TAICHUNG, Taiwan (UCAN) -- Newly ordained Bishop Martin Su Yao-wen of Taichung says he wants to unite all Catholics in his diocese, a hope that is reflected in his episcopal motto and coat-of-arms.

The coat-of-arms, displayed during his Sept. 25 ordination Mass, features a golden cross, a dove, a bible, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and a field of growing crops, all symbolizing the mission of glorifying God in unity with the Holy Trinity. His motto is Unum In Spiritu Sancto (unity in the Holy Spirit).

Addressing the more than 4,000 Catholics gathered at Church-run Viator High School auditorium, the bishop stressed that he would like all priests and nuns in the diocese to help Catholics deepen their relationship with God and increase fellowship among themselves.

During the ceremony, more than half the crowd had to follow the proceedings on TV screens outside the auditorium due to lack of space inside.

The new bishop also said he wishes to address the needs of migrant workers, immigrants and other social minorities, and he promised to visit all 53 parishes of his diocese. The diocese serves Taichung city, 130 kilometers southwest of Taipei, as well as Changhua, Nantou and Taichung counties.

Bishop Joseph Wang Yu-jung, who retired as bishop of Taichung in June and is replaced by Bishop Su, presided at the ordination. Co-ordaining prelates were Bishop Peter Liu Chen-chung of Kaohsiung and Bishop Emeritus James Liu Tan-kuei of Hsinchu, who now serves at a parish in Taichung diocese.

Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-hsi, the retired bishop of Kaohsiung, along with 10 other local bishops, 150 priests from all seven Taiwan dioceses and Bishop Lazarus You Heung-sik of Daejeon, South Korea, concelebrated.

During the Mass, Bishop Su praised Bishop Wang for his contributions to the diocese, especially his building of the new diocesan curia office.

Bishop Su also announced that he has appointed Monsignor Gregory Cheng Wen-hung and Father John Liu Cheng-hsiang as episcopal vicars, Father Benedict Hsu Shih-chao as vicar general and Father Liu Lien-yu as chancellor.

Toward the end of the ceremony, Bishop Wang asked Catholics to respect their young bishop and assured his successor that all priests and nuns in the diocese will assist him in his work.

The ceremony also was an occasion for Cardinal Shan to congratulate the new bishop and welcome Bishop Wang into the "retired bishops' conference."

Monsignor Ambrose Madtha, charge d'affaires at the Taipei-based Apostolic Nunciature, thanked Bishop Wang for his 21 years of service and encouraged Bishop Su to write a new page in the history of the diocese.

Bishop Su was born on Nov. 9, 1959, in Tsoying district of Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan. He and his family moved back to their ancestral home in Changhua county, central Taiwan, the next year. He was ordained a priest for Taichung on June 8, 1989.

After studies in the United States 1993-1997, he served 10 years as director of general affairs and of campus ministry at Providence University, run by the diocese. On June 25, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop of Taichung and at the same time accepted the resignation of 76-year-old Bishop Wang.

The new bishop's ordination came on the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, or Moon Festival, which celebrates family reunions and good harvests.

Meanwhile, the cylindrical-shaped, new diocesan curia building was blessed on Sept. 8, Feast of the Nativity of Mary, instead of Aug. 18 as previously scheduled. The change was due to stormy weather caused by a typhoon.

The Taichung diocesan bulletin says the curia, or central diocesan offices, now near the bishop's house, will move Oct. 1 to the new four-story building.

Taichung diocese has 36,836 Catholics, 74 priests and 122 Religious.

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(Accompanying photos available at here)