Exposure of the Korean novices

By Nov. John Choi

Tae-an, Korea, 6 May 2016 -- Two Korean novices with their assistant and novice master experienced in St Anna House the peripheries of the developed Korean society. The House is located in Seongnam City, near by Seoul, it’s a refuge for many homeless, run away youth or homeless youth.

After the 1997 IMF financial crisis of East Asia one OMI religious missionary priest, Fr. Vincent developed during past 20 years in Seongnam City, an integral service for the poor and marginalized people. St Anna House started with an English language tuition center for the poor students, soup kitchen and dining hall. Fr. Vincent took the Korean name (Kim Ha Jong) inspired by the first Korean priest, martyr St. Kim Dae Gon as the ‘Servant of God’.

Two novices Steven and John, with Fr. Timothy and their assistant Cl. Francis spent one full day experience in St Anna House guided by Fr. Vincent, OMI. During a short guided visit to the two story house they visited a ground floor the dining hall, that offers daily about 500 free meals to the homeless people. Thanks to 35-40 volunteers, who are working from the early morning there is a free service of shower room, barber and necessary cloth. In another building there is a small handicraft workshop, where the homeless people could learn some skills for their autonomous life. In the same time Fr. Vincent does look for another self-help residence and shelter.

During one full day the novices were involved in the dinner preparation (kitchen) and the novice master distributed personally to the homeless friends a Korean rice-cake (tteok) and the assistant was serving the soup around the large dining hall until 7 PM.

In the evening time there was a chance to meet also youth in the nearby Shin-Hong train station. There is a shelter home (motel) for the run-away youth at risk. Fr. Vincent is driving small truck AZIT (Korean AZIT: Youth protection car) with a variety of services – counselling, free food and drink. The novices were deeply touched by this street youth outreach and reflected Don Bosco in the life of Fr. Vincent. During this outreach experience the novices were talking to the youth around the train station and introducing the AZIT mobile center. After 9 PM the novitiate team went back home.

This one day exposure triggered in our novices a heartfelt reflection about the street mission of Fr. Vincent, OMI. Without being inspired and sustained by Jesus and his Spirit, it wouldn’t be possible to carry on this challenging mission for past 20 years. And foremost they discovered another contemporary Don Bosco in the streets of Song Nam.

Yes, there are still many young people who are roaming the streets of Korea. At the moment, there is no street shelter service offered by the Korean SDB province. During this exposure the novices deepened the Salesian call of the poor youth mission and felt that the novitiate time need to be spent with more consistent commitment.

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