Writing this blog on Thursday morning, 22 April, having returned to Incheon from Gwangju yesterday afternoon. Yesterday evening I went with Paolo to one of a series of "Community Masses" in the parish, celebrated in people's houses and apartments.
Yesterday's mass was in a house not far from the church and, being located in an old area of the parish, was mostly attended by older people.
The idea behind the series of masses is to build community again in this place, and also to involve more people in the mission of the parish. This will be more likely to happen when the mass is in an area where younger people (40 - 50) are living. The previous night they had a mass in an apartment in one of the nearby high rise buildings. Paolo was telling me there were 45 people present, including 7 men - and from the men, a leader was chosen. There would also be a leader who is a woman.
But Korean culture and tradition seems to require men to work with men, and women with women. It probably goes back to the influence of Confucianism.
The mass was simply celebrated, around a low table. Everyone sat on the floor of the main living area and two adjoining rooms. After the mass there was some simple food.
One of the pictures is of me with the husband of the house where the mass was celebrated.
Yes - you might have to carry out a quick search for your shoes when leaving a large social gathering of people. The tradition on entering a house is to remove your shoes. This is observed also in many restaurants. With under-floor heating in most places, your feet don't get cold! When I come into the parish house here, I immediately take off my shoes and change into soft flip-flop slippers.
