謝謝台灣!加油,義大利!

Thank you Taiwan, God Bless Italy.

Father Giuseppe Didone Thank you letter to Taiwan

On the first of April, 2020, the media reported our concerns over the pandemic in Italy, hoping Taiwan can help within its’ own capabilities. Within a few days after the news was released, we received donations and supplies to be forward to Italy from all over the country. To our surprise, the donations are endless and enormous, even we are not prepared to react. Therefore, after a short time of 6 days, we call to stop to our original plan of two weeks for donations to be forward to Italian church. Thank you Taiwan, the donations are enormous, this is a good country, good place, good people. Then, we hope to leave your overflowing love to the rural elders of Taiwan.

I would like to report to the Taiwan community that aside from the 3000 donors from the hospital fundraising during the weekend holidays, amount of about 10 M NT dollar (cash and telephone donations); the hospital accountant total the amount up to 100 M NT dollars from more than 20,000 donors thru bank transfer and remittance on Monday. That is, in 6 days period, Taiwan actively donated in this campaign and total of 120 M NT dollar collected to be forward by the Camillians.

We felt the strong love of the Taiwan community, we did not set a goal for the campaign of fund raising, and the vast amount of donations is out of our expectations. With the vast amount, we can support the beyond the supplies for the health personnels in Italy. We would like to thank Taiwan and please do not donate anymore. We then have to prepare the important task of gathering all the medical supplies.

First, with regard to the purchasing of the necessary medical supplies with no violations to the regulations of the government, we develop acquisition processes; as for supplies that is difficult to acquire in the country, or belong to regulated supply, we will list them and ask the Camillians around the world to help collect them. During these times, there are Taiwanese enterpreneurs expresses that they can produce related supplies, like ventilators, to help Italy in the shortest period of time.

Second, supplies from donors and companies, like N95 mask, we will make a quick inventory and give to the government, to extend the government foreign medical aid purposes.

Third, after summing up the actual purchases and balance, we wish to give to Vatican or the Camillians the rest of the funds, so they can used it for the people in need in Italy.

Lastly, the last but not the least, this enormous donations, surprised not only us, but also the Taiwan community. Therefore, among the 20,000 donors, if you feel that the amount is too huge, and wish to donate to some other causes, we sincerely accept if you wish to refund. We believe that your kindness, if not used in Italy, can be used for anybody else who needs help.

These days, I saw a man with end stage cancer came to the hospital to donate, another vegetable vendor grandmother brought her long lined up face masks and money, wishing that she can give her token of love to help Italy thru us…., can you imagine the touch and move? Late at night, I recollected the endless great throb Taiwan brought to me these few days, I reviewed the past 55 years in Taiwan, finally, thanks God for bringing me here.

Again, Thank you Taiwan. My believe was fully convinced at this time. This is the reason that I want to stay here for the rest of my life.

謝謝台灣!加油,義大利!

呂若瑟神父致台灣社會的一封感謝信

自四月一日起,媒體報導了我們這些來自義大利的神職人員對家鄉疫情的關切,同時希望台灣社會在可能範圍內能夠給予義大利一些協助。沒想到消息一出後才短短幾天,來自各地希望透過我們轉交給義大利的善款和物資,竟源源不斷而來,金額、數量都龐大到讓我們驚訝,甚至來不及反應。也因此,我們原訂接受捐款和物資代轉給義大利教會的兩個禮拜期限,雖然只過了6天,但也不得不在此刻立即喊停:謝謝台灣,捐款真的太多了,這真是一個好國好民的好地方。接著,更希望您也把滿溢的愛心留給我們自己在偏鄉的父老。

同時,我想藉這個機會向社會大眾說明,除了募款中心同仁在連假期間向外界粗估的大約3000筆捐款、總計約一千餘萬元 (現金捐款加上來電告知的捐款)的數字之外;周一,我們醫院裡的會計同仁上班後,仔細核算來自郵局和銀行的轉帳及匯款總數後,金額竟然高達將近一億元,匯款人次更超過2萬筆!也就是說,總計這六天來,台灣社會踴躍捐輸,希望透過靈醫會代轉的善款,將近1億2千萬台幣。

我們感受到台灣社會的濃郁愛心,但卻完全沒有想到湧入的金額竟是如此龐大,雖然我們並未預設捐款金額目標,但當看到這樣的數字的時候,實在也覺得,這幾乎超越了我們所能後續整備必要物資給義大利醫護人員的能力了,所以我們必須向台灣社會鄭重抱歉:有關送愛到義大利的捐款,除了感謝,還要拜託您:不要再捐了。因為接著下來,我們有非常急切與重要的工作要做,那就是醫療物資的整備工作得立即展開。

首先,針對必要的醫療物資採購的部分,在不違背政府法規的原則下,我們已展開相關採辦作業;另外,在國內採購有困難、緩不濟急,或是屬於管制出口品項的,我們就會提列清單,請世界各地的靈醫會教會系統協助蒐集。此外,還值得一提的是,這段期間,已經有不少在國外設廠的台商,表達了可以增產相關物資就近支援義大利了,譬如呼吸器等。

其次,就是這幾天來民眾和各公司機關陸續提供的物資,譬如N95口罩等等,這些物資,我們會盡快清點後捐贈給政府,以擴大政府在援外物資整備上的統籌運用。

第三,就是統計能夠實踐的採購數量與金額後,我們希望能直接有一筆善款可以轉交給梵諦岡教廷或義大利的靈醫會總會,讓他們可以視需要彈性運用把善款用在當地最需要幫助的人身上。

最後,也是最重要的一點,這次的善款如此龐大,或許不僅是我們這些義大利神父出乎意料之外,恐怕連台灣社會大眾也會感到驚訝吧。因此,如果這次捐款的2萬多位善心朋友之中,若有任何人認為金額已經太多,覺得不需要捐,要轉把善款用在更需要的刀口上的,我們也誠摯地接受您隨時可以要求退還捐款,或者把這筆善款轉作其它捐助事項。我們確信,您這份愛心,就算不花在義大利,也絕對會花在任何一個需要幫助的人身上。

這幾天,我看到癌末的先生拖著病體到醫院捐款,也看到賣菜的阿嬤拿著辛苦排隊來的口罩和賣菜錢,希望透過我能把她的心意傳到義大利…..,那種感動,不知您能否想像?深夜,我一面回味這幾天台灣社會不斷帶給我的巨大悸動,一面回顧走過的這五十五年,最終,真的要感謝天主當年把我帶到這裡來。

再次謝謝台灣。此時我更堅信,這就是我一生都想留在這裡的原因!