Taipei, Aug. 10 (CNA) Anthony Pierrot, a Catholic priest from the Netherlands, has been named an honorary citizen of Yunlin County for his contributions to the county for over 60 years.
Yunlin County Magistrate Lee Chin-yung presented the priest with a certificate confirming the honor and praised him for the many years he has spent caring for Taiwan's needy at Pierrot's 96th birthday party at St. Joseph's Hospital in Huwei Township on Friday.
Born in 1923 in the Netherlands, Pierrot has supported the promotion of health care and made significant contributions to Yunlin since he came to Taiwan in 1954.
Along with Father George Massin from Belgium, he established St. Joseph's Hospital in the remote township 60 years ago, and it continues to provide medical services to residents based on its principles of "total sacrifice, unconditional love and constant joy."
Pierrot has shown a singular devotion to the hospital, including by helping to fix medical equipment and making frequent rounds to look in on patients.
He later set up a social services office and the St. Joseph Social Welfare Foundation to care for women, children, and the elderly, and continues to serve others to this day despite his advanced age.
Pierrot has received several awards, including the Alien Permanent Resident Lifelong Contribution Award from the Ministry of the Interior in 2011 and the Order of Brilliant Star with Violet Grand Cordon from former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) in 2015.
