ASIA/NORTH KOREA - Visit to North Korea by German Catholic aid workers rare occasion for Mass in Pyongyang attended by 80 local Catholics

Pyongyang (Fides Service) - Mass is a rare event in Pyongyang which only happens when Catholic priests or other church personnel come here from South Korea or other countries. Recently a visit to north Korea by German Catholic aid workers from Misereor, the aid organisation of the German Bishops’ Conference, led by Cardinal Karl Lehmann, Bishop of Mainz and president of the German Bishops’ Conference and Misereor chairman Joseph Sayer, was the occasion for a special Mass in Pyongyang Catholic church.
The Misereor delegation spent three weeks visiting schools, technical training centres and a hospital. The highlight of the visit was a Mass presided by the Cardinal in the presence of 80 local Catholics gathered at the only Catholic church in Pyongyang.
The Church in South Korea longs to send missionaries to the north. Archbishop Nicholas Cheong of Seoul who is also apostolic administrator for Pyongyang, appointed Fr Matthew Hwang in-kuk Vicar general for Pyongyang. A Commission for Reconciliation led by Mgr Luke Kim Woon-hoe, affiliated with the Korean Bishops’ Conference organises activity of cooperation with areas of north Korea. Ten priests have offered to go on pastoral mission to Pyongyang.
A timid reawakening of the Catholic community in north Korea started in 1989 with the official recognition of the government controlled Catholic Association of North Korea. Catholics in north Korea live and practice their faith privately.
According to Seoul archdiocese there are about 3,000 Catholics in north Korea with only one church which is in Pyongyang. Other sources say there are about 12,000 other Christians in north Korea. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 29/11/2005 righe 29 parole 286)