Communications on Jan. 18, 2002
* CBCK Decides to Keep the Current System of North Korea Relief Aid
The Catholic Church in Korea plans to expand North Korea relief aid, exchanges and collaborations effectively by keeping the current system operated through the Caritas Coreana and the Committee for the Reconciliation of Korean People of the CBCK.
The Episcopal Special Commission for the Reconciliation of Korean People (President: the Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong, Archbishop of Seoul) discussed at its regular meeting held at the CBCK's conference room in Seoul, January 10, the channel of North Korean relief aid, exchanges and collaborations of the Church in Korea and agreed to keep the current system that is operated through the Caritas Coreana and the Committee for the Reconciliation of Korean People of CBCK.
The Episcopal Special Commission discussed also the question of pastoral care of the North Korean defectors and related problems.
* Catholic Environmental Conference Formed
An environmental conference aimed at binding all small and big environmental groups and organizations within the Church in Korea into one body was announced to be born in near future.
Delegations of various environmental groups and organizations within the Church in Korea including the National Environmental Meeting of Priests, the Incheon Catholic Environment Solidarity, Daejeon Catholic Environment Conference and each diocesan Headquarters of Save-Our-Farm-Movement met at St. Francis Educational Center in downtown Seoul, January 14, and formed a preparatory committee in view to establish the Catholic Environmental Conference of Korea (tentative name).
The participants elected Rev. You Yeong-hun, Representative of the National Environmental Meeting of Priests, to the president of the new conference and appointed one priest and one lay person from each diocese and organization including some representatives of religious men and women from religious congregations to the members.
Prior to form environmental network, the participants heard from You Jeong-gil, Secretary General of the Buddhist Environmental Educational Institute, a lecture on the environmental movement of Buddhists.
* "First of All, Be Kind and Friendly to Migrants, Especially Foreign Workers" -- Says the Most Rev. Kim on World Day of Migration
On January 20, on the occasion of the 88th World Day of Migration 2002, the Most Rev. James Kim, President of the Committee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants of the CBCK, asked Korean Catholics "First of all, be kind and friendly to migrants, especially foreign workers who toil in hard labor condition."
In an interview with the Catholic Times, the Most Rev. Kim underlined the significance and importance of the pastoral care for migrant people and said that "today, there are more than 150 million who live in other countries across the world. Today, the border between countries doesn't exist any more. We live in an epoch of global village which requires the Church pastoral care of migrant people. Many people from southeast Asian countries came to Korea seeking for jobs. We have to offer them spiritual and human support for their faith life. The defectors from North Korea are in the category of migrant people too."
Meantime, Rev. Peter Chung, Executive Secretary of the Committee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants of the CBCK, pointed out, in his article of the Catholic Times entitled "Nobody is a stranger in the Church", that since 1971 when the Committee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants was established under the CBCK the Church turned eyes to Koreans in overseas leaving besides the foreigners residing in Korea. Good example of it is that as of the end of 2000, the Church in Korea sent 138 Korean priests to overseas for the pastoral care of overseas Korean Catholics but not one Korean priest was appointed for full charge of pastoral care for migration.
According to the report released from the Ministry of Justice of Korea, as of the end of 2001, over 500 thousands foreigners reside in Korea. It is estimated that 300 thousands of them are foreign workers and only 6 percent of them are legal workers; 30 percent of them are in job training and 170 thousand or 64 percent of them are illegal workers.
* Moslems in Korea Sent an Appreciative Letter for the "Message for the End of Ramadan"
An appreciative letter, addressed to the General Secretariate of the CBCK, was delivered from Imam Lee of Seoul Mosque for the "Message for the End of Ramadan" of the Catholic Church. The Korean Moslems said in their letter, "the Messages you have sent us every year became a catalyst which helped us sympathetically understand that all the believers have the same aspiration for peace".
As the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue annually publishes such a Message for congratulating Moslem brothers on the occasion of the End of Ramadan, the CBCK, after translating it into Korean, sent it to Moslems in Korea last December.
* To Make the 2002 World Cup a Movement for Peace and Reconciliation
The Diocese of Suwon launched "The World Cup Movement Center for Peace and Reconciliation"(Director: The Most Rev. Paul Choi, Executive Chairman: Rev. John Bosco Hong) on Jan. 9 to promote the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup as a peace movement.
In the inauguration ceremony, the priests in leadership of cities of Suwon, Anyang, Yongin and Seongnam were appointed to the publicity members of the 2002 World Cup. These priests are expected to work to make the 2002 World Cup widely known by various activities including distribution of publicity materials to parishes. In addition to that, the Movement will develop initiatives for successful host of the World Cup such as arranging home-stay families and providing volunteer interpreters. It also plans to hold a football competition of the faithful, a concert for peace and reconciliation and a Mass with intention of successful host of the World Cup.
During the World Cup season, in parishes near Suwon Stadium Masses will be celebrated for foreign visitors in various languages such as English, French and Spanish and the Movement "Collect Footballs of Peace" is to be developed to present balls to children in North Korea and Afghanistan.
The Most Rev. Paul Choi, Bishop of Suwon, published a message titled "Let's Make the 2002 World Cup a Movement for Peace and Reconciliation" in last December, in which he said "I hope our endeavor for the unification of Korea .
* Pastoral Ministry for the Staff in Incheon Airport Launched
The Diocese of Inchon earnestly got into the pastoral ministry for people working or using the new International Airport in Yeongjongdo, Incheon.
In accordance with this decision, the Diocese established a new parish (pastor: Rev. Melchior Kim) dated on Dec. 28, to start pastoral ministry in Incheon Airport.
The parish, presently having obtained its site for construction, will provide pastoral care to some 25,000 airport-related workers and staffs and their families.
Up to now, about 10,000 moved into the new city formed around the airport, and the future population is estimated to reach 60,000 according to the development plan of Yeongjongdo.
"A new parish is needed not only for the people in new city but for the people working in the airport and travellers", an official of the Diocese of Inchon said.
Among 25,000-30,000 staffs who are working shifts in Incheon Airport, there are Catholics who have difficulty in attending Sunday Masses. In this regard, the new parish will have to combine usual parochial pastoral with pastoral care for working people.
Question of celebrating Masses regularly in the airport for passengers as well as for the staffs was discussed with the Korea Airport Authority.
* Remarkable Cooperation of Religions in Social Welfare Work
The activities of "the Conference of Social Welfare Representatives of Religions in Korea" and of "the National Conference of Religions and Civil Groups for the Unemployed and Homeless" are much appreciated for their cooperting with different religions in social welfare area recently.
Of the two Conferences, the former, inaugurated in 1998 with eight religions' participation, has represented the position of religion world regarding social welfare policies and provided a place for discussion by holding academic seminars and facilitating information exchange. In last November, it held the fourth symposium, which offered an opportunity to carefully evaluate the social welfare policies of administration of President Kim Dae-jung.
In its structure, a conference of leaders and a working level conference were established respectively, with regular meetings and activities. Since last November, bimonthly meetings with the Ministry of Health and Welfare have been held to discuss pending questions in social welfare area.
"Religions can and have done 'niche' projects in social welfare area, that is, what the government may overlook or cannot touch sufficiently. In addition, with common purpose, different religions could broaden interreligious dialogue through practical exchange and by jointly responding to the government's policies", said Rev. John Kim, President of Catholic Social Service, and former Chairman of the Conference in 2001.
The latter, for the Unemployed and Homeless, was established in 1998 to cope with the increasing number of homeless people in 1998 when Korea suffered from drastic unemployment because of economic crisis. It focused its activities on inducing government's concern over the homeless and taking care of the human rights of such people.
Moreover, it emphasizes that projects for the homeless should aim at helping them rehabilitate and self-support, not merely being satisfied in accommodating and protecting them. It also fights against the prejudice of the general public and implants them with the thought that the homeless have the right to live as a equal member of the society.
"Working together for resolving the homeless problems, over which even the government showed little concern, different religions could deepen mutual understanding", said the executive director Rev. Jeong Eun-il, a Protestant minister. Futhermore, preparation work to establish "The Conference of Social Welfare Centers of Religions" is underway for helping proper management and institution of social welfare centers.
The Catholic Church in Korea plans to expand North Korea relief aid, exchanges and collaborations effectively by keeping the current system operated through the Caritas Coreana and the Committee for the Reconciliation of Korean People of the CBCK.
The Episcopal Special Commission for the Reconciliation of Korean People (President: the Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong, Archbishop of Seoul) discussed at its regular meeting held at the CBCK's conference room in Seoul, January 10, the channel of North Korean relief aid, exchanges and collaborations of the Church in Korea and agreed to keep the current system that is operated through the Caritas Coreana and the Committee for the Reconciliation of Korean People of CBCK.
The Episcopal Special Commission discussed also the question of pastoral care of the North Korean defectors and related problems.
* Catholic Environmental Conference Formed
An environmental conference aimed at binding all small and big environmental groups and organizations within the Church in Korea into one body was announced to be born in near future.
Delegations of various environmental groups and organizations within the Church in Korea including the National Environmental Meeting of Priests, the Incheon Catholic Environment Solidarity, Daejeon Catholic Environment Conference and each diocesan Headquarters of Save-Our-Farm-Movement met at St. Francis Educational Center in downtown Seoul, January 14, and formed a preparatory committee in view to establish the Catholic Environmental Conference of Korea (tentative name).
The participants elected Rev. You Yeong-hun, Representative of the National Environmental Meeting of Priests, to the president of the new conference and appointed one priest and one lay person from each diocese and organization including some representatives of religious men and women from religious congregations to the members.
Prior to form environmental network, the participants heard from You Jeong-gil, Secretary General of the Buddhist Environmental Educational Institute, a lecture on the environmental movement of Buddhists.
* "First of All, Be Kind and Friendly to Migrants, Especially Foreign Workers" -- Says the Most Rev. Kim on World Day of Migration
On January 20, on the occasion of the 88th World Day of Migration 2002, the Most Rev. James Kim, President of the Committee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants of the CBCK, asked Korean Catholics "First of all, be kind and friendly to migrants, especially foreign workers who toil in hard labor condition."
In an interview with the Catholic Times, the Most Rev. Kim underlined the significance and importance of the pastoral care for migrant people and said that "today, there are more than 150 million who live in other countries across the world. Today, the border between countries doesn't exist any more. We live in an epoch of global village which requires the Church pastoral care of migrant people. Many people from southeast Asian countries came to Korea seeking for jobs. We have to offer them spiritual and human support for their faith life. The defectors from North Korea are in the category of migrant people too."
Meantime, Rev. Peter Chung, Executive Secretary of the Committee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants of the CBCK, pointed out, in his article of the Catholic Times entitled "Nobody is a stranger in the Church", that since 1971 when the Committee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants was established under the CBCK the Church turned eyes to Koreans in overseas leaving besides the foreigners residing in Korea. Good example of it is that as of the end of 2000, the Church in Korea sent 138 Korean priests to overseas for the pastoral care of overseas Korean Catholics but not one Korean priest was appointed for full charge of pastoral care for migration.
According to the report released from the Ministry of Justice of Korea, as of the end of 2001, over 500 thousands foreigners reside in Korea. It is estimated that 300 thousands of them are foreign workers and only 6 percent of them are legal workers; 30 percent of them are in job training and 170 thousand or 64 percent of them are illegal workers.
* Moslems in Korea Sent an Appreciative Letter for the "Message for the End of Ramadan"
An appreciative letter, addressed to the General Secretariate of the CBCK, was delivered from Imam Lee of Seoul Mosque for the "Message for the End of Ramadan" of the Catholic Church. The Korean Moslems said in their letter, "the Messages you have sent us every year became a catalyst which helped us sympathetically understand that all the believers have the same aspiration for peace".
As the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue annually publishes such a Message for congratulating Moslem brothers on the occasion of the End of Ramadan, the CBCK, after translating it into Korean, sent it to Moslems in Korea last December.
* To Make the 2002 World Cup a Movement for Peace and Reconciliation
The Diocese of Suwon launched "The World Cup Movement Center for Peace and Reconciliation"(Director: The Most Rev. Paul Choi, Executive Chairman: Rev. John Bosco Hong) on Jan. 9 to promote the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup as a peace movement.
In the inauguration ceremony, the priests in leadership of cities of Suwon, Anyang, Yongin and Seongnam were appointed to the publicity members of the 2002 World Cup. These priests are expected to work to make the 2002 World Cup widely known by various activities including distribution of publicity materials to parishes. In addition to that, the Movement will develop initiatives for successful host of the World Cup such as arranging home-stay families and providing volunteer interpreters. It also plans to hold a football competition of the faithful, a concert for peace and reconciliation and a Mass with intention of successful host of the World Cup.
During the World Cup season, in parishes near Suwon Stadium Masses will be celebrated for foreign visitors in various languages such as English, French and Spanish and the Movement "Collect Footballs of Peace" is to be developed to present balls to children in North Korea and Afghanistan.
The Most Rev. Paul Choi, Bishop of Suwon, published a message titled "Let's Make the 2002 World Cup a Movement for Peace and Reconciliation" in last December, in which he said "I hope our endeavor for the unification of Korea .
* Pastoral Ministry for the Staff in Incheon Airport Launched
The Diocese of Inchon earnestly got into the pastoral ministry for people working or using the new International Airport in Yeongjongdo, Incheon.
In accordance with this decision, the Diocese established a new parish (pastor: Rev. Melchior Kim) dated on Dec. 28, to start pastoral ministry in Incheon Airport.
The parish, presently having obtained its site for construction, will provide pastoral care to some 25,000 airport-related workers and staffs and their families.
Up to now, about 10,000 moved into the new city formed around the airport, and the future population is estimated to reach 60,000 according to the development plan of Yeongjongdo.
"A new parish is needed not only for the people in new city but for the people working in the airport and travellers", an official of the Diocese of Inchon said.
Among 25,000-30,000 staffs who are working shifts in Incheon Airport, there are Catholics who have difficulty in attending Sunday Masses. In this regard, the new parish will have to combine usual parochial pastoral with pastoral care for working people.
Question of celebrating Masses regularly in the airport for passengers as well as for the staffs was discussed with the Korea Airport Authority.
* Remarkable Cooperation of Religions in Social Welfare Work
The activities of "the Conference of Social Welfare Representatives of Religions in Korea" and of "the National Conference of Religions and Civil Groups for the Unemployed and Homeless" are much appreciated for their cooperting with different religions in social welfare area recently.
Of the two Conferences, the former, inaugurated in 1998 with eight religions' participation, has represented the position of religion world regarding social welfare policies and provided a place for discussion by holding academic seminars and facilitating information exchange. In last November, it held the fourth symposium, which offered an opportunity to carefully evaluate the social welfare policies of administration of President Kim Dae-jung.
In its structure, a conference of leaders and a working level conference were established respectively, with regular meetings and activities. Since last November, bimonthly meetings with the Ministry of Health and Welfare have been held to discuss pending questions in social welfare area.
"Religions can and have done 'niche' projects in social welfare area, that is, what the government may overlook or cannot touch sufficiently. In addition, with common purpose, different religions could broaden interreligious dialogue through practical exchange and by jointly responding to the government's policies", said Rev. John Kim, President of Catholic Social Service, and former Chairman of the Conference in 2001.
The latter, for the Unemployed and Homeless, was established in 1998 to cope with the increasing number of homeless people in 1998 when Korea suffered from drastic unemployment because of economic crisis. It focused its activities on inducing government's concern over the homeless and taking care of the human rights of such people.
Moreover, it emphasizes that projects for the homeless should aim at helping them rehabilitate and self-support, not merely being satisfied in accommodating and protecting them. It also fights against the prejudice of the general public and implants them with the thought that the homeless have the right to live as a equal member of the society.
"Working together for resolving the homeless problems, over which even the government showed little concern, different religions could deepen mutual understanding", said the executive director Rev. Jeong Eun-il, a Protestant minister. Futhermore, preparation work to establish "The Conference of Social Welfare Centers of Religions" is underway for helping proper management and institution of social welfare centers.