Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - Philippines Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, joined Philippines expatriates for celebrations to mark the 15th anniversary of the official founding of the Philippine immigrant Catholic community in Korea. At the invitation of Seoul archdiocesan Commission for Pastoral Care of Labour, the Cardinal visited several Philippine communities in Seoul and in other parts of the country. In Seoul cathedral he celebrated a special Mass in the presence of over 3,000 Philippine immigrants.
In his homily the Cardinal recalled the close bond between the Catholic communities in Korea and the Philippines and their common experience of martyrs for the faith. The Archbishop of Manila urged Philippine immigrants in Korea to make every effort “become familiar with tradition and history of the Catholic Church in Korea” and he expressed his gratitude to Korean Catholics, individuals, institutions and organisations who make Philippine immigrants welcome and assist their integration in society.
The Korean Bishops' Commission for Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerants has always sought to promote respect for the dignity of immigrants and refugees.
In 1992 the Archdiocese of Seoul instituted its own diocesan commission for pastoral care of labour with a team of 20 people who assist communities of workers from China, Vietnam, Philippines Thailand, Mongolia and Latin America. Local communities of Catholic religious Orders, Salesians, Dominicans and Divine Word Missionaries and others are also actively involved in assisting immigrants. Another area of concern for the local Catholic Church in Korea is to assist immigrant women from other Asian countries, suffering from domestic abuse or caught in the trap of prostitution. These women find special care at Catholic Care Homes and Migrant Pastoral Care Centres.
Korea has an estimated one million immigrants and more than 160,000 'mixed marriages' between persons of different nationality, culture and religion. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 5/10/2007 righe 28 parole 285)
