To-day is my last full day in Gajung dong parish in Incheon. The weather yesterday and to-day has been sunny and warmer, very pleasant for a walk. The welcome and hospitality and kindness of this place still takes me unawares at times. Yesterday evening at 6 pm the new group of Parish Leaders held their first meeting. Afterwards they went for a meal in a local restaurant (very reasonable), and again I was specially invited because my stay here is drawing to an end.
Just before walking to the restaurant for the meal (which is a really nice feature of this parish's life), one of the women from the Leaders presented me with really lovely traditional Korean wall-hangings. Totally unexpected! The kindness to me here in the parish has been really memorable. It's surprising that even in spite of the language barrier, relationships still develop, and I have felt quite a strong affinity with many of the people here.
They know my limitations when it comes to Korean food, so last evening I was given a special plate of rice-cakes (very like rice krispies jelled together), plus a plate of strawberries. I had already eaten supper at 5.30 pm - but Koreans have get appetites, so I enjoy the rice-cakes and the strawberries.
This present Leaders Group (commissioned only two weeks ago to-day) seem to me to have very good potential. You can sense a very positive and energetic atmosphere amongst them. It would be very wrong of me to suggest that everything here is perfect or rosy. If anything, the parish groups and priests feel very strongly about all that remains to be done, and the great challenges that face this parish when the church is demolished. Then they have to find "a space" for worship, until a new church is built.
This morning I concelebrated the 11 am mass. The church is nearly full for this mass every Sunday. I never fail to be very impressed.
At the end of the mass, I spoke and Paolo translated for me. My little contribution was very well received. I told the people how happy I am to have met them and to pray with them many times; how I have very much appreciated how they celebrate the mass - with dignity, praying with faith, enthusiastic singing.
I thanked my friend Paolo (Bae Shinbunim) for all his goodness to me, and the assistant priest Antonio (Chai Shinbunim), the sisters, Susanna the cook and housekeeper, and the other parish staff, and, of course, the parish leaders. Paolo is a born leader who has a great way with everyone, full of warmth and kindness. Also he's a brilliant communicator. Antonio has the youthfulness and freshness of a newly-ordained priest, and has a beautiful singing voice. He's a lovely person; very gentle. "Shinbunim" is what priests are called here; means something like Reverend Father. So, I am "Mo Barry Shinbunim"; Mo = Murphy!
I also told the congregation how I had visited Irish Columban priests and sisters in Gwangju, Mokpo, and Seoul this week, and how I had enjoyed doing that. Even more unexpected was meeting Korean Columban priests, and some young Korean priests who were going on mission with the Columbans to South America: the full circle has been completed.
Finally, I simply said to the people how happy I was living amongst them. Soon I will begin work in a parish in Dublin, and I told them that my time here had encouraged me a lot and that I hope I can bring the good experience that I have had in Gajung dong parish to whatever parish I start working in. The words "faith, hope and love" come to mind.
I greeted people as they felt the church, and I really did feel something of a leave taking time. Korean people are very emotional and they show their feelings. Many expressed very obvious thanks that I had been amongst them for the last few weeks. A few who had some English were "sad" that I was going and asked if I would come again. I hope so. I can only suppose that my presence around the place here and at the liturgy has brought a small blessing to the people of this place.
When people are saying goodbye to you, they say "annyeonghi-gaseyo" which means "go in peace". You respond by saying "annyeonghi-kayseo" meaning "you remain or stay in peace". What lovely words of farewell and blessing.
I have been quite taken by surprise yesterday with the number of farewells I experienced, and by the giving to me of a number of gifts. Totally unexpected and very touching. "The God of surprises" - true for me yesterday.
Sunday evening, the two parish Sisters, Rosaria and Claretta are having a supper to mark my departure to-morrow.
This afternoon, Paolo has two hours, from 2 to 4 pm, with women and men who are in the Legion of Mary here. There's a very big crowd present, about 120 - men and women. I gather the afternoon is about: input, awareness, training - all to do with the Legion of Mary being actively part of the mission of the church in this parish. A phenomenal fact is that between 5 and 7% of ALL CATHOLICS in Korea are in the Legion of Mary as an "active movement". After having a look at the Legion gathering, Susanna (housekeeper) and Maria (secretary) and I took a walk through the market area for some shopping; beautiful warm sunny afternoon; and they are delightful company.
Writing this part of the blog on Monday morning before leaving for the airport. We had the "Bye Bye Supper" at 5.30 pm yesterday: parish sisters had ordered pizzas (to suit my tastes!); Paulo, Antonio, and the parish staff Maria, Peter and Stefan were all there. This was a most delightful gesture towards me. I appreciated it very much. It was difficult to say "Bye Bye"!
I have thoroughly enjoyed my days in Korea. I have seen many beautiful and many interesting places. And I have made many new friends. My days in Korea have very far exceeded any expectations I had before coming here.
I will bring a lot with me from this place.
