Written by KOR SocCom
Hwaseong City, Korea, 23 January 2025 -- “Let the Province have a long-term plan for continuity and expansion in these special ministries, including those working for migrant workers who are coming into your country in a higher and higher number.” This was one of the recommendations of the Rector Major in the report on Extraordinary Visitation to the Korean Province in May last year by Fr Joseph Phuoc. While recognizing the reality of many migrant workers in our country, the province specifically mentioned that this is one of the areas where the province will need to put more effort over the next six years. The fact that the head of the Congregation spoke about the situation in our province and recommended a pastoral response to migrant workers is the first time in the province's 70-year history. That is how much our social environment has changed. The actual response to this was given on 22 January 2025.
A community for migrant workers began in Hwaseong city, in Gyeonggi-do, at 10 a.m. on 22 January. It is the temporary home of the Salesian Holy Family Community for migrant workers, located in Room 1002, Building 1101, O2 Grande Apartments, Hyangnam-eup. Here, for the next two to three years, three Salesians will live and prepare for the tentative name “Don Bosco Migrant Workers Center.” This house, which has the nature of an international community, will have its first members: Director Fr Mark Kim Pyungan, Economer Fr Benedict Kim, and Fr Olivio da Costa from East Timor.
“'When walking through a snow-covered field, do not walk carelessly. The footsteps you take today will surely become a guidepost for those who follow.' I believe that this famous quote is a good inspiration for this community that is starting today. The ministries that this community will undertake have not yet been established, but I expect that it will continue managing the migrant children's study room that has been in operation for the past two years and provide appropriate responses to the demands of local churches, society, and the reality of migrant workers." In his homily, Fr Marcello Baek Kwanghyun, the provincial superior who presided at the Mass for the opening of the community, urged the newly-formed community to set its pastoral direction correctly and to respond well to the demands of reality while cooperating with the local Church without rushing. He then suggested the establishment of a migrant pastoral center that would meet the needs of the local community and the Church as a priority mission of the community, which would be established after two to three years of careful research and discernment.
“I sincerely congratulate and welcome the opening of the Salesian community in our city of Hwaseong, which has a large number of immigrants. Just as Don Bosco devoted himself to poor youth, we hope that the Salesians will also devote themselves to the poor children here. Most of the migrants in our city work all day for their children. As a result, their children are being marginalized. There are areas where our Church is unable to respond to them, and I hope that the Salesians will take on this role with their special abilities,” said Fr Francis Javier Cho Young-Jun, the Dean of the parish priest of the Hwaseong city in Suwon Diocese, expressing his expectations with a welcoming speech.
At the same time as establishing the community, the first rector also declared faith. Fr Mark Kim pledged, “This community starts with three confreres, but quickly settles down and gathers pastoral capabilities to become a community that responds well to the Church and society and meets the expectations of the Province.”
Relying on the recommendations of the Generalate in Rome and the strong will of the provincial confreres, we congratulate the newly launched migrant ministry community and hope that it will take root well in Hwaseong and be able to preach and witness the Gospel of Christ to migrant workers and their children, who are among the poorest of the poor in this days.
