ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Augustinians celebrate 25 years in Korea

Seoul (Agenzia Fides) – In September 1985, the first four Augustinians, two from Australia and two from England/Wales, arrived in Korea, thus responding to the invitation of the then Bishop of Incheon, William McNaughton. Although the Augustinian presence in the Philippines, India, Japan, and China goes back to the sixteenth century, the one in Korea is the most recent and just celebrated its 25 years of life. At first, the Augustinians mainly dedicated themselves to learning the language, then working as chaplains in hospitals and parishes. In 1987, they were given a house in the Archdiocese of Seoul and in 1990, they began to welcome the first local vocations. In April 1994, the order's first foundation was officially founded in the Diocese of Incheon, at the Convent of Saint Augustine, which was called the "open space" because of its Augustinian charism of hospitality practiced by the community of monks who are there to offer advice, spiritual assistance, confessions, retreats, etc. at any time.
The two English Augustinian friars returned to their homeland and two brothers from the Filipino community in Cebu took over their tasks. The number of vocations grew, and in 1998, a house of formation and a chapel were built on the island of Kanghwa, off the coast of Incheon. In 2005, a third community was opened in the new Diocese of Uijeong-bu, north of Seoul, near the demilitarized border with North Korea. The organization of retreats and pastoral work in the many military camps in this area are the main apostolate carried out by the three Augustinians who form the community.
In 2006, the Augustinian Center in Incheon, located in a central location was expanded with a new hall for meetings and conferences, as well as a home for school-age children who have family difficulties and form a part of the social assistance program run by the Augustinians called "Norang Narang" (meaning “You and me”).
As reported in the Order's newsletter, in September 2007 the Korean delegation, hitherto dependent on the Prior General, entered to form part of the Augustinian Province of Australasia. Currently, the delegation consists of five Korean priests and four Korean deacons, 4 with temporal vows, one novice, and two postulants. There are also two Augustinians from the Philippines and one Australian. Over 50 lay people share in the mission and spirituality of the order as Secular Augustinians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 23/09/2010)