From 22 June to 5 July 2026, Ludovic Nobel, Superior General of the SMB, travelled to Taiwan. The visit was given over entirely to gratitude for a rich missionary heritage and to setting the course for a sustainable future, with a view to the 75th anniversary of the SMB in Taiwan in 2028.
A change of generation in the leadership of the Bethlehem Mission Society Taitung
After decades of tireless and faithful service, Brother Augustin Büchel SMB has officially handed over his offices as administrator and chairman of the Bethlehem Mission Society Taitung. The community expresses its deepest gratitude for his invaluable commitment. To ensure continuity, Brother Augustin will remain at the board’s side in an advisory capacity for a transitional year.
The succession has been settled: Mr Peter Yeh was unanimously elected the new president of the local SMB foundation.
From left: Pius Chu, the new administrator of the regional house; Ludovic Nobel, Superior General SMB; and Peter Yeh, the new president of the SMB association in Taitung.
Ludovic Nobel (far right) and Augustin Büchel SMB (third from right) with the new members of the board, in the garden of the regional house in Taitung, Taiwan.
Valuable encounters and a living heritage
The visitation was marked by encouraging encounters on the ground. During the official visit to Bishop Philip Huang (Diocese of Hualien), the deep bond between the local Church and the SMB became clear. Bishop Huang, who describes himself as “a product of the SMB”, stressed how much he would value the cooperation with the SMB being carried on by a new generation of missionaries.
Another point on the programme was a visit to Josef Eugster in Changbin. There he continues to celebrate Mass on weekdays and has an excellent team around him. The foot reflexology massage he introduced is today firmly established in almost every parish in the region and remains a living witness to our missionary work.
Further encounters showed vividly how fruitful the pastoral and social work remains to this day.
The “Friends of SMB” circle, and the view towards 2028
The local circle of friends, “Friends of SMB”, is an important sign of support. Led by its president Liu Ming, this faithful association now numbers 113 members. They give their time voluntarily at the regional house, care for the heritage of our missionaries, and were enthusiastic about the new SMB formation programme.
A forward-looking academic cooperation was also signed with the St Robert Bellarmine School of Theology (Fu Jen University, Taipei).
Together we now look forward with joy to 2028, when we shall celebrate the 75th anniversary of the SMB in Taiwan. As an important ecumenical project in view of that celebration, a “Swiss Missionary Trail” is envisaged: a pilgrim route linking the historic places where our missionaries worked, and making their heritage visible for the generations to come.
