There is a need, says an article in the Catholic Times,
to set up permanent places in parishes for counseling. Many of our
Catholics are seeking psychological and spiritual help but not only are
there few counseling centers but the number of those who have the
training to help are few. It becomes a problem of supply and demand.
In
our complicated society our problems are not limited to the
psychological realm, but include the spiritual as well, perhaps both
being best addressed together. The solution suggested would designate
certain parishes in a deanery, or some other area, where qualified
persons, on a voluntary basis, will be available for those seeking
help. At present, such places that offer qualified volunteers the
opportunity to serve this much needed function is missing.
Where
this function is available as part of parish life, not only Catholics
are served, but everyone in the nearby vicinity looking for healing is
also served. As of now it depends on the disposition of the parish
leaders whether to allow this or not, with many believing it should be
universally systematized within the Korean Church.
A
priest of the Korean Catholic Counseling Psychological Association is
quoted as saying: "At present, within and outside the Church, the
precise nature of the qualifications of the volunteers has to be solved
to the satisfaction of the public. The continuing education of the
members and support for their activities will not only be helpful to
the individual but to parish life as a whole." Less than ten percent of
those who are qualified, he said, are now working in the diocese, in
parishes, and in the institutions of the Church.
Many
of the dioceses have successfully incorporated these programs into the
infrastructure of the diocese. One of the leaders in the Seoul diocese
hopes that in each of the parishes there will be a permanent place for
qualified counselors to spend some time during the week to help those
that want it. There will continue to be a need, the priest says, to
gain the public's confidence and support that psychological and
spiritual counseling is more necessary than ever before, as living in
the modern world becomes more challenging and stressful for all of us.
