Taiwan Church News 3838 Edition Sept 15 ~ 21, 2025 Weekly Topical Picture BookDoctor BeardyLaunched to Tell 33 Years’ Medical Mission on Penghu Islands by Br. Davide Luigi Giordan Reported by Chen Yi-hsuan from Penghu Bearded, short-sleeved and always biked around Penghu island is the impression of people on Doctor Davide Luigi Giordan, a brother of Order of the Ministers of the Infirm. Published by the Taiwan Church Press (TCP), a picture book, entitled asDoctor Beardy: The Story of Davide Luigi Giordanand also numbered asvol no. 37 of the Beautiful Footprints Series, was launched at the Hong Geun-shen Art Museum in Magong City, Penghu County in the morning on September 13. Remarkably, Order of the Ministers of the Infirm(Camillians) ordered 350 copies ofDoctor Beardyand prepare to distribute them for 35 primary schools and 24 kindergartens on Penghu islands. In the meantime, Magong Blood Stand held a “Blood Donation with Love and Picture Book”, so that people can participate to learn the compassionate love of Dr Davide Luigi Giordan shown to the people on Penghu islands. Dr Davide Luigi Giordan, a brother from Italy, has served in St. Camillus Hospital in Penghu for 33 years. He has a beard and speaks fluent Taiwanese, and treats patients relentlessly from the morning till night. When the patient needs blood transfusion, he always takes the lead in stretching out his arm and donates blood. It is estimated that he has donated his blood more than 150 times in his lifetime, with a total volume of blood up to 37,500cc. There is even a memorial statue set up for Dr Davide Luigi Giordan in Magong City, that is, holding a bicycle to greet and care the villagers enthusiastically. This is the “Doctor Beardy”, an image deeply rooted in the hearts of Penghu people. Mr Wang Kuo-yu, a senior executive officer of Penghu County Government, who accepted the picture book as gift, mentioned in his speech that many people in Penghu should have an impression of Doctor Beardy – Davide Luigi Giordan. “He is very kind to the elderly and children, and children always like to chase after his bicycle,” said Mr Wang on behalf of County Magistrate – Mr Chen Kuang-fu.Especially, Mr Wang thanked TCP for publishing a picture book to remember and witness such wonderful ministry of of Br. Davide Luigi Giordan, and presented certificates of appreciation to both TCP and Camillians. Kao Kuo-chin, Fr. of Camillians, gave his thanks to the public for their care and concern on the reconstruction of St. Camillus Hospital. “At present the interior decoration of the new hospital and a long-term care building in the suburb of Magong City has been carried out,” he said, “but there is still a financial shortage of NT$ 200 million, which needs people’s continued attention and support.” Br. Davide Luigi Giordan was once served as the superintendent of St. Camillus Hospital, caring his Penghu patients relentlessly from early morning till late night. In response to his spirit of compassionate love toward Penghu compatriots, Mr Chen Zheng-en, chairman of Wen-Aoh Gasoline Station in Magong City, and his wife Mrs Liu Shu-fen attended the picture book launch and donated NT$ 300 thousands to support the reconstruction of St. Camillus Hospital. Doctor Beardypresents Br. Davide Luigi Giordan’s daily interaction with the Penghu people. While depicting Doctor Beardy’s medical ministry in Penghu islands within an easy and humorous dialogue, the picture book also takes notes of how he enjoyed the comfortable sea water and sunny beach in his spare time. Ms Jiang Shu-wen, editor-in-chief of the picture book, remarked that main task of their editorial jobs is to grasp vividly on the personality and traits of the protagonist, and at the same time to showcase the unique climate, beautiful landscape, various folk customs, charming lifestyles and traits of Penghu islands. Ms Jiang revealed an interesting story that didn’t show up in the picture book: the boss of a lottery shop beside the gate of St. Camillus Hospital was also running a restaurant. As Doctor Beardy often took his staffs to have dinner at the restaurant, he soon found the boss had a problem with blood pressure during his body actions and facial movements. Then, the boss was reminded to go to hospital to save his life. From then on, the boss and Doctor Beardy became very good friends. Mr Tsai Zhao-lun, the illustrator ofDoctor Beardy,who also had won Bologna Ragazzi Award for Children’s Book in Italy, expressed that he admired missionaries who came to Taiwan in their early youth. “They not only abandon their comfort circles, but also serve our Taiwanese compatriots with all their lives,” said he, “all they’ve served on our islands remind people the teaching of Jesus: Love One Another!” After book launch, Mr Tsai also went to the Magong Blood Donation Stand to donate blood and personally participated in the event of Keep Love In Penghu. Announcing a picture book of Fr. Antonio Crotti, who had also served in Penghu islands as a medical missionary of Camillians, would be launched soon, Ms Jiang Shu-wen told the Penghu audience: “For us it is not the first time to come here, and certainly it will not be the last. We will carry on to follow the beautiful footprints of our faithful predecessors and proclaim the good news via theses amazing picture books!” Translated by Peter Wolfe |