Daejeon (AsiaNews ) - A "Canaan Center " for the poor in Mongolia, a food distribution program for struggling Koreans and financial support for students in difficulty:these are the fruits of the "100 won for a meal" campaign , launched by the diocese of Daejeon in South Korea after the publication of Benedict XVI's encyclical, " Deus Caritas Est" .
The program was the brainchild of bishopMsgr. Lazzaro You Heung- sik , who after the Korean bishops' ad limina visit to the Vatican in 2007 promised the Pope he would launch a major campaign for the poor of Korea and Mongolia. In 2008, the promise became a reality , and today is a stable program that helps many people who sometimes can not afford even to eat.
The program is simple : the local Church asks the faithful to set aside after each meal, 100 won (about 7 cents) for the poor. A small gesture that , together with that of many other people , has produced a considerable sum .
From 2010 to 2011, the collection has helped many poor students who do not have parents: about 88 children in seven schools on the diocesan territory . In early 2011, the schools became 15 , and it also became possible to send aid to Mongolia. The Churches of Korea and Mongolia have a very close relationship , and in fact the Diocese of Daejeon has sent some fidei donum priests to Ulaanbaatar . Moreover, the first Mongolian seminarian is studying in the diocese.
From 2012 to 2013 the number of students receiving support rose to 217 , and "100 won for a meal" became able to establish a program of food aid for the poor and the elderly living alone in the diocese. For those who unable to travel to receive tehir meal, the diocese provided a minibus to bring the food to them. Msgr . You often participates firsthand in the distribution (see photo) .
hanks to the funds raised in the name of charity , the diocese has also been able to open up a "Canaan Centre" for the poor of Mongolia. A letter, written by one of the people who recevies help at the Centre, says: " Hello , my name is Cingun. After the mass, you have always given me food , and I thank you very much for this. Here I also learned how to ride a bicycle , and I'm studying Korean and English.I 'm very happy and I thank you for all this help".