"THE AUGUSTINIAN" December 2000

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4            Return to Current News

Korean Update

The last few months have seen us move from another hot Summer to the chills of late Autumn. No one perhaps has found the change more dramatic than our new arrival, Father Armando Dayao of the Cebu Province, accustomed as he is to the warmer climes of the Philippines. Fr. 'Mandy', as he is known in the Province, arrived last July and is now well and truly engrossed in his language studies at the Jesuit University in Seoul while residing in the central house in Inchon and occasionally visiting the parish and community at Kanghwa for a closer look at our work. Fr. Mandy was formerly the novice-master in his home Province.

We were also pleased to welcome two other visitors from the Philippines in recent weeks. Fr. Benjamin Gamos, currently on sabbatical leave, spend a short time with us, and is now, we believe, staying with the Augustinians in Sydney. The Provincial of the Cebu province, Father Richard Pido also made his first visit to Korea in the last month. He was struck by how different the North Asian environment is from his experiences visiting the Augustinian missionaries in Irian Jaya, Indonesia, where two members of his Province are also engaged. Fr. Dick was able to spend time with both communities and join in the activities in our parish over a busy weekend.

Progress with the new apostolate, our "Group-home" community is steady but the work demanding. Brothers Barnabas Kim and Johan Kim with the help of a live-in house-mother provide a loving environment for the four boys in their charge and continue to seek further interest and financial support from both individuals and groups. During the Summer they were able to complete some needed "home-improvements"; to the premise.

The Kanghwa community has recently assumed responsibilty for the Martyrs’ Shrine located in the Island only a few minutes drive from out Tolentino Priory, the first to be properly researched and developed in the Inchon Diocese. We offer occasional masses and confessions for parish groups on request. There has been considerable interest in the last couple of months as the site becomes better known as a place of pilgrimage, especially as the Holy Year draws to a close. The Diocese has plans to further develop the facilties at the site in the coming months. In another bulletin we may have the opportunity to recount some of the history of the "Kap-got" Shrine and the Korean martyrs of the nineteenth century.

It is Christ's Birthday

Rejoice you who are just. It is the birthday of Him Who justifies. Rejoice you who are weak and sick. It is the birthday of Him Who makes people well. Rejoice you who are in captivity. It is the birthday of the Redeemer. Rejoice you who are slaves. It is the birthday of the Master…

St Augustine: Sermon 184,2

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4
Return to Current News