아시아 11/04/19 Easter ‘a time to be with the poor’ - Bishops set an example with mission to society's marginalized

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Easter ‘a time to be with the poor’

Bishops set an example with mission to society's marginalized

uca
Korea
April 19, 2011

Bishop Lucas Kim Woon-hoe of Chunchon at the Chrism Mass last year

Bishops in Korea say Catholics should focus on being with the poor rather than holding large-scale preparations for Easter.

During this Holy Week and Easter, parishes and dioceses should take time to be with marginalized people such as those suffering with leprosy, prisoners, migrant workers and retired priests,  the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea said in a press release yesterday.

Several bishops have scheduled to make the Holy Week and Easter special for marginalized people.

Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong of Kwangju will visit an island where those with leprosy live and celebrate the Good Friday service with them on April 22.

Bishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik of Daejeon will visit a social welfare institute for youth and celebrate Easter Mass with  young people there on April 24.

Wonju diocese will collect money for poor people during Mass to mark the Lord’s Supper on April 21 and visit prisoners on April 23 and retired priests and marginalized people a day later.

Seoul archdiocese will hold the ‘Easter Festival with Migrant Workers’ at a Church-run high school on April 24 and Suwon diocese will celebrate special services with migrant people during Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Masan diocese will to the same with prisoners.

Similarly, Reverend Kim Young-ju, secretary general of the National Council of Churches in Korea, a Protestant grouping also issued a statement saying that the resurrection of Jesus Christ should be good news for the homeless, the urban poor, part time and migrant workers and those with  disabilities.