Honoring Foreign Priests’ Lifetime of Service to Rural Communities in Taiwan: Dharma Drum Mountain Hualien Branch Monastery Hosts Private Screening

To commemorate the selfless dedication of French priest Father Yves Moal (劉一峰), who has spent decades serving communities and supporting disadvantaged people in eastern Taiwan, Dharma Drum Mountain Hualien Branch Monastery held a second private screening of “All Things to All (為一切人，成為一切)” on August 21 at VieShow Cinemas in Hualien’s New Paradise. This followed the first private screening, held on July 28 at Hualien Railway Cinema. More than a hundred devotees and members of the public attended. Friends from the Indigenous community of Dahua Village in Guangfu Township also made a special trip to the screening during the Harvest Festival season. Father Yves Moal once again attended in person and shared his reflections on six decades of service in Taiwan.

Venerable Kuan Xing (寬行法師), director of Dharma Drum Mountain Hualien Branch Monastery, said that when he first encountered the film “All Things to All” in early May this year, he was deeply moved. Father Yves Moal has devoted 60 years of his life to Taiwan, putting his faith into practice through service and loving care. He is a model of religious service. Setting aside distinctions of nationality, ethnicity, and religion, he has entered local communities and accompanied people in need through concrete action, thereby helping those facing hardship rediscover hope. For this reason, Hualien Branch Monastery arranged two private cinema screenings, inviting Dharma Drum Mountain monastics, devotees, and members of the public to witness together this profound love that transcends national and religious boundaries.


After the screening, Father Yves Moal shared his reflections during a discussion session. Over the past 60 years, he has personally witnessed Taiwan undergo enormous changes—starting from an agricultural society, and continuing through industrial development up to today’s era of AI and advanced technology. Yet regardless of how far science and technology progress, he said, we must never forget the most fundamental things: people and love. He also spoke deeply about the generosity and compassion of the Taiwanese people. Whenever he encountered difficulties, someone would always reach out in time to help, giving him the support he needed to continue his path of service.
  
Speaking about former offenders and people living with mental illness, Father Yves Moal said that every person possesses infinite value. Everyone needs to be understood and deserves another chance. Drawing on 60 years of service, he explained that the lives of disadvantaged people and former offenders have two sides: one may be dark, while the other may contain light. When we are willing to approach them with love, accompany them, and accept them, we may awaken the light within them, enabling them to rediscover their dignity and hope.

Chun-Chi (春伎), from Guangfu Township, shared an emotional reflection during the discussion. She expressed gratitude for Father Yves Moal’s lifelong example, saying that his actions had strengthened her belief in God and deepened her faith. She also thanked Dharma Drum Mountain for assisting Guangfu Church of the Conversion of St. Paul and Dahua Village after the disaster and for mobilizing people from across Taiwan to participate in the recovery efforts. She was deeply moved by the origins of this interfaith cooperation and greatly admired Venerable Kuan Xing’s inclusive and open-hearted compassion.


As someone engaged in farming, Chun-Chi also said that the film helped her understand that love is not merely an emotion, but something expressed through long-term companionship and a willingness to take responsibility. She hopes that she, too, can follow the example of the priest in the film by using love to deepen the relationship between people and the land, accompanying young people as they learn about their hometowns and care for the land. In her view, this is the foundation of hope for a sustainable future.

Moderator Tsai Min-ni (蔡旻霓) shared that the film conveyed a profound sense of protection and loving care. She also came to realize that many seemingly accidental connections in life may in fact be the best possible arrangements. Whether carrying on his uncle’s unfulfilled wish to serve in Asia or facing the rebuilding that followed a fire, Father Yves Moal consistently confronted change and hardship with honesty and determination while striving to maintain inner stability. His unwavering faith and devotion to God, she said, were deeply inspiring and had given her profound insights into life.

In 2001, during a “Symposium on Religion, World Peace, and Spiritual Environmental Protection,” Master Sheng Yen stated: “The essence of every religion is to advocate that human beings should respect, help, love, and forgive one another.” He emphasized that all religions share the responsibility of purifying the human mind and society. For many years, Dharma Drum Mountain has also aspired to maintain dialogue and exchange with leaders of different religions—moving from mutual acquaintance and understanding toward friendship and opportunities for cooperation.


The documentary “All Things to All” chronicles the stories of more than one hundred foreign priests from France and Switzerland who, beginning in 1952, left their homelands and traveled to the resource-poor regions of eastern Taiwan. They ventured deep into rural communities and Indigenous villages, dedicating themselves to medical care, education, cultural preservation, and support for disadvantaged people. For more than half a century, they accompanied Taiwanese society through the agricultural era, industrial development, and profound economic transformation. The film presents not only a precious chapter of history, but also a powerful testimony to priests who put their faith into practice through love and service. During the screening, many audience members were deeply moved, with numerous people wiping away tears.

Dharma Drum Mountain Hualien Branch Monastery hopes that the more-than-six-decade dedication of Father Yves Moal and the other foreign priests will awaken greater compassion and love in the hearts of the public. By transcending religious differences and treating one another with mutual respect, people of different faiths can support one another where help is needed, work together to bring stability and peace to people’s minds, care for society, and contribute collectively to the promotion of world peace.


◎ Original text in Chinese: 高毓婷
◎ Photos: 賴秀英，楊明勳
◎ Translation: Patricia Yang 
◎ Editing: Keith Brown