Maryknoll in Korea

In the recent issue of the Catholic Peace Weekly the Director of the Incheon Church History Research Institute will publish a collection of profiles summarizing the activities of the Maryknoll Mission  Society in the islands of the West Sea in the Incheon Diocese of Korea.

This is to look back on the lives of missionaries who practiced love for God and neighbors and to use them as examples for evangelization. The collection is scheduled to be published in the first half of this year.

Father Choi Benedict (B. Zweber, 1932-2001), who was called the ‘Schweitzer of the West Coast’, was a person who used an old military ship in 1964 and toured remote islands in the converted hospital ship ‘Star of the Sea’, caring for patients for free. Three years later, he was appointed to the parish of Deokjeokdo Island,  opened a hospital, and installed electricity and water for the island residents.

To revive the memories of these forgotten missionary priests, the Incheon Church History Research Institute is collecting missionary-related materials owned by parishioners. Items include: Photos showing missionary activities (pastoral ministry, social welfare, architecture, fellowship, etc.) — Publications (all missionary-related materials such as funeral books, prayer books, parish newsletters, or newspaper articles, testimonies, architectural drawings, blueprints) Missionary keepsakes, etc.

In the early 1960s, when the diocese was established, many refugees from North Korea lived in the West Sea islands. As a large population suddenly gathered on a small island, medical, welfare, and educational infrastructure was lacking. Maryknoll missionaries devoted themselves to spreading the gospel and improving the living conditions of the residents.

While Father Choi Benedict devoted himself to human needs, Father Michael Jeon (M. Bransfield, 1929-1989), the maternal grandson of the founder of Miller Beer in the United States, participated in projects to increase farm income and rural mechanization to help Ganghwa Island residents become self-reliant.  

In 1966, he started a pig coop on the island by importing 15 landrace (Danish breed) pigs and selling them to local believers and residents at half the market price each time they had new litters. He took care of the people of the West Sea islands both physically and financially, including purchasing threshing machines and cultivators and distributing them to other mission station residents

Father Jin Pil-se (J.P. Sinnott, 1929-2014), who was the first pastor of Yeongjong Parish in 1965, established the ‘Sacred Heart of Jesus Yeongjong Hospital’ and provided free medical care. Reclamation projects were also carried out on land devastated by the Korean War. He also devoted himself to the human rights movement and tried to publicize that the People's Revolutionary Party incident under the Yushin regime was fabricated. 

Father Buyeong-bal E. Moffett (1922-1986) was appointed as the first pastor of Baengnyeong Island Parish in 1959 and served as pastor for 14 years. He renovated the warehouse and used it as a temporary parish church, he built a nursery, a nursing home, and the 'Blessed Andrea Kim (Taegon) Hospital'.

The Incheon Church History Research Institute expressed concern about not wanting to lose memories of these years: "Relics and records of missionaries are at risk of disappearing due to population decline and aging in the West Sea island region."

Economic development has been extraordinary in Korea, a well-known fact. Also, the welfare level of Korea's help for the poor, sick, and disabled has improved greatly and will continue to improve. The Korea of 70 years ago is now just a memory.