English Excitement

I have been living in Korea for many years now and yes I have been working hard trying to learn the Korean language. But now, I hear many Koreans want to learn English- Why? Well business reasons of course but also the Koreans want to connect better with the world-

Korea used to be called the "Hermit Kingdom" but , wow, how that's changed.They are very curious, intensely interested in travel, hosting visitors from other countries. They want to live, study, meet young people overseas- So we "have to learn English" -- American English that is!


REUNION

Kids in Korea want to study and learn-not only for better jobs but because they are curious about every thing- and want to understand. But often because many must go to work in factories to help support the family- they have little chance for school.

But about 30 years ago Maryknoll in Pan Song Dong in South Korea, set up a NIGHT SCHOOL for young factory workers, from 6pm to 9pm every day. It was tough to work and study but many finished the course.

Just last week I got a call from one of the students: Do you remember me-from your old night school? We're having a reunion- can you come? I went - didn't remember names but I recognized almost all the faces. They were not rich but I was so pleased that all were doing quite well with jobs and happy families.

Hostility and Beauty

I am a Maryknoll Priest living in a H.D.Village in Busan, a port city in South Korea. You possibly
have heard that the North Korean military has fired its rocket-missile. The countries didn't know where this rocket was to land- they were prepared to intercept and destroy it should it cross into international air space. So in the country and in neighboring countries the hostile feelings were high.

But a bit in contrast-last week I went with one of my young H.D. (leper disease) friends to the nearby city of Jin Hae. We went to take part in the Cherry Blossom Festival. Thousands from all over, sharing the magnificence of the spring Cherry, Plum, Apricot and Magnolia blossoms. It's hard, we were thinking, to keep hostility and beauty in your heart at the same time. Beauty seems to win out every time.

The German Bishops and Korean Small Christian Groups

The Korean Church has a knack of being able to take a foreign program, adapt it to its own needs and very often do a better job with the results than the initial program. A good example of this is the Basic Christian Community Movement . There are many names for these small group meetings in homes. They are often called village meetings, ban meetings.They can meet weekly or monthly. Originally the movement came to Korea from South America.

They meet in the homes of the Christians. They share the word of God, share fellowship, and are united with the parish and the Universal Church. There is someone in charge of the proceedings usually a person appointed by the pastor to represent the Catholics in the village or different sections of a parish. It is an attempt to get more intimacy and experience Church as it should be and not as we have it in so many large parishes. "There is the desire to reestablish human relationships within the Community: to form church communities of a size that allow for true human relationships in the parish to which such groups belong and with the entire diocesan and universal church. In such a human context, it will be easier to gather to hear the Word of God, to reflect on the range of human problems in the light of this Word, and gradually to make responsible decisions inspired by the all-embracing love of Christ."

It is obvious that there are many difficulties in forming these communities. The different expectations of the parish priests towards these groups is also a point of dispute. They are not always successful and the need for the families to have two working full time has put obstacles in the way. The movement, however, continues and efforts are being made to strengthen and improve it frequently.


There will be a workshop,this coming week, for the German Bishops and some other bishops from other countries who are associated with the FABC (Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences). The German Catholic Church will be looking for help in renewing the life of the Christians in Germany with the pastoral model of small Christian Communities. The Church in Korea especially the dioceses of Suwon and Cheju have a good reputation in this area. That the German bishops will be coming to Korea for exposure to village groups is a good sign of this success.

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THANKS - LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Now that the mourning period is over for Cardinal Kim the diocese of Seoul has begun distributing stickers with the words: thanks' and 'love one another'. These are the last words that the Cardinal is recorded as saying before his death.

It is surprising, in many ways, to see how he touched the hearts of so many people. Certainly to be thankful and to love are two very basic teachings of all the religions and even of civic virtue.

The Cardinal was a simple man who became a superstar without any effort on his part. It was the humble insistence on respect for all that drew so many people to him before and after his death. No one was able to deter him from this message and it caused pain for some both in the Church and out. It was the Christian message expressed at a time when it was most difficult. There is no doubt that this is the reason for the love that has been shown him. I am sure this love will continue even with the passage of time

The sticker movement will get many of us to be more conscious of what he stood for during those many years as the Ordinary of Seoul and even after, in retirement.

A Happy Easter

Just recently the diocese of Incheon had a program of study for those involved in the liturgical programs of the parishes. 270 members of 47 different parishes attended the educational program. They had a professor from the seminary give the lectures. I am always surprised at the interest many of our Catholics have to participate in these diocesan programs.

Tomorrow the priests of the diocese will participate in the Mass of Chrism at the cathedral. This is also the Day for Priests, with a meal together after the Mass. We were told that there is even a gift for all of us who attend. Most of the priests of the diocese will attend with many of the faithful. It is a visible sign of the unity and love that our Lord prayed for at the Last Supper. After the meal the priests and people will return to their parishes for the parish Masses that evening.

There will be a break in the posting until after Easter. A Happy Easter and may we all be better from our participation in the liturgy during these high days of the liturgical year.

텃 세 (Teo Se) Protecting Our Turf

As we approach the last days of Lent many thoughts come to mind. Certainly our Lord was not jealous of his turf. Nobody needed to worry about coming to him. These last days of Holy Week enable us reflect on the way he related with people. It was precisely because he did not protect his turf that he suffered much.

Some years ago while working in a small country parish I noticed a new parishioner and spent some time with her after Mass. She had decided to come to the parish to spend her last years, for she had heard of the good air and pleasant surroundings. She appeared to be a person with wealth and education. I tried to make it clear that she made a good choice for it was a nice part of our Korea. After a few weeks passed I noticed that she was no longer present at the daily Mass and asked some of the Christians. Well, it seemed that the 텃세 reputation that we had was experienced viscerally by the woman. She liked the area and everything was perfect except for the fact that she found it difficult to put roots down. I had heard the word 텃 세 over and over again but I now knew the results of this. They say this is rather a common experience of those relating to people living on an island. She did not receive the vibes from the Christians that made her feel welcomed. She was an outsider and she remained such. What she experienced was too much to overcome. She returned to where she had left.

Living in an area for a long period of time and especially when having a position of authority this phenomenon does not apply as it would for a simple member of a community. Teo se could be translated "advantage of being on one's own ground to act highhandedly." It is often seen in the animal world.

During these last days of Lent I wonder how much of this is a part of my life and those with who I am living. It is not easy for us to see ourselves as we are and this may be a blessing at times but not very Christ-like.

LIES

This story and reflection appeared in the Pastoral Newsletter sent to the priests in Korea. The following story taken from the daily paper was followed by his reflection.

A father took his son to the movies.
The man at the ticket booth asked : " how old is the boy?"
The father lying about the age of the boy was able to enter
without a ticket. The boy said to his father: "when I grow up
I am going to be as shrewd as you."

The problem here is honesty of the elder. At home and at school we teach
children not to lie. But in this case we have the father, who the son respects, without any shame, lying in front of the child. And with the lie
he enters without buying a ticket.The son learns from the father that to be honest you are going to lose out. The boy when grown up
is not going to have any qualms of conscience in lying and deceiving others.

The priest mentions that in our society there are too many lies.
On television we hear politicians lying brazenly.
Those in finance lie very naturally.
It seems that few see anything wrong with lying.
Neither do we have difficulty in lying.
To live without lying is difficult.
If we speak only the truth then things become difficult for us and others.
So even without a second thought we come out with a lie.
Even renowned leaders when something is disadvantageous come out with a lie.
Some one deceiving himself and others is a serious problem.
People for the most part do not think well of liers and avoid them.
On the other hand we like those who are honest and open.
In countries in which lying is prevalent we have lack of trust, progress and disunity.
It is not good for society. 'Do not lie' is not only part of the ten commandments but appears in many parts of Scripture: "Delight not in telling lie after lie, for it never results in good."
Sirach 7:13
The article ends with a quote from Nobel Prize winner Solzhenitsyn, " a simple person with
simple courage will always refuse to lie. "

It seems that transparency is a value that we all admire but fine very difficult to incorporate into our daily living.