Masses resume on tiny South Korean island

The Catholic population of the tiny South Korean island of Yeonpyeong-do has returned to Mass.  

Ucan reports that 40 to 50 Catholics attended Mass recently at the island’s one Catholic church, which was damaged in November during an artillery attack from the nearby North Korean mainland.  

Yeonpyeong-do has an area of just over seven square kilometres and a population of 1,700.  450 are Catholics.  The island is just 12km from the North Korean coastline.  

On November 23, an artillery attack damaged the Catholic church, shattering windows and the nearby rectory. 

South Korean officials reported that the North fired 200 artillery shells onto Yeonpyeong-do Island setting more than sixty buildings ablaze.  

Two shells hit the church. 

The South returned fire with about eighty artillery rounds.  North Korea said the shelling was in retaliation for military exercises in the area.

During the attack, the parish priest, Fr Joseph Kim Tae-heon and local inhabitants took refuge in a bomb shelter, and no-one was injured.  

Afterwards many fled the island but the parish priest opted to stay.  

Before the attack, he had a church going population of around 150 each week and gradually they are returning.

Yeonpyeong-do is part of Incheon diocese, most of which is on the mainland of South Korea, bordering North Korea.  

As of the end of 2009, it had over 437,000 Catholics, about 10 per cent of the population. In 2009, the diocese had over 11,000 baptisms. 

There are believed to be around 3,000 Catholics in North Korea, which is run by a Communist government.  

Changchung Cathedral in Pyongyang is the only Catholic church in the country. 

The government of North Korea does not have diplomatic relations with the Vatican and no clergy are allowed in the country. 

The Catholic Church in South Korea has seen huge growth in the last ten years, increasing its membership by 70 per cent.  

According to sources, part of this growth can be attributed to the Church's relatively positive perception by the general public for its role in the democratisation of South Korea, its good social works and its respectful approach to interfaith dialogue.  

There are now over 5.1 million Catholics in South Korea — over 10 per cent the population.  

There are many vocations.  

Korea, north and south, has the fourth largest number of saints in the Catholic Church, including the Korean martyrs who died during 19th century persecution of the Church. 

Eight thousand Catholics died during the period of oppression.  

In 1984, 103 of them were canonised.

Source