ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - “Happy House” new pastoral centre for immigrant workers

Saturday, 24 September 2005

Incheon (Fides Service) - Happy House pastoral centre for immigrant workers opened a month ago is proving a success. The centre opened on 1 September in the diocese of Incheon is already a point of reference for communities of immigrants for meetings, social events, deepening of the faith and formation for children.
Diocesan Bishop Bonifacio Choi Ki-san said workers come to the centre to meet and discuss t problems and help each other, as well as to pray and spend time relaxing. The centre staffed by lay volunteers from Incheon diocese offers courses in Korean language and cooking,.
Care for immigrants workers has always been a priority for the Catholic Church in Korea. Recently through its Commission for pastoral care of migrants and itinerant peoples, the Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference expressed concern for illegal immigrants many of whom live in highly precarious situations
Another problem addressed by the local Catholic community is assistance for women immigrants caught in the trap of prostitution and other kinds of abuse. In 2004 the local Church opened a Home for Women at the Moses Migrants Centre in the diocese of Taejon.
Catholics also strive to help illegal immigrant without residence permits and therefore denied all state assistance. The South Korean ministry of justice said that 130,00 illegal immigrants are to be repatriated and of these 80,000 have four year permits which have not been renewed and another 50,000 were not included in the new law on immigration.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/09/2005 Righe: 25 Parole: 254)


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