Although the Augustinians, one of the pioneering missionary orders involved in the evangelisation in East Asia, have maintained an active presence in the region over a period of four hundred years, it was only in the mid-1980's that the Order came to take its place in the already well-established and active Korean Church.

The Augustinian Delegation of Korea was founded in 1985 as a result of a direct initiative of the General Chapter, the main governing body of the Order, in 1983. Within two years of a commitment being made by the Province of Australia and the Province of England and Scotland to jointly sponsor the venture, the first community of four Augustinians was established in Korea at the invitation of the Diocese of Inchon. Personnel from the Philippines Province of Cebu began their collaboration in the Region in 1993 and there are currently (April 2008) a total of four foreign Augustinians serving in Korea, three from Australia and one from the Philippines.

The Delegation accepted its first Korean candidates in 1990 and still regards the task of training these first Korean-born Augustinians as a primary ministry. As of May 2008, nine Korean Augustinians have now made their solemn profession in the Delegation, four of whom are non-clerical brothers, four are priests and one is still preparing for priesthood. As well, there are eight young men in initial formation, three of whom have completed novitiate and made their first profession of religious vows.

In 1998 the Delegation of Korea was proud to open and dedicate its second major building, at Kang-hwa Island, near the city of Inchon, for the use of Augustinian candidates attending the nearby Inchon Diocesan Seminary.

The members of the Delegation have fostered an interest in the Order’s work and spirit among the lay people of the Korean church, through the formation of small groups of Lay Augustinians. These groups support the Order with their prayers and assist with their time and energies in many ways.

May 2000 saw the realisation of a number of years of planning for a modest apostolate in the area of social welfare with the opening of a home in Inchon for a community of adolescent boys deprived of the proper care and support of family. Having completed its first major building program, a central house in Inchon City in 1994, the Delegation developed an adjacent property and opened the St Rita Spirituality Centre in December 2006.

In March 2005 three Augustinians moved into a small house, Mother of Good Counsel Priory, on the side of a steep mountain near the small town of Dae-Guang-ri at the northern end of the new Diocese of Uijeongbu, north of Seoul.

This Priory is a place of prayer and retreats for individuals, small groups, and families, especially during the warmer summer months when some may wish to come and stay in tents to pray and enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery. After Inchon and Kang-hwa, this new venue is now the third community apostolate of the Augustinians in Korea, twenty-three years after their arrival in that nation.

The ministries of the Order in Korea presently include, a retreat house in Inchon city centre, which also offers opportunities to both religious and lay people for spiritual guidance and direction; retreat opportunities in the countryside at Do-Shin; the social welfare apostolate and hospital chaplaincy in Inchon; pastoral care of young men completing compulsory national service; teaching assignments at Catholic tertiary institutions; and regular commitments in parishes and other religious communities.

The work of the Delegation is still only in its early stages and the Order looks forward to the day when a good number of Korean Augustinians will not only be active in the local Church but also make a contribution to the wider mission of the Order in Asia and beyond in the coming century. Please pray for the Augustinians in Korea.

As of August 2008, Australian Augustinians in Korea are Fr John Sullivan OSA and Fr Michael Sullivan OSA.

Address:

St Augustine's Priory Incheon
9-56 Chon Dong, Chung Gu,
Incheon 400-190
Republic of South Korea

Telephone: (0011 82 32) 761 0768
Fax: (0011 82 32) 766 6149

E-Mail: osa@osakorea.or.kr

Website: http://www.osakorea.or.kr