Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Korea Mission Society
Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - The spirit is one of going out, of communicating the Gospel "ad gentes". Fifty years after its foundation, the "Korea Mission Society" (KMS) continues to practice this missionary spirit and reaffirms its commitment to sending missionaries, priests, religious and lay people to countries and particular Churches that need support for the apostolate. Currently, 85 missionaries have been sent outside Korea to nine countries, including Papua New Guinea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as others in Africa and America. "We go where we are needed," explained Father Choi Kang, Vice President of the Korea Mission Society, describing the activities and reflections that the 50th anniversary of the founding of the missionary community founded in 1975 will bring.
The spirit is that of the origins, the spirit of a "community on the move," explained Father Choi Kang, announcing a symposium to be held on October 19 at the Catholic University of Korea.
"We will study, with academic knowledge, the meaning and influence that this missionary impulse has had on the Korean Church over the past 50 years, with reports from each diocese," he stresses. On February 26, 2025, the exact date of the founding anniversary, a commemorative Mass will be held at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul, while seminars and meetings are planned for missionaries, but also for all believers interested in delving into the experience of the first proclamation and the "missio ad gentes." "In this sense," the priest stressed, "the agreement signed with Catholic Peace Broadcasting to produce a series of multimedia services and documentaries that can illustrate the history and missionary commitment of Korean Catholics over the past 50 years, but also in the past, will be useful." Father Doo-young Jeong, President of the KMS, added: "I hope that this anniversary can be an opportunity for the Korean Church to deepen its essence as a 'sharing Church' and to extend the mission to the whole world." An important aspect today are the lay missionaries who are associate members of the Society: their "rich experience" is a great help to the mission of the Korean Church, it is said. The Korea Mission Society (KMS) was founded in 1975 by the Bishop Emeritus of Busan, Bishop John A. Choi Jae-seon, and recognized by the Korean Bishops' Conference. Founded about 22 years after the end of the Korean War (1953), the KMS has played a key role in making the Korean Church a "giving Church," it says. The Society currently has 87 members, including missionary priests and lay people, and is now a diocesan Society of Apostolic Life under the responsibility of the Archdiocese of Seoul. The Society also manages a "Mission School" open to all those interested in missionary work in Korea, to prepare the faithful for pastoral work abroad. It is "open to the whole world, wherever there is a need for missionaries," emphasizes the Korea Mission Society, with a particular focus on Asia. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 14/10/2024)
