Prague (AsiaNews) - A Korean priest who lives in Prague "can not be confined to chaplaincy for his compatriots. He should also help them learn more about the place they live in, while providing the country that hosts us a better view of our country of origin", says Fr. Keye Nam, a Catholic priest who lives in Prague to give "spiritual support" to the compatriots living in the Czech Republic.
Fr. Nam believes that "to be a bridge and meeting point" between Czech and Korean people is an essential part of his mission: "From the religious point of view, I celebrate Masses throughout the archdiocese of Prague. Regarding the Korean community, we are based in St. Vojtech, in the sixth district of the capital. " Here thousands of immigrants from South Korea live, of which approximately 120 are practicing Catholics.
The priest's mission began in
January: sent by the Diocese of Incheon, he will be in Prague for at least the
next four years: "A lot of Koreans work here for Hyundai, Samsung, LG,
Posco and all the other Korean companies in the Czech
market. They come with their families, since Seoul is one of the largest investors in the
local economy: they think of staying here for a long time. "
This is why Fr. Nam
also helps them discover the city from the point of view of everyday life:
"It is very difficult to learn about Prague
from reading guidebooks. You have to experience the city, to understand how to
move about. And in this way I can also introduce Korea to the Czechs, who
are very interested in our way of life and our traditions. "
The
Korean Catholic Church is one of the liveliest of the whole Asian continent. Over
the past five years, the Korean Bishops' Conference has launched several
exchange programs with the dioceses around the world, seen as a way to open the
eyes of Korean priests and to promote the unity of the universal Church.