By Jim Davis - Florida Catholic
Photographer: JIM DAVIS | FC
Rather than pass the plate, parishioners at St. Paul Chung Ha Sung Church file up to drop their offerings in a basket up front.
WEST HOLLYWOOD | When Pope Francis visits South Korea this month, one group of South Floridians will take a special interest: the faithful from that land who live in the archdiocese.
Members of St. Paul Chung Ha Sung Church have worshiped here for 30 years, coming to America for a variety of reasons: business, education, freedom. But when they heard that the pope was planning to visit their homeland � on his first trip to East Asia � many reacted with "Thank you, God!"
"It is an honor for Korea to see the pope," said Father Bongmoon Lee, director of the archdiocesan Korean apostolate, whose members celebrate weekly Mass at the church. "And it's significant that Pope Francis is new, but he chose to come to Korea first on his first time in Asia."
Francis' visit, Aug. 14-18, will also be the first time a pontiff has come to the war-divided land since Pope John Paul II's last visit in 1989. In his eight years as pope, Benedict XVI never went farther into Asia than the Middle East. Francis' brief sojourn therefore will make a sizable impact.
Members of St. Paul Chung Ha Sung Church have worshiped here for 30 years, coming to America for a variety of reasons: business, education, freedom. But when they heard that the pope was planning to visit their homeland � on his first trip to East Asia � many reacted with "Thank you, God!"
"It is an honor for Korea to see the pope," said Father Bongmoon Lee, director of the archdiocesan Korean apostolate, whose members celebrate weekly Mass at the church. "And it's significant that Pope Francis is new, but he chose to come to Korea first on his first time in Asia."
Francis' visit, Aug. 14-18, will also be the first time a pontiff has come to the war-divided land since Pope John Paul II's last visit in 1989. In his eight years as pope, Benedict XVI never went farther into Asia than the Middle East. Francis' brief sojourn therefore will make a sizable impact.
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"There are a lot of countries in Asia," said Esue Shin of Davie after a recent Sunday Mass at St. Paul Ha Sung Church, which meets at the old Madonna Academy campus in West Hollywood. "That Pope Francis would stop by, it's a boost to our confidence. We're in his thoughts."
Judging by his plans, Korea occupies the Holy Father's thoughts in several ways. He will visit a festival of Asian youth, an acknowledgment of the rapid growth of Christianity on that continent during the 20th century.
Francis also plans a beatification ceremony for 124 Koreans who were killed for their faith, mostly in the 19th century, a follow-up to John Paul II's canonization of 103 martyrs there in 1984.
Even those numbers pale in comparison to the estimated 20,000 Christians who were killed in Korea from 1800 to 1900, Father Lee said. Korea's kings, who enforced a strict social order, felt threatened when the Christians treated everyone as equals.
The 103 canonized by John Paul II included St. Paul Chung Ha Sang, for whom the local Korean Catholic church was named. Paul Chung Ha Sang, himself the son of a martyr, persuaded the bishop of Beijing to send the first priests to Korea in 1825. He was arrested, tried and tortured, then bound to a cross and died in 1839.
The Christians "could have abandoned their faith and lived, but they chose to live their faith and be martyrs," said Bo Kyung Han, who teaches Bible studies and prepares first Communion candidates at the church. "Others hid in the mountains and kept the faith, generation to generation. That's where we got our faith."
Interfaith relations is another goal of Francis' visit to South Korea. He is scheduled to lead a �Mass for Peace and Reconciliation� at Myeong Dong Cathedral in Seoul, the birthplace of the Roman Catholic community in Korea. Invited will be leaders of Protestant, Buddhist and other religious bodies, as well as Catholics.
Joseph Suh, president of the St. Paul Chung Ha Sung Church council, has his own memories of a papal visit. He attended a gathering with Pope John Paul II in Korea in 1984, the 200th anniversary of Korean Catholicism. He and his wife, Agnes, were among a half-million people who celebrated Mass with St. John Paul on Seoul's Yeouido Island.
"I was proud to see the Holy Father," Suh said. "And I feel the same way now that Pope Francis is coming (to South Korea)."
Reunification of North and South Korea, divided since the end of World War II, is also on Pope Francis' mind � and on the minds of South Florida parishioners. The two halves warred from 1950 to 1953, a conflict in which the United States was heavily involved.
"There's a ceasefire, but there are always incidents, and people are mourning," said Christopher Park, a senior at Miami Palmetto High School. "I feel like the Korean people need some healing. The pope can make that opportunity."
Father Lee noted also that the Archdiocese of Seoul has invited 10 Catholics from the north to attend a Mass during the pope's visit. He said 50,000 Catholics were known to live in the north before the Korean War.
An inspirational figure like Pope Francis is what South Korea needs, suggested parishioner Chang Jung, because of current problems with governmental corruption. Also because of the continuing belligerence of the north, which recently test-fired a missile into the sea.
"We need a spiritual leader; we won't solve (the problems) by ourselves," Jung said. "Catholics and other Christians are very important to South Korea, so that we can find peace."
Han agreed. "The Church is big and global, and Pope Francis' visit will put a focus on Korea's politics and society. Even nonbelievers love him. This is a chance for the people to unify. To think not just about themselves but society as a whole."
Judging by his plans, Korea occupies the Holy Father's thoughts in several ways. He will visit a festival of Asian youth, an acknowledgment of the rapid growth of Christianity on that continent during the 20th century.
Francis also plans a beatification ceremony for 124 Koreans who were killed for their faith, mostly in the 19th century, a follow-up to John Paul II's canonization of 103 martyrs there in 1984.
Even those numbers pale in comparison to the estimated 20,000 Christians who were killed in Korea from 1800 to 1900, Father Lee said. Korea's kings, who enforced a strict social order, felt threatened when the Christians treated everyone as equals.
The 103 canonized by John Paul II included St. Paul Chung Ha Sang, for whom the local Korean Catholic church was named. Paul Chung Ha Sang, himself the son of a martyr, persuaded the bishop of Beijing to send the first priests to Korea in 1825. He was arrested, tried and tortured, then bound to a cross and died in 1839.
The Christians "could have abandoned their faith and lived, but they chose to live their faith and be martyrs," said Bo Kyung Han, who teaches Bible studies and prepares first Communion candidates at the church. "Others hid in the mountains and kept the faith, generation to generation. That's where we got our faith."
Photographer: JIM DAVIS | FC
Father Bongmoon Lee speaks at St. Paul Chung Ha Sung Church in West Hollywood.
Joseph Suh, president of the St. Paul Chung Ha Sung Church council, has his own memories of a papal visit. He attended a gathering with Pope John Paul II in Korea in 1984, the 200th anniversary of Korean Catholicism. He and his wife, Agnes, were among a half-million people who celebrated Mass with St. John Paul on Seoul's Yeouido Island.
"I was proud to see the Holy Father," Suh said. "And I feel the same way now that Pope Francis is coming (to South Korea)."
Reunification of North and South Korea, divided since the end of World War II, is also on Pope Francis' mind � and on the minds of South Florida parishioners. The two halves warred from 1950 to 1953, a conflict in which the United States was heavily involved.
"There's a ceasefire, but there are always incidents, and people are mourning," said Christopher Park, a senior at Miami Palmetto High School. "I feel like the Korean people need some healing. The pope can make that opportunity."
Father Lee noted also that the Archdiocese of Seoul has invited 10 Catholics from the north to attend a Mass during the pope's visit. He said 50,000 Catholics were known to live in the north before the Korean War.
An inspirational figure like Pope Francis is what South Korea needs, suggested parishioner Chang Jung, because of current problems with governmental corruption. Also because of the continuing belligerence of the north, which recently test-fired a missile into the sea.
"We need a spiritual leader; we won't solve (the problems) by ourselves," Jung said. "Catholics and other Christians are very important to South Korea, so that we can find peace."
Han agreed. "The Church is big and global, and Pope Francis' visit will put a focus on Korea's politics and society. Even nonbelievers love him. This is a chance for the people to unify. To think not just about themselves but society as a whole."
Updated, Aug. 7, 2014: After this story was posted, the North's Korean Catholics Association indicated that it would be difficult for their representatives to participate in the Mass due to the ongoing tensions between both nations and the fact that South Korea and the U.S. would be conducting joint military exercises at the same time.
