Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Fides Service) - The Society of Jesus in Korea is preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its service in Korea in 2005 with academic acts, seminars as well as spiritual initiatives and liturgical celebrations. Celebrations, the Korean Jesuits say, will demonstrate the precious contribution offered by the Society of Jesus to the Church and people of Korea in these fifty years.
The Korean Jesuit Province is part of the Assistance Region of South East Asia which includes Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines and Macao-Hong Kong.
In this region Jesuits are engaged mainly in education, formation, instruction with a total of 27 schools, 4 technical institutes, and 20 universities for a total of 70,000 students
One famous college run by the Jesuits is Sogang University opened in Seoul in 1959 where education and the principles of Catholic doctrine is provided in harmony with the culture of the Korean people. The goal of the University’s excellent education appreciated all over Korea is the integral promotion of the person, human and spiritual growth, development of talents and potential to enable citizens to put themselves at the service of the nation and society.
The school programme was approved in 1948 by Pope Pius XII and when the Society of Jesus was granted juridical status on Korea in 1956 it purchased the piece of land in Seoul in which the university was opened in 1959.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 13/12/2004 righe 24 parole 243)
