ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Young migrants and missionaries from East Timor

Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - "The young migrants who emigrate from East Timor to Korea in search of work and a better life are also missionaries who bring with them a precious heritage of faith and live their Christian witness with simplicity and conviction. They bring with them their commitment and sincerity. In addition, they have an open heart: they come to foreign lands and sacrifice themselves for their families and communities of origin, sending their remittances back home". This was emphasized by the Archbishop of Dili in East Timor, Cardinal Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, during a visit to Korea, where he met young immigrants who have settled in Korea and come from the small country with a Catholic majority. "I express my deepest affection and encouragement to all East Timorese in Korea", he said.
The Archbishop of Dili said he came to Korea with the "heart of a parent" to participate in the "East Timor Festival in Korea", where more than 5,800 Timorese citizens, almost all young people, are currently staying. The "Amicus Festival 2024" was jointly organized in Korea by the Bishops' Commission for Migrants, the Committee for Pastoral Affairs and the Embassy of East Timor in Korea and took place in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, in recent days, and concluded with "Chuseok" (Korean "Thanksgiving Day", one of the most important holidays in Korea, ed.).
During the Eucharist celebrated by the Cardinal of East Timor, 322 young Timorese received the sacrament of Confirmation.
"East Timor, which gained independence from Indonesia in 2002, is today a country in its infancy," said the Archbishop of Dili in his homily. "Faced with unemployment in the current economic and social conditions, every year thousands of young people leave the country in search of a better life. And they take with them the gift of faith that they received and nurtured in the Catholic community of Timor."
Cardinal da Silva spoke of the joy he felt during Pope Francis' visit to the Church of East Timor (September 9-11). He said: "The Pope, as a representative of Christ, confirmed that the faith of the Timorese people has become the culture and identity of East Timor." He also recalled that this was the fourth time he had come to Korea, adding: "Last time we laid the foundations for cooperation in the medical field with the Korean Congregation for the Blessed Martyrs. I hope that new bonds of communion and cooperation can be forged between the Korean and Timorese Churches." The Archbishop finally recalled that the Pope had invited the young people of East Timor to participate in the 2027 World Youth Day (WYD) in Seoul. "Many young workers from East Timor, almost 6,000, are already in Korea," said the Cardinal. "All of them already have the opportunity to participate and get involved actively in the World Youth Day in Seoul." He invited the young people of East Timor to seize the opportunity to experience a moment of human and spiritual growth.
The Cardinal finally expressed gratitude and thanks to the Korean Church for the welcome and had a special word for the Korean entrepreneurs who hire young Timorese, ensuring that the latter, with their proverbial commitment and dedication, "can become a driving force to help Korean companies in their work". (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 2/10/2024)

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