ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Process of beatification for 36 servants of God missionaries in labour camps during the Korean War

Monday, 28 May 2007

Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - The Order of St Benedict of Wagwan has announced the opening of a process of Beatification for 36 Servants of God who died in labour camps and prison camps in the years of the Korean War 1949 to 1952 while ministering to prisoners, comforting them, administering the Sacraments, instilling hope and announcing the Kingdom of God. The process will mark the beginning of preparations for celebrations in 2009 to mark the 100th anniversary of the arrival in Korea of the Congregation of the Benedictines of St. Ottilia.
The decree signed by Abbot Simon Pietro Ri Hyeong-u, states “the Congregation will play an active part in promoting the cause for the beatification and canonisation of Abbot Boniface Sauer, Fr. Benedict Kim and 34 companions”, who died in prison camps. The congregation must first obtain approval of the Bishops of the dioceses involved Pyongyang, Hamhung and Tokwon and then
begin to collect testimony and material for the first stage of the Beatification process.
To celebrate the centenary the Benedictine community in Korea has instituted a preparatory commission to plan spiritual and cultural initiatives for “renewal and updating the community”. Preparation will be organised as: “year of purification” (2007), “year of sanctification” (2008), year of thanksgiving ” (2009).
In April the community suffered a disaster. A fire at Waegwan Monastery destroyed the cells of the 70 monks living there (see Agenzia Fides 13/4/2007). The Congregation of Benedictines of Saint Ottilia (Benedictine Missionaries), with its 136 monks is the largest Benedictine community in Asia.
The Congregation was founded in 1887 by Fr Andreas Amrhein in Bavaria, for missionary work in Africa and in Asia. The Patron Saint of the order is Saint Ottilia of Alsace, born blind and miraculously cured, a Benedictine nun and abbess. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 28/5/2007 righe 27 parole 279)


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