concluded with a retreat at Manresa House Changhua, welcoming the first day of the new year in silence. The young people naturally entered into a sacred atmosphere of prayer. This once again reminded us that what truly matters is not a well-designed programme but an encounter with God. When we recognise ourselves as loved and chosen, when we learn to see God’s blessing in all things, responding joyfully to mission becomes natural.
Although my English is limited, the inner desire of my heart carried me beyond the boundaries of language. I learnt to perceive group dynamics from a broader perspective and to respond calmly to unexpected situations—because I knew God was with me.
As I look back on the preparation and the event itself, I am surprised by the deep sense of peace I carried within me. It felt like the deep blue of the ocean—calm, steady, and full of life. There was little anxiety or tension, only a sense of freedom and joy. With an interior calm, I could clearly see the overall structure of the event and attentively perceive the dynamics within the group. When the heart is at peace, one begins to recognise how God gently brings everything to completion.
I wish to express my deep gratitude to the Jesuit Chinese Province for its support and to my companions at the Magis Youth Center for their trust. Thank you to every young person who responded to the invitation and to my family whose encouragement grounded my heart. You are my true mission companions.
I am also grateful to the youth and Jesuits from many countries who came to this small island with open hearts, ready to embrace one another. May this experience continue to bear fruit in each of your lives.
I hope to continue serving as a bridge of connection, like John the Baptist—pointing beyond myself and helping others to see the Lord.
Related Story: Pilgrims of Hope: The MAS Region’s journey of transformation at MAGIS Asia Pacific
