Redemptorists in Seoul
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Redemptorists in Seoul
Fr. Willy Jesena CSsR: Good morning everybody. good morning. In whatever place you are, maybe in your place , it is afternoon. So here we are, with postulant Pedro Lee, and the one taking the photos there, is another postulant Pedro Song. So welcome my brothers and sisters. As you see this place is Seoul City, the capital of South Korea. The weather is not so good today, because of the autumn rain. Even though the sun is not fully out, we have warm hearts to welcome you. Please, come with me and together with our postulants we will explain some of the important things which I think you like to know about Korea.
Welcome again here. We see these two men bowing deeply. That’s a way we welcome here. Usually we do not shake hands, but we bow deeply. It is especially for senior citizens and for high officials that we give a deep bow. And these Koreans welcome you to our community. Now, in South Korea we have 3 communities: here in Seoul City, this is our community with the Regional House and the formation residence. Then in the Archdiocese of Gwangju, we have the St. Clement Hoffbauer Community. There ,we work in two villages, semi-parishes among the poor ,and so we have 4 confreres assigned there. And there in Chuncheon Diocese , I will show you some interesting things. We have there the mountain shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help… That is the beautiful chapel we have there. See the surroundings of this chapel, the trees at the background of the chapel.
In Seoul ,our Redemptorist community welcomes you. First of all, we are only 8 confreres here, but this list is the summary of all the Redemptorists living in South Korea, that is: 10 priests, 2 lay Brothers and 3 seminarians… Now let me show you this board where we have a lot of information. Again, the sign ”..Welcome to South Korea”…. and this is the map of South Korea. Up here beyond this line is North Korea, and this line, the 38th parallel, is 2.5 kilometers of land. No one lives there, except the animals, but it separates the two Koreas. As you know the two Koreas are the only divided countries in the world. Beyond North Korea, here is China and Mongolia and then a bit of Russia: Vladivostok and going beyond there is all Russia.. And China extends to here ; so even in South Korea we can go to China in six hours, sometimes a whole night travel by boat from here, from South Korea , to one of the ports near the Chinese capital….. But this is South Korea and the principal City here is Seoul, which is the capital of the country.
Now, here in Korea, look at that, that is during the Korean War, North and South Koreas in 1950 were at war. The North was defended by Russia and China and the South by the United States and the United Nations Countries. About twelve of them helped in fighting for the freedom of South Korea. And South Korea is really a christian place . I will show you where the South Koreans gather together as Catholics : like for example the coming of the Pope – here, look at that – how numerous are these people representing the Catholics of South Korea. Actually regarding religion: for the believing people, about half of the Koreans believe in God. Some are spiritists, the rural people believe in God, and the spirits called the Shamanism,and together with the Buddhist religion that came from China. And that consists about one/ forth of the believing people in Korea. Another one forth belongs the christian faith, the Catholics – which is the biggest group, and all the others: the Protestants, who believe Jesus Christ. The rest are Buddhists and Shamans , and maybe a small percentage of non- believing people; but that’s the way religion is divided here in South Korea.
You can see here, there is joy and happiness in the Korean material progress , and this is only within the last 40 years. It is called the “Han River Miracle”, when the material progress happened in South Korea , and in that small space of time, most of these farmlands have been converted into business places and into apartments where people live. Even though, as I said, in general, there is material happiness in South Korea, where the majority of people can have their own livehood, and many people are rich. However, we also have problems, like any other countries. Look at this: there are three main problems in Korea. Today, of course, COVID-19 pandemic. Korea is also affected, like any other countries, even though here we have a very organized monitor pandemic management, which is very good and successful but yet we have deaths also from COVID 19. . Then the big problem of materialism, because of all that progress and together with people, who are not all believers in God, the material progress influences many people and because of that ,all sorts of crimes and moral failures happen… all because of materialism. The Catholic Church, of course, and all the other religions who are sincere in teaching about God, work to overcome excessive materialism and help people to become believers. And a big, third problem is North Korea, which is a communist country. Look at this: these are recent pictures of North Korea’s testing its nuclear power. Now: one of these nuclear rockets going to Seoul City, South Korea, will blow up this whole city. If you get news in future, that North Korea sent one of these rockets to Seoul, then you can say: „”Oh, there goes our Korean confreres, martyrs of the communists!”. Because North Korea is only 30 kilometers away from South Korea. Believe it or not, it’s so near, we are so close to one another.
Yes, so you are asking me about our coming here to South Korea. That’s in 1991. Three of us came to Korea. There is no other Redemptorist here before. The three Redemptorists: Fr. Man Yong John Lee a Korean ,who became a Redemptorist in South America, in the Campo Grande Province, second one – Father Phaiboon Augustine Udomdej, from Thailand Province and myself, from Cebu Province. So the three of us started the Redemptorists here in South Korea. And, of course, with the big population of South Korea what can we do at the beginning , as strangers. Sometimes I was thinking: „”How hard it was for Saint Alphonsus to found our Congregation”. As we started here, in South Korea, we had a lot of problems at the beginning, because nobody knew, who these Redemptorists are. Here, in South Korea we are called: 구속주회 – “Gooseokjoohwe” that means: the community, that works with the poor, especially with those who are neglected and abandoned poor. That’s who are: “Gooseok”. It is a Chinese word for the most abandoned and the poor. And so only recently we tried to adopt the western name, Redemptorists, , but in the official listing of religious Congregations, we are called “Gooseokjoohwe”. So maybe if you come here without any guide, you will never find the Redemptorists because we are known only as “Gooseokjoohwe”. And we came here in 1991, the three of us, and from the beginning we already have two candidates, So I devoted myself to formation, and our Superior, who was Korean from Brazil, devoted himself in buildings – this building and our buildings in the other Diocese of Chuncheon. and the third one, Father Phaiboon while studying the language , also began active apostolic work. So that’s the way, we tried to build up our history here, in South Korea; that is 30 years ago to this year. So we’re going to celebrate 30 years very simply, to remember, how we have come here. And St. Clement Hofbauer is quite important for us, because on March 15th ,1991 ,that’s the day that Father John Lee came from Brazil to establish us here, in South Korea.
And you will see, what are the Redemptorists doing here, what are our works during the last 30 years. Our confreres especially preach the Gospel through Mary in the Perpetual Help novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, and also they went to parishes to give retreats, seminars, lectures during the preparation for baptism and confirmation, then we help in the Masses in the parishes, here, in Seoul, and the other places that ask for us. We serve the religious communities. And confession is also one of our biggest apostolates . Some of us devoted themselves to migrant workers. Here, in Korea maybe we have about 25 different nationalities coming from other countries in order to work as migrant workers, Filipinos are one of the biggest groups…. I have served them , in celebrating Masses for them. All these are our apostolic works from the beginning and until now, even though the pandemic has hurt us and prevented us from doing all that we need to do. However this will pass , and hopefully more challenges will come to us.
So, my brothers and sisters. I’ll lead you now to our chapel, the public chapel we have in this basement. And there I will explain to you more information about our life.
One of the characteristics of the chapel ,which is specific for Korean architecture, is that all these different benches and the altar do not use metal nails – no, these things are joined together by pieces of wood. I’ll show you here these pieces of wood. …
Here, for instance, you see all these, these are not metal nails, they are pieces of wood and all these benches are made like that, and so is the altar..
We move on to the sanctuary….What do we do here in the chapel ? We have Masses on Sundays and also on weekdays and a Perpetual novena on Saturday. Then, we also have recollections, retreats, and lectures. And we have a holy hour devotion to the Blessed Sacrament with our Lady and St. Gerard, and also other coming together of people in celebrations.
We are here to serve the people not only around our area, but people coming from different places. Actually, our neighbors are not all Catholics, the majority of them are non -Catholics. And here during the Perpetual novena on Saturday ,we have this Icon made of real gold. This icon is made in South Korea.
And here at the altar, I’ll show you again…. Look at these These sticks of wood serving as nails.
The atmosphere of this chapel is devotional and yet, there is some solemnity in it, and asceticism, which is characteristic of the Korean spirituality….some leaning to sacrifices and being one with Jesus Who is crucified and is in the Blessed Sacrament .You see here then that the combination of all these together creates an atmosphere which is devotional and very contemplative in many ways.
We will continue our information as we will go to our community chapel, As we go along.
here we see the statue of our Blessed Mother. This is different from western statues. It is made by a Korean artist – a Perpetual Help Sister. The distinct feature is this sweet smile, I think, you can’t get that kind of smile in western statues and that is influenced by the Buddhist artists; as also the way that the Blessed Virgin Mary is portrayed.
So now I will say Hail Mary in Korean, for you, who are looking at this and for your families.
“Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”
You might be surprised why am I wearing this dress. Here, we can wear secular clothes. This is a modern version of the Hanbok – the Korean male customary dress.
Welcome to our community chapel. As you see here also there is a touch of solemnity and asceticism. Look at what we use in our prayer. There are no kneelers here, because we only stand and sit at prayer. And here again the are signs, that are reminiscent of Korea. I’m told that these three kinds of carved nails are the nails of the crucifix. The hands of Jesus are nailed to the cross, and so are his feet….. Here again of course we have the icon of our Mother of Perpetual Help.
“Is there any other question Brother?”
“Yes.”
“You please, come here.”
“Why did you come to Korea, and what are your apostolic works?”
Why did I come to Korea? That’s a very good question. Brothers in 1991, this confrere, the Korean confrere from Brazil ,went to the Philippines to ask for volunteers to come, to be a community member in this mission. And I was so surprised, that I was so excited, like a young man, when I heard about this mission in Korea. At that time I didn’t know so much about Korea, but I know what a missionary life is. It’s difficult and then it was challenging and I welcomed that invitation to come here. And so together with Father Phaiboon and Father Man Yong John Lee we built up our Congregation here in Korea.
And why did I come here? In my mind, I was thinking to help in the evangelization in Korea; and also to promote the Congregation and have Korean members. And I think, in my stay here for 30 years, in some way I’m satisfied – not completely, with what was done. Now we have, as we saw downstairs, vocations, and our Korea Region is now headed by the Koreans in administration and in formation. I myself have done a lot of works in that 30 years, working among migrant workers, giving recollections, hearing confessions, spiritual directions, going to parishes and saying Masses, working for and with religious. And I serve especially in the formation work among the young men who came to us. Maybe if all persevered, we would have been a Province by now, but many have left us, even priests have left us, unfortunately. But there it is, and God knows about it, I don’t know what is in His will, but that’s the way it is. That’s how I have lived here until now, and I have decided to die here, to complete this offering and coming over as missionary. And of course, as my two other companions left for their own countries, I think also that the witness of an old Redemptorist missionary ,in some way , is also needed here in Korea. So, here I am brothers and sisters – at your service. And let us see, what else we can talk about as we go up to our roof garden on the fifth floor. Please come….
So, what do we do here in the garden and at the other half, the other side. We use it for contemplation, with some confreres contemplating while smoking and doing other relaxing activities like physical exercises. Sometimes we also come here to have barbecue. Let’s go to the other side….
Our future in Korea? Of course, God only knows what the future is, but we also contribute our part ; and I could foresee that after this pandemic perhaps new ways of evangelization will come up. Now we have Zoom Perpetual novena every week , and I myself have said and offered Zoom Masses for people who participate from Philippines, Australia, United States – so something like that and other ways of preaching the Gospel can be done.
Then of course, North Korea, that is the part of our evangelization project, and we haven’t yet gone there . How will we go there? When will it open up? Time and again, there is an erratic coming together of the South and the North with joint projects, but not yet complete coming together , and perhaps the of reunion of the only divided country in the world.
And so, the future,.. look at that, to the north, we have North Korea there, waiting for us. The population there at present is about 26 million people. Here in the South we have 51 million people. So, combined them together we have 77 million people and that is what we are called to serve as Redemptorists. Of course, we only help in the Church. Many other religious Congregations are here ; and we gladly give our service as sons of Saint Alphonsus. That is our hope ,and we invite you by your prayers to help us that all this will be realized for the glory of Jesus and the Church….. And now, I think, is time to say goodbye and give the blessing. Blessing for all your loved ones, for all the Redemptorists in the world.
“The Lord be with you.”
“And with your spirit. “
“May almighty God bless you: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.“
And now it is time to close our conversation. I have to say goodbye to you. So be it. Goodbye!
Author: Fr. Willy Jesena CSsR
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