By Fr. Paolo Na Myong-ok, SDB
Seoul, Korea, December 3, 2015 - ‘The Church in North Korea is in my heart’ – this is a new initiative launched by the Seoul Archidiocese that involves all parishes in praying during the whole YEAR of MERCY for the Catholic Faithful in North Korea.
In 2015 we remembered already 70 years of division of Korea into two parts. During the Year of Mercy the Catholic in the South would like to remember the Catholics in the North who are still living in very difficult times. This prayer campaign initiative was launched during the November 24 Eucharist in the Cathedral of Myeongdong. Seoul Cardinal Archbishop Andrew Yeom Soo-jung during his homily underlined: ‘As the archbishop of Seoul and apostolic administrator of Pyeongyang, I never forgot the Catholic Church in the North with all brothers and sisters in faith in my prayers. The Korean peninsula is among those regions in the world that most need the Mercy of God. All Catholics are invited to offer daily the ‘Prayer for Peace and Reconciliation’.
According the official statistics, at the end of the Pacific War and liberation from Japanese occupation, there were 54 parishes and about 5200 Catholics in North Korea. Before, during and after the Korean War (1950-1953) the Catholic in the North suffered very strong persecution and according the present estimates there are only very few Catholic faithful.
Since last February 2011 Fr. Paul Na Myong Ok, SDB was at the service of Catholic Bishops Conference of Korea in the Committee for National Reconciliation – ministering to the North Korean refugees in the Seoul. From this year Fr. Paul Na became a Coordinator of the newly erected Committee for National Reconciliation and Peace of the Korean Male Religious Superiors Association (cf. hwahai.cbck.or.kr)
Among his main duties are the weekly Sunday visits to the National Agency facility. All newly arrived North Korean refugees (via Thailand, Laos or China) spend in this government investigation center three months after their arrival to the South. In the government designed program there is also a space for introducing the main religions. Sunday Catholic programs are run together with two religious sisters, brothers and lay volunteers.
After three months the North Korean refugees are transferred to one of the two ‘Hanawon’ government facilities for another 3 months program that facilitates their smooth entering into the South Korean social life – through different education programs and professional skills courses. All refugees can also choose between Buddhist, Protestant or Catholic religious programs – prayer services and group or personal dialogue. Fr. Paul is also involved in the necessary assistance during their first months of the refugees independent life. They receive from the government own apartment, but are facing the challenges of cultural shock. Also many religious congregations open group home facilities for the young people from North Korea who arrived without their parents (e.g Dream-house of the FMA sisters in Seoul).
Fr. Paul shares his inner conviction:
“We don’t’ know, when the time of Korean reconciliation and unification will come, but these North refugees with their personal experience on both sides of the actual boarder are very important link and catalyst in mutual understanding of the same Korean people. If they settle well with a positive life experience they might exercise a wonderful bridge role between the two parts of the divided nation in the future.”
"Although there is no fast end of the division ahead of us, as South Korean religious we try to contribute our best to this ministry. We would appreciate also some preparation and support from the Superiors side.”
"At the level of the EAO region I dream about possible help to those North Korean refugees in Mongolia, Thailand or other South Asia countries. Before their refugee statues recognition they spend long time in detention centers in those countries. Possible connection with local Salesian family religious congregations might be a good help in this mission."
For past 20 years, since March 7, 1995 the Archdiocese of Seoul has been celebrating a Holy Mass 'for peace and reconciliation on Korean Peninsula in division' every Tuesday to pray for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Last January 6, 2015 the 1000th 'Mass was held in Seoul Cathedral of Myongdong.
North Korean brothers and sisters are in my heart. Please, join us in our prayers for them during the Year of Mercy!
3824(IV)_Feastday of St Francis Xavier - Patron of the Missions
