Taipei: Taiwan bid farewell this week to one of its most cherished humanitarian figures, Sister Giusebiana Frongia, the Italian-born nun whose tireless devotion to the poor and underprivileged children in a remote mountain region of northern Taiwan earned her the affectionate title of "Taiwan’s Mother Teresa." She passed away peacefully at the age of 96, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, education, and unwavering service that spanned six and a half decades.
The news of her passing was shared by Cheng Chao-fang, mayor of Zhubei City in Hsinchu County, where Sister Frongia had devoted nearly her entire life to serving children in need. Her death marks the end of an era for a community that she nurtured, educated, and uplifted for over 65 years.
Born in Sardinia, Italy, in 1932, Sister Frongia answered her spiritual calling early in life. After taking her religious vows, she journeyed across continents to arrive in Taiwan during the 1960s a time when the island's rural regions, especially the mountainous Jianshi township in Hsinchu, were steeped in poverty and lacked even the most basic educational infrastructure.
What began as missionary work soon turned into a lifelong mission. Armed with little more than faith, humility, and boundless love, Sister Giusebiana set about transforming lives one child at a time.
In the then-neglected corners of Jianshi, where formal schooling was nearly nonexistent, Sister Frongia began establishing kindergartens and community learning centers, planting the seeds of knowledge and hope. Through sheer perseverance and grit, she taught thousands of children how to read and write, many of whom went on to become teachers, nurses, civil servants, and leaders within Taiwan’s modern society.
But her work extended beyond classrooms. Sister Giusebiana was a relentless advocate for the poor, the sick, and the marginalized offering food, shelter, and spiritual comfort. She became a maternal figure to entire generations, known lovingly as "Mumu", meaning "mother" in the language of the indigenous Atayal people.
Mayor Cheng Chao described Sister Frongia as a saintly figure whose life mirrored the compassion and humility of Mother Teresa. “She was a beacon of selfless love,” he said. “Her presence uplifted not only the children but the entire community.”
In recognition of her decades-long contribution to the nation, the Taiwanese government granted her citizenship in June 2023, fulfilling her heartfelt wish to officially become a citizen of the country she had served so faithfully.
Today, Sister Frongia’s impact echoes through countless lives from young professionals to elders who once sat in her humble classrooms. Her passing is not merely the loss of a devoted missionary but the departure of a guiding spirit whose compassion knew no boundaries of nationality, race, or religion.
As the nation reflects on her extraordinary life, Sister Giusebiana Frongia remains an enduring symbol of faith in action, her memory enshrined in the hearts of the Taiwanese people who knew her not just as a nun, but as their Mumu a mother to all.