Over 45 thousand attend Mass for the Jubilee of S. Korean Diocese
Suwon, 3 October, 2013: The Eucharist celebration, which was held on Thursday at
the stadium in Suwon, presided by Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation
for the Evangelization of Peoples, on a visit in South Korea, was attended by over
45 thousand faithful. "The Mass commemorated the 50th anniversary of the creation
of the diocese, and was the culmination of a diocesan Jubilee Year, which we lived
based on the theme of the Imitation of Christ", explains to Fides Agency His Exc.
Mgr. Matthias Ri Iong-hoon, Bishop of Suwon . "We are grateful to the Pope and
to Cardinal Filoni: the faithful feel encouraged and happy. This celebration was a
sign of strong unity with the Holy See, which fills us with joy and hope. We give
glory to God", the Bishop continued. "For the diocesan community it was a year marked
by prayer and focused on the deepening of faith. We recall in particular the significant
diocesan pilgrimage to the 14 shrines of martyrs in Korea". The Bishop leads a
diocese which in Korea is the second largest, after Seoul: "We have 430 priests, one
million Catholics and many vocations. The interdiocesan Seminary of Suwon currently
welcomes 190 seminarians, among whom 40 are from neighboring dioceses and two from
China". They are the fruits of pastoral work that has lasted for 50 years, "characterized
by a constant missionary commitment", he says. "The effort of evangelization - says
Mgr. Ri Iong-hoon - has seen a steady expansion of the parishes that are now 202,
with an average of 4,000 Catholics each. Here catechesis and liturgy have the objective
of strengthening the faith of God's people. For us, events such as the World Youth
Day with the Pope or the one celebrated at a diocesan level are very important". Another
aspect that sees the Church at the forefront is social pastoral: "We are engaged in
the acceptance and support of immigrants who come to work in Korea from countries
like the Philippines, China, Vietnam but also from Africa and Latin America. We are
active in pastoral work in prisons. A special section of Caritas is the accompaniment
to the citizens of North Korea: we help them integrate into the social fabric: there
are 30 thousand in all of Korea, of whom 7 thousand in Suwon", points out Mgr. Ri. The
Church is active in the field of education: the Church runs 40 kindergartens, 5 elementary
schools, 5 middle schools, 2 high schools with more than 3,000 young people enrolled.
"In these works, which highlight the living presence of the Church in society, the
Catholic laity is very active, dynamic and well organized. Over 30 among ecclesial
associations and movements offer a fundamental contribution with regards to pastoral
work", concludes the Bishop, hoping that "at the conclusion of the Jubilee, the people
of God always have the heart, the mind and the forces aimed at missionary commitment".
(Source: Agenzia Fides)