Healing wounded hearts
Father Moal brings anyone in need of help back to the church, arranging accommodations wherever he can. He even sold the land his parents left to him in France so that he wouldn’t have to turn away people in need.
As the number of people involved has grown, Moal has systematized their recycling efforts. “We sort items here, and have another workstation that strips the metals out of electrical appliances. PET bottles have to be separated out from other plastics, because they fetch a different recycling price,” says Moal, sharing some of the recycling knowledge he’s picked up over decades.
He also has his workers take on other tasks to which they are suited. For example, physically strong individuals are asked to drive to designated locations to collect recyclables from residents. People with limited mobility sort items at a recycling station, or help organize still-usable secondhand goods, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to develop and contribute.
Moal keeps the recycling center tidy and organized. With all the recyclables arranged by category, and the floor swept and mopped prior to the conclusion of each day’s work, it looks nothing like a stereotypically messy, mosquito-ridden recycling center.
Each recycling station also has basic kitchen amenities. Coworkers cook for one another, working, eating, cracking jokes, and occasionally even sharing their troubles. They’re like a big family, with Fr. Moal their revered patriarch.
Coming from different backgrounds, they sometimes argue, and a few fall back into bad habits, but Moal never gives up on any of them. He believes that living as a group allows them to give each other spiritual strength, helping themselves get back on track. His approach ensures that it’s not just materials that are put back into use, but also their own hearts.
Fr. Moal (front row, left) uses recycling to help people who have been injured in some way regain their confidence and their joy in life. (photo by Chuang Kung-ju)