* Day for Korean Missionaries Abroad

An event for 'the Day of Korean Missionaries Abroad' took place at Myeongdong Cathedral of Seoul on October 1, 2010, under the joint auspices of the Subcommittee for Overseas Mission under the CBCK Committee for the Pastoral Care of Koreans Living Abroad (President: Most Rev. Vincent Ri Pyung-ho), the Missionary Commission of the Korean Conference of Major Superiors of Men's Religious Institutes and Societies of Apostolic Life (President: Rev. Stephen Nam Sang-heon) and the Missionary Department of the Association of Major Superiors of Religious Women (President: Sr. Mary Aquina Youn Jeong-ok). About 80 of those who are involved in overseas mission at the level of missionary societies, religious institutes and dioceses participated in the event which included lectures, speeches, exchanges, questions and answers and a closing Mass. Here, participants discussed ways to improve their work of evangelisation, sharing missionary information and vision beyond their own competence.

Rev. Augustine Kim Myeong-dong, Superior General of the Korean Missionary Society, spoke about the prospects of missionary action today. He stressed that the Catholic Church in Korea assumes more important role in new evangelisation of Europe and Latin America, as well as particularly in evangelisation in Asia. He also proposed the establishment of a training center for Korean missionaries.

Rev. Vincent Lee Jong-seung from the Missionary Society of St. Columban in Seoul made a presentation of the reality and activities of Korean missionaries abroad. He pointed out that at least 690 Korean missionaries including men and women religious, diocesan priests and lay people are working around the world, as of March 2010, according to a survey released by the Pontifical Mission Societies in Korea.

In his homily, Bishop Ri stressed the importance of Gospels for missionary works and called upon the Catholic Church in Korea to give her support and concerns to the Korean missionaries abroad. He added "I hope that this Day for Korean Missionaries Abroad becomes a small seed to revitalise the missionary spirit and commitment."