Homily: Feast of St. Andrew Kim Ta’e-gon and Paul Chong and Companions

Feast of St. Andrew Kim Ta’e-gon and Paul Chong and Companions (Luke 7:31-35) “Intimidation Cannot Stop the Growth of the Church.”

We often say that the faith was established in the blood of the martyrs. This is the way that it was in Korea. In the early part of the 19th century 103 martyrs died in Korea.

Korea had several religions before Christianity began to be established including Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. At the beginning of the 19th century lay people began to bring the Christian faith to Korea from China. They received Catechetical material from Jesuits who were in China. These catechists risked their lives going back and forth to China to meet with church authorities there. Despite the persecutions, the church began to grow in Korea.

One of the early leaders was Paul Chong who began his support of the church when he was only twenty. Paul Chong was a nobleman. He began to provide material support for the infant church of Korea. He also helped to smuggle priests into the country. He made nine trips to China to learn more about the faith. He hid priests in his home and let them use his home for worship.

Andrew Kim was the first native born priest in Korea. He was trained in Macao with two other seminarians. He helped French missionaries who came into the country. He eventually was ordained, but he was arrested shortly after ordination.

The Korean martyrs suffered greatly. The were kept for months in prison. When the time came for martyrdom, they would be taken to the place of execution in an ox cart. On the way they were tied to a cross. When they reached the place where they would die, they would be stripped naked and then beheaded. Their bodies would be put on display for weeks to frighten any other would-be Christians. Eventually they would be buried in an unmarked grave.

All of this did not stop the growth of Catholicism. The Korean church today is strong and vibrant.

1.    Why does persecution seem to spur the church’s growth? Are the other countries where his was the case?

2.   With out the work of lay missionaries the church in Korea would not have gotten started. What does this say about the role of the laity in evangelization?

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Dear Parishioners,

          Wayne Messmer’s one man play about Fr. Damian is coming up fast. I have asked several people if they are coming, and they say yes but have not bought tickets. It would make our planning easier if people would purchase their tickets. Somehow it seems like people don’t want to commit until the last minute like maybe they will get a better offer. This will be a great opportunity to be inspired by the story of a heroic saint. I would encourage you to make your attendance a priority and that you bring others with you.

          May Our Lady pray for our troubled world as summer turns to fall,

          Fr. Mark