ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - A partnership between the Korean and French communities for the beatification of missionary Bishop Bruguière

Saturday, 9 November 2024 mission missionaries beatification cause of beatification

KOREA, REPUBLIC OF

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Carcassonne (Agenzia Fides) - The Korean and French Catholic communities have joined forces for the beatification of Bishop Barthelemy Bruguière (1792-1835), member of the Paris Foreign Missions Society (MEP) and first Apostolic Vicar of Korea. The alliance and close collaboration was recently confirmed with the official visit of a Korean delegation to Bruguière's hometown, Carcassonne. Representatives of the Committee for the Beatification and Canonization of the Archdiocese of Seoul, the "Korea Church History Research Institute", and the Korean "Catholic Peace Broadcasting" participated in the visit. They stayed in the diocese of Carcassonne-Narbonne and visited the Paris Foreign Missions Society (MEP). Both communities of the faithful, in Europe and Asia, have expressed their deep gratitude towards the French missionary, declaring themselves “descendants of the faith” of Msgr. Bruguière. For this reason, they have agreed to pray together and to continue to be united in the movement and the process for the beatification of Msgr. Bruguière, officially promoted by the Archdiocese of Seoul. The Bishop of Carcassonne-Narbonne, Msgr. Bruno Valentin, expressed his joy by stating: “The dream of Msgr. Bruguière has become a reality through the meeting and brotherhood of the Korean and French Churches.” Msgr. Job Koo Yobi, auxiliary bishop of Seoul and president of the Committee for the beatification, confirmed: “We announce a new beginning in this process of beatification. This is an opportunity for our Churches to be sisters, to walk and work together, to be a single truly evangelical community. We are happy to be able to develop a relationship of cooperation to promote faith in our communities.” The delegation was able to see and appreciate a valuable historical document: the original letter from 188 years ago, signed by Cardinal Giacomo Filippo Fransoni, then Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, sent to Msgr. Bruguière, Apostolic Vicar of Joseon at the time. The letter, written by the Cardinal on March 31, 1836, affirmed the independent missionary jurisdiction of the “Kingdom of Joseon and Ryukyu” (in Okinawa, Japan), supporting the missionary work and the ecclesiastical authority of the Vicar also over that Japanese region. However, since Mgr. Bruguière had already died on October 20, 1835, the Vatican Congregation wrote and sent the letter without knowing that he had already died. Father Cho Han-geon, Director of the Church History Research Institute in Korea, comments: “The letter once again shows the passion of Msgr. Bruguière for the mission, noting that he intended to spread the proclamation of the Gospel to other lands, where the Gospel had not yet been spread.” The delegation also participated in the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Korean parish in Paris, with a Eucharist celebrated specifically to pray for the beatification of Msgr. Bruguière. In the homily, Father Cho Han-geon cited moments from Bruguière’s life, saying: “The zeal, missionary spirit and love for the Gospel of Msgr. Bruguière will serve as an example for today’s missionaries,” inviting the Korean and French faithful to actively participate in the prayer and work for the beatification. Father Vincent Senechal, Superior of the Society of Foreign Missions in Paris, declared: “From today, everyone participates with greater spiritual awareness in the prayer for the beatification of Msgr. Bruguière. Our prayer is also dedicated to all those who have preceded us as witnesses of faith and missionaries, so that they may inspire our steps today.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 9/11/2024)