【An Evening in Naluo — Meeting the Eternal Mumu】
【Six Decades of Gentle Devotion in the Mountains — A Tribute to Sister Zhao Xiurong】
One afternoon in May, I happened to come across a piece of news:
At 3 p.m. on May 30, a nun who had devoted her entire life to protecting the children of the tribe quietly completed her earthly journey.
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Sister Zhao Xiurong, originally from Italy, devoted 60 years of her life to accompanying Atayal children in the Naluo Village of Jianshi Township, Hsinchu.
She founded the Catholic Francis Kindergarten and helped countless underprivileged families.
The locals affectionately called her “Mumu,” which means “mother” in the Atayal language — a title both intimate and sacred.
Born in 1932 on the island of Sardinia, Italy, she was the youngest in her family. Though her upbringing was humble, it was filled with faith and love.
Inspired by the Bible, she vowed to become a nun. Despite her parents’ objections and fears of her traveling far away, she stood firm and followed her calling of love.
She didn’t just travel far — she rooted herself deeply. From Italy to Taiwan, from the city to the remote mountains, from a foreigner to a true “Taiwanese.”
Every choice she made was an answer to her faith and love.
You are forever the light of the tribe — the gentlest witness of Taiwan.
【An Evening in Naluo — Meeting the Eternal Mumu, Sister Zhao Xiurong】
Let’s go back a few years — I’ll never forget that evening.
It was a drizzly holiday evening when we arrived at Naluo Catholic Church in Jianshi Township, Hsinchu. Mist surrounded the mountains, and the lights of the village shimmered like a sea of glass — as if we had stepped into paradise. Among these hills stood a gentle yet steadfast figure who had quietly protected this land for over six decades.
Sister Zhao, from southern Italy, came to Taiwan at 27. Since then, she has dedicated her love to the Atayal children of Jianshi for 60 years. She always said, “I love children the most.” Whenever she saw a child, she would smile and open her arms.
My own kids were once embraced by Mumu.
She recalled her early days in Jianshi — no water, no electricity, no roads.
Back then, there was only one French priest in the entire township, and no other nuns. The only way to travel was on foot. She and the priest would carry clothes and food, trekking for over a week across the villages of Shilei, Mamei, Tianpu, Yanglao, Xinguang, and Zhentsepu. “Life was hard materially,” she said, “but my heart was full of joy.”
She expressed gratitude to Taiwan — and to her younger self who made the vow to serve God and the distant. She recalled how once, when she needed a mountain entry permit, a police officer rode all the way from Neiwan to Naluo just to help her — a kindness she never forgot. Her family included priests too, and one even visited her in recent years.
Sister Zhao also mentioned that, before the internet or television reached the villages, students from Fu Jen and National Tsing Hua University used to come to volunteer — from two months, to one month, then two weeks — until eventually, they stopped coming.
“If you ever have the chance, come help the villages, help make dreams come true, and bring love into the mountains.” That was Sister Zhao’s blessing and invitation to us.
The church stood high above the valley. When night fell, the mountains and flickering lights below formed a breathtaking view.
We knew — among the mountain lights, her gentleness still glows.
【Six Decades of Gentle Devotion — A Tribute to the Eternal Mumu】
When she came to Taiwan, she was only 28 and didn’t speak a word of Chinese.
But she spoke the most beautiful language — the language of love — for six decades.
Italian nun Sister Zhao Xiurong arrived in Taiwan 60 years ago. The following year, she enrolled at National Taiwan Normal University to learn Chinese, then taught English at kindergartens and elementary schools. In 1964, she and another nun followed a priest into the remote Jianshi mountains.
There, she saw children without access to education or resources — and her heart was deeply moved.
She made a vow: “I will dedicate myself to God, and to those in need.”
She learned the Atayal language, lived and ate with the villagers, and founded the Catholic Francis Kindergarten to bring education to generations of indigenous children. In 60 years, she rarely left Taiwan — returning to Italy fewer than ten times — and said, “I never regretted it.”
On Mother’s Day, the Hsinchu Science Park Administration and the Tsing Hua Alumni Association invited Sister Mumu to a celebration — it became her final public appearance. She passed away at the age of 93.
One of Sister Mumu’s lifelong wishes was to become a true Taiwanese citizen.
In 2017, Secretary-General Li Daolin of the Hsinchu Science Park Administration learned of her wish and initiated a petition. With the help of NTU EMBA alumni, her dream came true — she finally received her Taiwanese ID card.
She was more than a nun, more than a teacher — she was a mother to the children, a guardian of the tribe, and a part of this land.
Thank you, Mumu.
Thank you for showing us what it means to dedicate a lifetime.
For sixty years, your gentle heart blessed the mountains — thank you for your life of devotion.
Note: The villages of Shilei, Mamei, Tianpu, Yanglao, Xinguang, and Zhentsepu are located in the remote back mountain region of Jianshi, Hsinchu — home to the Atayal people and known for their difficult access.