Catholic Outlook May 2016
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KOREAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY<br />
Korean chaplaincy crosses cultural divide<br />
By Elizabeth McFarlane<br />
There is a great beauty in the varied face<br />
of the <strong>Catholic</strong> Church. Diverse migrant<br />
communities make up the Diocese of<br />
Parramatta, each with their own traditions and<br />
customs that merge in a great demonstration of<br />
the universal Church.<br />
Fr Stephen Hyun Sangok, Korean Chaplain<br />
for the Diocese of Parramatta, and Michael<br />
Lim, President of the Korean Chaplaincy,<br />
believe migrant chaplaincies enable parishes to<br />
celebrate cultural differences and similarities.<br />
The chaplaincy, based at Our Lady of<br />
Lourdes Church, Baulkham Hills, runs a<br />
Korean Language School on Saturdays at<br />
7.30pm and a Bible Study class on Sundays<br />
from 9.30am-noon.<br />
“We are very grateful that the Diocese<br />
supports the chaplaincy and that they have also<br />
allowed Fr Stephen to work with us,” Michael<br />
said.<br />
Fr Stephen celebrates the 7.30pm Saturday<br />
Vigil Mass and the 11am Sunday Mass in<br />
the Korean language at Our Lady of Lourdes<br />
Church.<br />
“There are language barriers. Some<br />
parishioners cannot speak English fluently and<br />
even if they understand in part, they do not<br />
fully grasp the homily, so we ask Fr Stephen to<br />
help us in deepening our faith,” Michael said.<br />
The chaplaincy creates a space for Korean<br />
parishioners to come together. However,<br />
Fr Stephen acknowledges the need for the<br />
chaplaincy to be an open community.<br />
“Some Australians may look at the Korean<br />
Chaplaincy and think, ‘Why are they so<br />
exclusive?’ But that is not the case. There is a<br />
natural intimacy and we are very close, but we<br />
are not exclusive,” Fr Stephen said.<br />
“We are open. We want people who are<br />
not Korean to gather with us and attend our<br />
Korean Language School, Bible Study classes<br />
and masses. Everyone is welcome.<br />
“I am not here just to serve the Korean<br />
Chaplaincy. I am here to serve the whole<br />
Church.”<br />
The Diocese of Parramatta is among the<br />
most multi-ethnic and multicultural in the<br />
world. One-quarter of the <strong>Catholic</strong>s in our<br />
Diocese were born overseas in a non-Englishspeaking<br />
country (25.5%) and more than onequarter<br />
of our <strong>Catholic</strong>s speak a language other<br />
than English at home (28.4%).<br />
Many migrants share the <strong>Catholic</strong> faith<br />
and enrich the life of the Diocese through their<br />
witness and participation in parish life and<br />
The chaplaincy creates a space for Korean parishioners to come together.<br />
other forms of Christian community.<br />
Fr Pio Yong Ho Jang is the first Koreanborn<br />
priest to be ordained for the Diocese of<br />
Parramatta.<br />
Migrant chaplaincies bridge the gap<br />
between cultural divides, promoting a stronger<br />
connection through the one shared faith.<br />
They provide migrants with familiar<br />
cultural expressions of the faith, addressing<br />
the need for the mystery of Christ to be<br />
proclaimed, celebrated and lived out at all times<br />
and in all places.<br />
As time passes, the focus of a chaplaincy<br />
shifts to assisting migrants, especially younger<br />
generations, in becoming more active<br />
participants in the life of their local parish.<br />
“The Korean Chaplaincy is not separate<br />
from the Diocese. We belong to the Diocese,”<br />
Michael explained. “Many Korean parishioners<br />
are still involved in the wider parish. I used to<br />
be an acolyte for the Church.”<br />
In welcoming people from overseas, our<br />
parishes, schools, agencies and individual<br />
members are mindful of the rich cultures,<br />
traditions and experiences that migrants bring<br />
to their new home.<br />
“At the end of the day, we are part of the<br />
same <strong>Catholic</strong> Faith, which teaches us to love<br />
one another. It doesn’t matter if you are Korean<br />
or Australian, when we are part of the same<br />
faith we will always have a natural connection,”<br />
Michael said.<br />
Fr Stephen Hyun Sangok and Michael Lim believe migrant chaplaincies enable parishes to celebrate cultural differences<br />
and similarities. Photo: Elizabeth McFarlane.<br />
Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy<br />
Penrose Park<br />
Fatima Day: Friday 13 <strong>May</strong><br />
Come and pray for your family and the world at large!<br />
10am Exposition, Holy Mass 11am, After Lunch; Procession and<br />
Devotions at Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.<br />
Principal Celebrant: Fr George Condookala<br />
Parish Priest at Port Kembla<br />
20 <strong>Catholic</strong><strong>Outlook</strong> | MAY <strong>2016</strong><br />
www.catholicoutlook.org<br />
Upcoming celebrations in our shrine<br />
Solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians: Tuesday 24 <strong>May</strong><br />
11am - Solemn Mass followed by Devotions<br />
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ: Sunday 29 <strong>May</strong><br />
11am - Solemn Mass followed by Procession<br />
Pauline Father’s Monastery<br />
Address: 120 Hanging Rock Road, Berrima, NSW, 2577 Phone: 02 4878 9192<br />
Email: paulinefathers@yahoo.com.au<br />
Website: www.penrosepark.com.au
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