In this third series of ISAC podcasts, part of the Initiative for the Study of Asian Catholics (ISAC) – a collaborative project hosted by the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, we hear from researchers who presented their papers in May 2023 at the conference “More Universal than Catholicism? Mary among Asian Religions.” The conference was co-organized by the Centre for Marian Studies at St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, London, and the ISAC.

This episode features Brian Reynolds, Professor of Italian at Fu Jen Catholic University in Taipei, and Marco Lazzarotti, Researcher and Lecturer at the Institute of Ethnology of the University of Heidelberg.Reynolds and Lazzarotti discuss their research paper, “Universal Belief and Local Apparition: Holy Mary and Inculturation in Taiwan.” The series’ host is Hisako Omori from Akita International University, Japan.

In this episode, Reynolds and Lazzarotti situate Mary in the context of Taiwan, in which female figures of Guanyin and Mazu are prominent spiritual icons enshrined in local temples. Two researchers suggest that preexisting devotional practices and beliefs in these goddess figures aided the locals in embracing and developing close relationships with Mary. Using the story of local Marian apparition to non-Catholics in Taiwan, Reynolds and Lazzarotti point to how Mary remains universal while serving the needs and hopes of the locals. ⁠

This podcast series is generously sponsored by the UCANews.

Background score by Andre Louis and produced by Binu Alex for ISAC

Series II, Episode 8: Dr. Sin Wen Lau shares her joint ethnographic work with Dr. Shu-Ling Yeh of how the Amis rework their indigenous socialites through Catholic faith

ISAC - The Initiative for the Study of Asian CatholicsBy ISACMay 23, 2022