Character Education

"I know that Daegu is a violent city where students fight and easily give up on life," said the superintendent of education for the city of Daegu. Interviewed by the Peace Weekly, he went on to say that "Daegu students are carrying the cross for Korean students. If I didn't have my religion," he admits, "I would very likely have resigned, but I consider my position as superintendent of education as God-given, along with the pain that comes with it."

When his father died, he said he cried, and when he read the suicide note left by a 14-year-old  student who couldn't stand the bullying of his classmates, he also cried. He called together the 350 persons who work in the department of education and read the note left by the student; everybody was in tears, he said. He went to the funeral hall to console the parents and promised them that this would never happen again. He wanted to wipe out the stigma of bullying in the school system and said he would work to increase the "happiness index" of his students.

Up til now, it has been standard thinking that sweetness comes after pain: Students should study and be unconcerned about attaining happiness now, but look forward to success later in life. The superintendent said that it is time to change this thinking with a positive understanding of education. They have started to do this in second-year middle school by encouraging closer relationships between teachers, students and parents.

From the time he became superintendent, he has been aware of the prevalence of bullying in the school system. He has taken it very seriously, knows it is not limited to the schools, and has brought it to the attention of the government, with the warning that without its eradication the education system will not move forward. Though he assumes "all the responsibility" for the current state of the school system, he wants all of society to become involved, and pleads with the press not to have live broadcasts or reports of suicides.

We are merely "on-lookers," he says, at what is happening in society. He recalls a time when he was a college president with little interest in education on the grammar, middle and high school levels. The way we selected students for college, he points out and now regrets, has had devastating effects on the morale of our students. We should have been teaching them how to live with one another, instead of allowing them to step on others to advance their own goals.

It is time, he says, that schooling should primarily be for character formation. And what the schools can't do, religions should do.  A good school should be a place where students feel safe, a place where they can devote themselves to study, foster a sense of self-worth and confidence, and where they can dream and realize their potential.

South Korean Catholics and North Korea

The  Catholic Times and a public opinion research organization will survey a thousand Koreans, aged 19 and older, to determine what they think on a number of social problems, and make the results available in the pages of the Catholic Times once each month, with comments.   The surveys will use random sampling and digital dialing, which will assure, they say, 95 percent accuracy, with a low margin for error. The number of Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, and  Non Believers were included in the 1000 respondents according to the numbers they have in the population as a whole. Since the Catholics have a little over 10 percent they numbered  106 of the total number of respondents.

The first question asked: Could  religion contribute to solving the problems with the North?  59.2 percent of the Catholics said that the problems could be solved by a  religious approach. 56 percent of the Buddhists, 47 percent of the Protestants, and  41.3 without Religion/and others, believed  religion could contribute.

To the question: Do you think we are living in peace with the North in this our 60th year of the Korean War armistice?  Buddhists 66.8 percent, Protestants 64.7 percent, and without religious belief/and others 60.2 percent. Breaking this down even further we have 23 percent of Catholics who felt we completely lack a peaceful relationship. Buddhist 11.2 percent, no religion/and others 11 percent, and Protestants 6.4 percent.

To the question: Is there a need for the unification of Korea? 80 percent of the Protestants saw a need for unification, those without religion 71.5 percent, Catholics 64.5 percent, and Buddhists 60.7 percent.

To the question: Do you know about the support the South is giving the North? 73.2 percent of Catholics did know, 72.4 percent of those without religion/and others, Buddhists 70.9 percent, and Protestants 59.4 percent.

Commenting on the results of the survey, the Catholic Times said that a lot more education has to be provided to our Catholics in the form of parish educational programs. The very low rate of Catholics who saw a need for unification is not a good sign, it said. Though the Church is aware of this shortcoming among our Catholics and is working to change their thinking on this matter, the reality is that the political and social climate in the country still has more to do with the way our Catholics think than does the influence of a Catholic view of life.
 

Church's Desire to Get Closer to the People

Pastoral work, if it is to be effective, often demands the 'moving of feet' and 'having the smell of sheep.' The priests of the Seoul diocese have heard these phrases and have decided to make them a part of their lives. This new approach to pastoral work by the Seoul diocese was written up in both Catholic papers; the Peace Weekly devoted an editorial to the new approach.

The diocese made some changes after their synod in 2000-2003. And before that, changes were made in the operation of the deaneries, with the goal of making them the center of diocesan pastoral work. The Seoul diocese has close to a million and half Catholics, and 775 priests in 229 parishes. One-third of the country's Catholics and one-fourth of the priests are in the Seoul diocese, which is a continuing incentive for the diocese to simplify the ministry and to make it more efficient. They will be an example on how to move closer to the people.

The reason for the reorganization is the archbishop's desire for more open communication with his priests, and the priests with their congregations.  Communication is "what it's all about," the archbishop has stressed on many occasions. The central administration has also been reorganized to be simpler and more efficient.

One of the more noteworthy changes proposed is to make the position of the dean a full time responsibility, with no parish obligations but working together with the priests in the deanery in efforts to be closer to the people, and help them in their pastoral work. He will be living in the deanery, and be given the authority to function as a bridge with the Ordinary and to make changes in the personnel of the deanery.

The deans will meet once a month to talk about the progress being made, and the results of this interchange will be shared with the members of each deanery. This decentralizing of the work of the diocese should help the deaneries bring the message of Jesus to more people and in a deeper way.

The efforts to improve the pastoral structures have been going on for many years, and with these recent changes the place of the deaneries in the pastoral work of the Church has now entered another stage. The rest of the country will be watching to see the results. The Korean Church has been blessed with many vocations to the priesthood, which allows a country like Korea to dream big and attempt changes other local churches have no possibility of imitating because of a lack of clergy. That the Church is wise enough to take advantage of the blessings they have received to be creative and more pastoral is something that should be applauded.

Preparations for the Eventual South and North Unification

The current thinking within the Catholic Church concerning unification of the country is to promote efforts that will ultimately achieve unification. Among many citizens, however, both Catholic and non-Catholic, there is little interest, and perhaps even apathy on the part of those who remember the past and have suffered due to the policies of the North. The Catholic Church, in order to influence the thinking of Catholics, will have to enlist the help of the parishes, say those who know the situation the best, and without this help, they say little can be accomplished.

The Catholic Times introduces us to some of the efforts being made today. The Church sees a serious need to make Christians, because of their lack of interest, aware of the importance of changing the way they think about the North-South problem. Protestants have been much more concerned for unification, according to the Times, and early on have taken significant steps to achieve unification, while Catholics have done little. The director of the Bishops Committee for Reconciliation is quoted as saying, "One of the Protestant denominations, it was disclosed, has anywhere from 300 to 400 missioners formed, who are now in China waiting. Before we criticize, we have to be involved in the recruiting and training of  missioners for the North."

Fortunately, many young people have shown a willingness, the director went on to say, to go to the North to do missionary work, once freedom of religion is declared.  Young Catholics, ages 20 to 30, have shown a great interest in this area, he said.

Those who have left North Korea and are now in the South will help us reach a better understanding of the North, and they will be the medium, said the Times, needed to provide for future preparations. This is one of the reasons the diocesan committees for reconciliation will be working to support the resettlement of the refugees from the North.
 

The efforts we are making at present in teaching those interested in Catholicism to enter the Catholic Church is already the beginning of evangelization of the North. The head of the Reconciliation Committee of the Suwon Diocese mentions there are a good number leaving the North who, while in China, were baptized, some coming to Korea and others returning to North Korea. The Church should consider connecting in some way, he suggested, with the dioceses of Jilin and Yanji, in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Province of China.

One university professor stresses the need for education, both in the North and South, that will focus on the importance of working for peace. The Suwon Diocese has started to work on this recommendation with a Pastoral Research Center for Unification that will open on September 8th. The dream is to stir up interest on just what will be required to achieve unification.

They will consider the following areas of study: Prepare a catechism for the refugees from the North; establish an academy to make Christians aware of the need for unification and to prepare programs for the different parishes; establish a Catholic  Research Center open to all for the study of problems with unification; train priests to respond knowledgeably for eventual unification; and to study what will be necessary after unification for the rebuilding of the new society. Prayer is necessary but also well thought-out efforts to carry out these proposals.

Maryknoll Senior Priest Looks at North Korea

July 27 marks the 60th anniversary of the armistice at the end of the Korean War.  The Peace Weekly commemorates the event by interviewing Fr. Gerard Hammond, local superior of the Maryknoll Fathers in Korea. Called 'grandfather' by the North Koreans (he's 80), he goes to the North frequently to give aid, as one of the representatives of the Eugene Bell Foundation, an international  foundation providing assistance to North Korea, mainly for the treatment of tuberculosis.
 
 Knowing the long presence of Maryknoll in the North, the interviewer asked Fr. Hammond for his feelings on this 60th anniversary of the cease fire. Fr. Hammond said that having hostilities begin again would be a tragedy; dialogue is necessary to maintain the peace and work for unification. Since the South is the stronger, it is the right thing for us to be concerned for the weaker people of the North. Our history of war is a sad one, he said. At present the feeling of sadness and regret is overwhelming, but after unification the sadness will be turned into affection. Considering the  future, it is right for the South to help the North. We should all be concerned, he said, on finding the appropriate means to facilitate the reconciliation.

The interviewer wanted to know what Fr. Hammond felt  about the recent deteriorating situation with the North, particularly those events related to the Kaesong Industrial Complex--a collaborative economic arrangement with South Korea very close to the demilitarized zone, only one hour by car from Seoul. The complex allows South Korean companies to employ cheap skilled North Korean labor, which provides the North with important foreign currency. This arrangement was discontinued by the North and completely shut down in May of this year; recently they have decided to begin again.

Fr. Hammond lamented the lack of trust that both the North and the South have shown. This has to be overcome, he said, by instituting cooperative ventures, such as humanitarian exchanges, including educational, cultural and sports endeavors, as well as family visitation rights. This will open the way to  unification, he said.

Concerning the conditions in the North, Father said he has gone to the North, under the hospices of the Eugene Bell Foundation, over 50 times with the blessing of the government.  He recently went to eight centers where they are taking care of people with tuberculosis. The overall conditions in the North are  improving, he said, but the numbers of those with TB are increasing. Every time he goes, he remembers the many martyrs of the Pyongyang diocese.  As a missioner and priest, he mentioned that he wants to be always, as the Church is, on the side of the poor.
 
His desire  is that the Koreans in the South will pray for the North, and pointed out that there is a church, the Church of Repentance  and Atonement, built after the manner of the two cathedrals in the North, located in Paju, bordering the North, which would be a good place for South Koreans to visit and pray. He would also like to see greater interest in the refugees from the North. They will be the first to return to their hometowns after unification, and their help will be needed, he said, to heal the scars from the many years of conflict. He hopes we will continue to be interested in the education, support and care of these refugees now in the South. He added that after retirement he hopes to go again to the North to continue his work with the sick.

Happiness House

Alcoholism, prevalent and a problem in most societies of the world, is also rampant here in Korea with over a million and half alcoholics and, in recent years, an increasing number of women alcoholics, according to a recent article in the Kyeongyang Magazine. It raises the question: Is Korea a country where alcohol consumption is encouraged? 

Though alcoholism is a chronic and disabling disease, there are therapies that have been successful in treating the problem. In Korea, of those who have tried to overcome the drinking habit with a hospital stay, more than 80 percent return to drinking within six months. And only 12.4 percent are able to stay away from alcohol for more than two years. 13 small groups are currently devoted to helping alcoholics, two of them specifically for women. The article introduces us to one of these groups, which is registered with the Seoul city government and affiliated with the Catholic Women's Welfare Association of the Seoul diocese.

Regina Lee, along with members of the Alcoholics Anonymous group they belonged to, decided to start a home for women, and were fortunate to receive help from many sources. With women, Regina says, the progress of the disease is quicker and more difficult to see; the harm done, the stress involved, and the prejudice against women is greater, which makes efforts to help more difficult. Before the alcoholism can be treated, says Regina, there is the environment, the pain, and the sad history that has to be considered and resolved.

At Happiness House, the name they have given their home, they are all dealing with the same problem: the worry, the grievances and the pain; each of them trying to help each other to return to society. Over 90 persons have passed through the house, with some meeting once a a month to share stories  about their new life. This is a great help to the group, she says. The aim of Happiness House is to encourage those who have overcome their problem to help others do the same, as one such person did by becoming a social worker.

The House now has a project to help those leaving the House to find gainful employment. They are selling quilts and environmentally friendly soap to finance the project.  They know that those who have left the House after successfully overcoming the drinking habit must have the support of their families if they are to continue a life of sobriety. Alcoholism can't be overcome by oneself. There is a need to hear words of affection and concern to replace the emptiness and suffering they feel, and from which they want to be free.

Regina concludes the article with an invitation  to those who have tried many ways to overcome their dependence on alcohol and failed. She invites them to come and knock on the door of Happiness House.

Catholic Missions of Korea

In 1975, the Korean Foreign Missionary Society received approval for its mission from the Korean bishops. This was the first public step for  evangelization in foreign countries from Korea, and from that time on the Society developed with great expectations. The superior of the Society, in the Kyeongyang Magazine, discusses the foreign mission developments of the Korean Church.

He says there are now about 900 Koreans who are working as missioners in foreign countries. Each diocese, religious order and apostolic group has  foreign missions as one of their aims. We will soon see, he says, the fruits of these endeavors.

The founding bishop of the Korean Foreign Mission Society had great expectations for the Missionary Society. He wanted to change the image of the Korean Church, from one that receives to one that gives, and in the article, he introduces us to about 20 foreign mission societies now working in foreign lands. They are officially called, according to Church Law, Missionary Societies of Apostolic Life.

Many Catholics wrongly consider missioners to be members of a religious order, he says. But there must be present three elements which constitute the apostolic life. Missioners do not take the vows of a religious in order to carry out their duties and mission, but do so by living the life of the early Christians in community and with brotherly love; their goal is to extend the kingdom of God in the world; and to bring all to Christ in the fulfillment of love. Each society would have their own particular ways of achieving these three elements.

He then goes on to introduce us to the male missionary societies of the apostolic life working  in Korea: the Paris Foreign Mission Society (M.E.P.), the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America (M.M), the Missionary Society of St. Columban (S.S.C.), the Guadalupe Missioners (M.G.), the Mission Society of the Philippines (M.S.P.), and the Korean Missionary Society (K.M.S.).

The Korean Missionary Society has for its motto: gratitude and repayment of favors received from others in Korean Church history. Their 51 members on the missions,  work in 8 different countries, and in 15 dioceses. The society has a total of 66 members,  and 26 seminarians. In 2012 they started a school for the training of missioners, not of their society, for overseas mission.
 

Korea is now among the very active missionary-sending countries of the world, showing great zeal for the missions, and also a Church that is helping with finances to accomplish this task. He quotes from Romans 10:15: "How beautiful are the feet of those who announce good news!" He  concludes with the hope and prayer that there will continue to be an increase in the number of those contributing to the work of mission.