Bishop John Baptist Lee Keh-mien

Incumbent Bishop John Baptist Lee Keh-mien (2006–present): Bishop Lee (baptismal name John Baptist) was born in Tainan City, Taiwan, in 1958. He was accepted as a diocesan seminarian by Bishop Tu Pao-chin in 1980. After graduating from the Department of Philosophy at Fu Jen Catholic University in 1985, he went to Ireland to pursue theological studies, graduating from the Department of Theology at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, in 1989. He was ordained a priest in 1990. From 1996 to 2002, he studied Canon Law in the Philippines and served at a parish in Manila, earning a Master of Canon Law degree from the University of Santo Tomas in 1999. Upon returning to Taiwan in 2002, he served successively as parochial vicar and parish priest at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish within the diocese. He obtained a Doctorate in Canon Law from the University of Santo Tomas in March 2003 and was appointed Rector of the Taiwan Catholic Regional Seminary in August (8) of the same year. In April 2006, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of the Diocese of Hsinchu, and he was ordained and installed as bishop in June (6) of that year. Upon assuming office, Bishop Lee adopted "Communion and Evangelization" as his episcopal motto and dedicated himself to advancing the diocese's pastoral and evangelization efforts. He visited parishes and led the establishment of the diocese's information systems and management structures, creating bodies such as the Social Welfare Management and R&D Committee (renamed the Social Welfare Management Committee in 2019), the Joint Management Committee for Early Childhood Education (Preschool Education Management and R&D Committee), and an educational institute. Furthermore, he actively aligned with social trends and collaborated with the government on initiatives to care for local residents and vulnerable groups—such as organizing Christmas street parades and lighting ceremonies, and encouraging diocesan social welfare institutions to integrate and collaborate with local communities. He sought greater interaction and cooperation with the laity, encouraging them to plan and participate in pastoral work spontaneously under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In 2011, marking the diocese's golden anniversary, he convened the first Diocesan Pastoral Congress. This gathering consolidated ten major proposals and resolutions—covering liturgy, formation, leadership style, communication and coordination, small faith communities, family and children, youth and vocations, foreign parishioners, evangelization methods, and social care—thereby outlining a concrete development direction for the diocese. That same year, a special publication titled *Leaping: A Record of Passing on the Flame of Love in the Hsinchu Diocese* was released.In 2015, he collaborated with Human Life International (HLI) to host the Asia-Pacific International Conference on Faith, Life, and Family, maintaining a steadfast focus on family values and the protection of life. Recognizing the public's need for spiritual peace amidst the rapid pace of globalization, Bishop Lee partnered with the government and other religious groups to promote spiritual care for the terminally ill and the infirm; starting with foundational training, these efforts were gradually expanded across hospitals, parishes, and social welfare institutions. He aspired for more people in need to receive holistic care—encompassing body, mind, and spirit—and for the government and the general public to witness and experience the Catholic Church’s spirit and philosophy of loving God and neighbor. Addressing the persistent shortage of local vocations and religious priests serving in Taiwan, he reached out to clergy from various congregations—including the Congregation of Holy Cross, the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Consolata Missionaries, the Thailand Mission, the Vietnamese Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, and the Society of Peace—inviting them to join in the diocese's pastoral and evangelization work. He sought to lead the diocese in journeying together with the Universal Church, sharing personal experiences of encountering and being loved by Jesus Christ. Grounded in the Word of God (through prayer and Scripture reading), he encouraged mutual listening, dialogue, and communion, fostering a shared commitment to the mission of evangelization. United closely in the Lord, the diocese aims to build upon the past while looking to the future, putting Church teachings into practice and bearing witness to God’s truth and mercy.