2023-01-22 SOUTH KOREA

Marist Brothers Jechon Community – South Korea

The Marist community in Jechon opened in 2004 under the Diocese of Wonju, Korea. An interesting characteristic of the place is that a couple of the so called “holy places” of Korea are not far from the community place. The holy place of Baeron is one of the most important because of its great spiritual significance as the fountain head of the spread of Catholicism in Korea. It also served as a hiding place where Christians made some earthenware to survive, thus escaping the persecution of 1866. In 1904 the church of Yongsomak was built and it remains one of the oldest churches built in the country.

The community of Jechon is formed by three Brothers: Br. Timothy Song, Br. Anthony Choi, and Br. Abraham Kang. They strive to discover God’s presence in nature, to respect and care for each other, and to build a loving community that welcomes other people as they witness to them God’s love.

The apostolate of the community there is multifaceted: during the warm seasons the Brothers run a retreat house that receives all kinds of people, but especially some groups of children and youth who love to have their retreats in the midst of nature. The community’s responsibility is to clean, wash, cook, and support the groups that use its facility. The Brothers also do some farming in the land surrounding their house and by doing so, they keep alive the Founder’s desire and encouragement for the Brothers to love and do manual work.

During the cold winter season, the members join the community in Chungju to work together with disabled adults making certificate cases, guest books, and different kinds of stationery. These rather younger adults are former students of the marist vocational training center for young people with intellectual disabilities.

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