News from the Gwangju Area
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Mission Promotion -
Up until the end of March, there have been nine parish appeals preached. And down the pipe line, there will be two appeals in April; three in May; and two in June awaiting the preacher’s attention.
Since there is a new Bishop in Jeonju Diocese, I visited with him to ask if we may continue to make appeals for benefactors in his diocese. He replied favourably with, "Of course," and asked how many Columban benefactors are in the diocese. I said I wasn't sure, but that I would write to him with the details. If I had of told him how many outright, you never know what the next question would be. Anyway, I wrote to him and told him that there are 1,200 Columban benefactors in Jeonju Diocese.
Up until the end of March, there have been nine parish appeals preached. And down the pipe line, there will be two appeals in April; three in May; and two in June awaiting the preacher’s attention.
Since there is a new Bishop in Jeonju Diocese, I visited with him to ask if we may continue to make appeals for benefactors in his diocese. He replied favourably with, "Of course," and asked how many Columban benefactors are in the diocese. I said I wasn't sure, but that I would write to him with the details. If I had of told him how many outright, you never know what the next question would be. Anyway, I wrote to him and told him that there are 1,200 Columban benefactors in Jeonju Diocese.
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Billy Gallagher made an amazing recovery from his operation for appendicitis. It was perforated but with key hole surgery he was home as good as ever in seven days. That man never looks back. |
A recent visitor to our house was Mr Eamonn McLoughlin from Dublin.
In the coming days city gas will be installed in the Gwangju house. The amount spent on heating oil this winter is equivalent to fifty percent of the overall cost of installation. |
The untimely passing and death of Michael McCarthy was received with sadness. The celebrations in Ireland and his send-off were worthy of a Royal Chieftain of a Noble Clan. The parishioners of Bukdong and Heuksanan Do, where Micheal ministered as a curate, plus the parishioners of Jungheung Dong, which Michael established and ministered in, as well as Unam Dong where he ministered as pastor were all saddened by the news of his death.
"Ar dheis De go raibh ar a anam dilis" – May his soul be at the right hand of God
"Ar dheis De go raibh ar a anam dilis" – May his soul be at the right hand of God
The Bishop's Residence in Mokpo is now a Museum of presenting the history of Gwangju Archdiocese. After Archbishop Henry moved the Diocesan Offices from Mokpo to Gwangju city the building was used as the hospital which was staffed by Columban Sisters.
The Bishop's Residence in Mokpo is now a Museum of presenting the history of Gwangju Archdiocese. After Archbishop Henry moved the Diocesan Offices from Mokpo to Gwangju city the building was used as the hospital which was staffed by Columban Sisters.
Presently, to the right of the main door as you enter the building, at the gable end of the building, there is a memorial cross erected to the memory of Monsignor Pere Brennan, Fr Thomas Cusack, and Fr. John O'Brien. The three were arrested by north Korean soldiers during the Korean war in 1950 and jailed in Gwangju. While they were being taken along with other prisoners to north Korea they were held in the former Franciscan monastery in Daejeon: The Holy Word Sisters now own this property. There were about six hundred held captive in the basement of the church and when US forces began to attack the northern soldiers slaughtered all the prisoners: six hundred in the church and two thousand in the local jail. Our three Columban confreres were among the those executed. Their bodies have never been recovered.
Presently, to the right of the main door as you enter the building, at the gable end of the building, there is a memorial cross erected to the memory of Monsignor Pere Brennan, Fr Thomas Cusack, and Fr. John O'Brien. The three were arrested by north Korean soldiers during the Korean war in 1950 and jailed in Gwangju. While they were being taken along with other prisoners to north Korea they were held in the former Franciscan monastery in Daejeon: The Holy Word Sisters now own this property. There were about six hundred held captive in the basement of the church and when US forces began to attack the northern soldiers slaughtered all the prisoners: six hundred in the church and two thousand in the local jail. Our three Columban confreres were among the those executed. Their bodies have never been recovered.
On the footing of the memorial cross, the cross itself being roughly twenty-six-foot-high, there are three metal plated plaques of the three martyrs. Also, on the footing is a wreath of thorns around the cross symbolising the Crown of Martyrs. On the arms of the cross there are the laurels of victory over death. Our seven Columban priests, who were killed or died in captivity during the war, are among a list of over eighty who are on a list that is being prepared for their Beatification.