The Catholic Church in South Korea celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Missionary Society of St. Columban. A thanksgiving Mass was held at Seoul’s Myeongdong Cathedral presided by Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul. His Grace Archbishop Alfred Xuereb, apostolic nuncio to Korea; Auxiliary Bishop Tomothy Yu Gyoung-chon of Seoul; Auxiliary Bishop John Moon Hee-jong of Suwon, president of the bishops’ committee for foreign mission work and pastoral care of overseas Koreans; and St. Columban missionary priests concelebrated the Mass. About 1,000 religious and faithful joined the Mass and packed the cathedral.
As reported by ucanews.com, In his letter, His Grace Bishop Galvin said: “No matter what happens, we cannot give up our people of God. We can stay with the people whom God entrusted to us and, if it is God’s will, we can die here. Our sacrifice will give them courage.” In his homily at the Mass, His Eminence Cardinal Yeom said: “Their sweat and contribution to the Korean Church were the history of the Korean Church itself. The Columban missionaries actively responded to the call of God and bore fruits by choosing and spreading the spiritual works that were needed in Korea.”
The Missionary Society of St. Columban was founded in Ireland in 1916 and approved by the Vatican in 1918. It works in 16 countries including Korea. It arrived in Korea in 1933 and has sent some 270 missionaries to the country.
Source: www.ucanews.com
