Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Agenzia Fides) – Constant prayer and an increase in humanitarian aid: along these lines the Church in South Korea hopes to enter into a more fraternal relationship with North Korea, as it struggles to face hunger, poverty and a lack of basic freedoms.
Catholics in Korea will celebrate Day of Prayer for Reconciliation and Unity of the Korean People on June 22, as called for by the Bishops’ Conference Reconciliation Committee, led by Bishop Lucas Kim Woon-hoe. All the dioceses and all the Catholics will pray for this intention. The Committee has also issued a special message on the occasion, affirming that “we are not able to overcome the situation of a divided country, because of our selfishness. We should love our neighbors, just as God has loved us.”
Bishop Kim noted that in recent years, steps forward have been taken in relations between North and South Korea and that there seems to be a growing mutual understanding. This is encouraging. North Korea is trying its best to move towards renewal and economic openness. Bishop Kim asks that the governments of North and South Korea to take up a sincere and peaceful dialogue, abandoning the problems of the past. The message concludes by saying, “the reunification of the two Koreas should be the future of our country,” and asks the faithful to pray for reconciliation and pardon.
In addition to prayer, the Committee has also offered humanitarian aid, once more, to the suffering people of North Korea. Thus, during the novena preparations for the June 22 celebration, a special collection will be taken up to send further shipments of food and medicine to the most needy in the North. “The situation in North Korea is very serious. There is a continual lack of supplies. We should keep the channel of fraternal love and support open,” said Fr. John Kim Hun-il, who is working on the campaign that hopes to provide at lest 200,000 tons of food supply.
Others have mentioned that, just as the Korean faithful have contributed to the aid sent to Myanmar and China, as a result of the recent natural disasters, they are also called to do the same for their North Korean brothers who are even closer to them. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 20/6/2008)
