Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Fides Service) - “Many people in the world still live in conditions of hunger and poverty. If we help the poor and the needy in other countries we will be rewarded by God. This is also a way to be authentic Christians, in the image of our Father” said Bishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik president of the Caritas Commission of the Korean Bishops’ Conference in a recent message “Give and you will receive”. Bishop You Heung-sik is coadjutor of Daejeon diocese.
Recently the Church in Korea celebrated the Ad Gentes Aid Day calling on Catholics and all people of good will to give more generously in aid of tsunami victims and for those who suffer from hunger in Asia (also in North Korea ) and Africa.
The Caritas message recalls: “After the Korean war we faced many difficulties. Thanks to many prayers and material aid from many countries we were able to rebuild our country on the ruins of war. Now it is our duty to offer concrete aid for people in difficulty in other countries”.
The Bishop said that in the world today people tend to accumulate riches rather than to share. “Our world produces enough food to feed the whole of humanity if we share. Our Father in heaven wants his children to love one another and to help one another as brothers and sisters”. Recalling that “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving” (Acts 20,35) the message calls on Koreans to live a life of joy and blessings giving generously to others.
One of the countries assisted by Caritas Korea is Bangladesh where a team recently visited Homes for disabled people and orphans supported by Caritas. In 2004 Caritas funded programmes in Bangladesh for 176,000 dollars and expects to do the same in 2005 and 2006, to build at least 1,000 homes for poor women and children. The Auxiliary Bishop of Dacca Theotonius Gomes thanked Caritas Korea for its generous aid and said that some of the money would be used for building a church dedicated to Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon and companion martyrs, in north east Bangladesh where there is a large Catholic community.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 31/1/2004 righe 35 parole 376)
