By Fr. Frans Desmet, AA

It was on December 17, 1991, that Fathers Frans Desmet (South Belgium) and Thierry Cocquerez (France), having taken off from Logan Airport in Boston (USA), arrived at Seoul International Airport where they were welcomed by the local superior of the Missionary Fathers of St. Columban. The following day they were joined by Fr. Leo Brassard (USA) whose plane had been delayed in Los Angeles with technical difficulties. And so it was that the Assumptionists were to set foot once again in the Far East.  For, in fact, they were forced to leave Manchuria in 1954 under pressure from the Communists. Christmas would be celebrated with the Oblate Sisters of the Assumption in Kwangju, a city in the southwest part of the country. It would be there that the community would establish its first community after two years of language study in Seoul.

Labor Pains

Adapting to a new culture, learning a language reputed to be very difficult, finding one’s place in a new and dynamic church setting, establishing an Assumptionist community in Asia, getting involved in vocation ministry, etc. ---- such an agenda proved to be extremely daunting to the three new missionaries who were armed with little more than their faith and their enthusiasm.

From the beginning they had to forego the assistance they were expecting from a young Korean religious who had been formed in the United States but who decided to leave. There was also the question of handling responsibly any number of young men who were generously recommended to the community by well-intentioned friends but who had little understanding of the demands of religious life.

As an international foundation, the community in Korea had a special status in the congregation: it depended directly on the Superior General and his Council. This status created some specific problems, in particular, the nomination of new religious. Since the Superior General did not have any authority to appoint religious on his own, he had to go “begging” for reinforcements from provincials who had many others irons in the fire.

First Apostolic Involvements

After two years of study, this small Assumptionist community took up residence in the archdiocese of Kwangju at Christmastime 1993. Kwangju had a population of approximately 1,600,000 and it is there that the Oblates of the Assumption had their regional headquarters.

It was also the home of the archbishop and an interdiocesan seminary which welcomed members of religious congregations for philosophy and theology.

Even after having completed two years of Korean, the religious’ mastery of the language was rudimentary. So, their apostolic ministry was quite limited ---- in homes for the handicapped, saying Mass for religious communities, teaching English and French at the major seminary, etc.  It proved to be plenty of work but it didn’t in any way give a special “character” to the congregation.

What made things even more difficult was the fact that the Congregation sent no new reinforcements. The generosity with which provincials had voted unanimously to support the foundation in Korea soon came up against the pressing personnel demands of each province. In 1993 the General Chapter members voted to send two new religious to shore up the community ----- in vain. In spite of these setbacks a young Korean, Joseph Baik Ho, joined the community in 1994, took some fundamental courses in religion, and prepared for the state exams required for seminary entrance.

A Turning-point ----- new apostolic activity and the Adoption of the Mission by the province of France

The visit of the Superior General, Fr. Claude Maréchal, in November 1998, brought good news and bad. On the one hand, Fr. Thierry Cocquerez decided to return to France; on the other, Joseph was accepted into the major seminary and the archbishop of Kwangju entrusted a small parish (Hactari) to the Assumptionists about 30 miles south of the city, a parish that counted some 500 faithful, three outstations, and a leper colony.

Our insertion into the local church was finally complete. We had a foothold in this new land. Our relations with the local clergy increased and our parishioners came to appreciate the kind of the service we offered them. Even to this day, although we left some time ago, they have stayed close to us, many of them having become friends and benefactors.

The general chapter of 1999 was at a lost as to what to do with this new mission. The Council of the Congregation that met in Jerusalem in 2000 was to decide on the future of the mission ----- keeping it open or closing it. It was at this time that the Province of France made a courageous decision to accept responsibility for the foundation.

The Last Ten Years...

Thanks to the leadership provided by the French province, the Korean Mission gained new strength. Several young men were accepted and undertook some of their studies in France, including their novitiate.  Thanks to the assistance of this Province, we have been able to build a new residence in Kwangju itself which has given us greater visibility and allowed us to welcome residents and to offer groups conferences and retreats. The stability which the Province of France made in integrating the Korean Mission can in no way be underestimated.

Today ... and Tomorrow

In 2007 Joseph became the first ordained Assumptionist.  In the meantime the community has gradually grown with several other young Koreans. In addition, a Vietnamese Assumptionist, Paul Tran Minh Hai, has joined us to minister to Vietnamese immigrants in the diocese.

Although the number of vocations in general has decreased considerably in Korea, we continue to recruit young men actively.

Twenty years in a civilization that has a 5,000-year old history is a drop in the bucket.

As St. Paul says in I Corinthians 3:6, “ I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.”