Father Bimdoro-Knows everywhere in Kaohsiung / 最道地的高雄通-谷神父
◎Text and photo by Jian Jhang
If Father John Bimdoro is not at work in the Saindcvimcend church, you can probably find him drinking coffee on the banks of the Love River. Having lived in Kaohsiung since 2003, he is now used to its busy streets and has witnessed how it has evolved. He was particularly impressed with Kaohsiung's newly renovated green parks and Love River.
Father Bimdoro originally from Indonesia, has been in Taiwan since 1996. When he first came to Taiwan he lived in Taipei, where he studied Chinese. He was then assigned to a church in Taitung. In 2003 he decided to come to Kaohsiung and arrived at the Saindcvimcend Church. Father Bimdoro has a hard time understanding Taiwanese, commonly spoken in his parish. Although he is fluent in Chinese, in order to make communication better, he is now planning to learn Taiwanese.
In Father Bimdoro's opinion, Kaohsiung is a very special city. He particularly loves the beauty of the river and harbor. He is glad the traditional life styles of the people can still be experienced here. He feels it is a very hospitable and charitable city, where people truly respect traditional holidays. Father Bimdoro enjoys participating in rich traditions such as Tomb Sweeping Day and Chinese New Year. This is something he felt was different from his experience in Taipei.
Saindcvimcend Church is located on Sanduo Road in Kaohsiung. Everyone is welcome to come and enjoy one of his masses. It also serves as a gathering place for the international members of the church. There are many foreign spouses from South East Asia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, who are regulars at the church. The church also offers after school classes for their children and has become an integral part of these people's lives.
Father Bimdoro admires Kaohsiung for its broad, straight streets as well its new buildings. He feels it is an energetic up and coming city. When Father Bimdoro taught at Wenzao Ursuline College, he would enjoy visiting the Fine Arts Museum. Since he started working for the Church, he frequents the Cultural Center and Love River. He is truly a resident of our fine city.
◎文．攝影／張筧
「如果谷神父不在教堂，那可能就在愛河畔喝咖啡囉！」，2003年來到高雄這個城市到現在已有三年半的時間，谷神父適應了開車在高雄大街小巷穿梭的交通秩序，也感受到高雄與日俱進的改變，尤其是公園綠地的嶄新風貌和他最喜歡的愛河，都讓谷神父融入了高雄的生活。
印尼籍的谷神父從1996年來到台灣，曾經在台北學習中文，派任到台東的教會，2003年才來到高雄三多路口和和平路口的聖文生教堂。說得一口流利國語的谷神父對於教友經常使用的台語卻一知半解，因此為了溝通的需要，谷神父也將展開他學習台語的規劃。
在谷神父的心目中，高雄是個很特別的城市，除了一個城市有河、有港就份外美麗之外，谷神父感受到高雄仍保有許多傳統的生活的型態，也較重視別人的想法，樂於提供人們必要的協助，對人很熱情。此外高雄人對傳統節日還是比較重視，像是清明節、過年的氣氛還是非常的濃厚，這是他在台北所感受不到的氛圍。
高雄聖文生教堂位於三多路上，教堂也提供了許多當地外籍教友，是來自東南亞、印尼、菲律賓、越南的外籍配偶做彌撒、聚會的場所，有必要時也為他們的孩子做課外的輔導，和在地生活結合在一起。
在谷神父眼中，高雄是個新興城市，寬闊、筆直的街道、新穎的建築，都讓人覺得高雄是很年輕的地方，這多年來他文藻任教時就喜歡往美術館跑、在教堂這段時間就往文化中心或愛河，成為十足的高雄通。