Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Committee for Communications, Archdiocese of Seoul
Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - The work of missionaries is an action that "touches hearts and leads to a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ". This is the wish that Pope Francis, hospitalized at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome for more than two weeks, addresses to the "Korea Mission Society", which is celebrating its golden Jubilee these days, that is, 50 years since its foundation (see Fides, 14/10/2024).
The "Korea Mission Society" was in fact founded on February 26, 1975 (about 22 years after the end of the Korean War) thanks to an intuition of the Bishop Emeritus of Busan, John A. Choi Jae-seon. Approved by the Korean Episcopal Conference, it currently has 87 members, including missionary priests and lay people. Legally speaking, it now presents itself as a Society of Apostolic Life of diocesan law, under the responsibility of the Archdiocese of Seoul.
The Society, which also has a "missionary school", says it is "open to the whole world, wherever there is a need for missionaries", with a particular interest in Asia. To date, in fact, dozens of missionaries have been sent outside Korean territory and are working in 9 countries, including Papua New Guinea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, but also in other countries in Africa and the American continent.
Several events have accompanied February 26 in recent months, such as conferences, seminars and the ceremony of sending three diocesan priests as new missionaries.
The ceremony, which took place on Friday, February 28, was presided over by Archbishop Peter Soon-taick Chung, who presented Joseph Yoon-sang Yoon, John Dae-yong Kim (who will travel to Taiwan), and Peter Byung-woong Oh (the latter bound for South America) with a wooden crucifix, a symbol of their commitment to the missionary path and their dedication to spreading the Gospel.
“Although I feel anxious about leaving for such a distant land, I remember the words of a nun who reassured me: ‘God will be there before you, so do not worry.’ I will do my best to live joyfully alongside God, who is already here,” said Peter Byung-woong Oh. The celebration follows the solemn ceremony of the last hours, which also took place in the Cathedral of Myeongdong, during which the Apostolic Nuncio in Korea, Archbishop Giovanni Gasparri, read the message that the Pope wrote for the occasion and sent through the Cardinal Secretary of State.
The Pontiff asked the missionaries to consider this important anniversary not as an end, but as “an inspiration for continued dedication to the spread of the Gospel”, overcoming the religious indifference that permeates our society in order “to proclaim the Good News effectively, even in difficult situations”.
The celebration, presided over by Archbishop Jeong Soon-taek of the Archdiocese of Seoul and concelebrated by Cardinal Yeom Soo-jung and a large group of bishops and priests, was opened by a procession with the flags of the countries where the “Korea Mission Society” is present. A procession attended by representatives of the nine countries where the Korea Mission Society is present, with representatives from Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, China, Cambodia, Mozambique, the Philippines, Mexico and the United States.
In his homily, Archbishop Jeong expressed his gratitude for the sacrifices and missionary work that the Society carries out, recalling that "mission is the very essence of the Church and its reason for being. Because we Christians, who have encountered God personally, do not keep God's love locked up in our hearts". (FB) (Agenzia Fides, 1/3/2025)
