ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - The Catholic Church in Korea recognises and praises the work of missionaries all through its history

Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - To recognise the great contribution offered by missionary institutes to the evangelisation of Kore in the 1900 was the theme of a Symposium organised by the Foundation for Research on the History of the Catholic Church in Korea held recently in Seoul. The Foundation, directed by rev. Joseph Kim Seong-tae, underlined the important and decisive role played by the Paris Society for Foreign Missions MEP for the growth and development of the Catholic Church in Korea. The main speaker Bishop Andrei Yeom Soo-jung, auxiliary of Seoul, expressed gratitude towards all missionaries who dedicated their lives with zeal and generosity to mission in Korea and kept the flame of faith alive during the time of Japanese occupation and the war.
The Symposium also highlighted the role of the Paris Society for Foreign Missions, active in the Apostolic Vicariate of Joseon, which later in 1911 became the Apostolic Vicariate Seoul and the Apostolic Vicariate of Taegu. Thanks to the MEP the number of local clergy doubled in a few years, one of the speakers underlined.
Another Institute known for its presence in Korea is the Benedictine Congregation of Sant’Ottilia, which worked in Manciuria in 1909-1949 in fields such as religious life, education, liturgy, playing an important role for the development of the liturgy in Korea.
The spiritual growth of the laity was promoted by Maryknoll Missionaries in the 1930s with active mission animation in families and villages particularly with books and magazines. Lastly the Symposium recalled the missionaries of Saint Columba who remained with the people despite difficulties becoming a point of reference for the people of Korea, especially in the years of occupation and war. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 26/10/2007 righe 26 parole 269)