Seoul (AsiaNews) Blood, organ and bone marrow donations have increased in the Year of the Eucharist, according to 'One heart, One Body' movement, an organisation backed by the archdiocese of Seoul that has launched a life sharing campaign for the Year of the Eucharist.
The movement's figures show that thanks to its initiative more than 1,300 people have signed up as organ donors in the first four months of 2005; last year, they were 851.
Donors come mostly from the dioceses of Incheon and Suwon.
In addition to blood and organ donations, the movement organises and promotes events that provide greater information about bone marrow donations.
As many as 244 faithful from the Chang 4-dong parish in Seoul have participated in the organ donation campaign, while youth volunteer groups were successful in their own street campaign for organ donations.
According to organiser Yun Gyong-jung, Catholics have responded positively to the campaign promoted by the archdiocese and the Pyeonghwa Times, a campaign that is scheduled to last a year.
The One Heart One Body movement emerged in the wake of the World Eucharistic Congress held in Seoul in 1988. Since its inception, it has been involved in charity work in South Korea and neighbouring countries.