St Andrew Kim relics at a church in Burkina Faso
Cardinal Yeom donated relics from the first Korean martyr to the Diocese of Koupéla. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the saint’s birth. The relics will be kept at a parish church, renovated thanks to the offerings collected by Korean Catholics.
Seoul (AsiaNews) – Relics of the first Korean priest, the martyr St. Andrew Kim, whose birth 200 years ago is celebrated this year, will be kept in Africa, at St Joseph parish, Archdiocese of Koupéla, Burkina Faso.
This is meant to stress the missionary bond between Korean Catholics and the St Joseph community whose church was recently renovated thanks to offerings collected in the parish of Yeouido, Archdiocese of Seoul.
Card Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, the retiring archbishop of the South Korean capital, handed over the relics to Mgr Julien Kaboré, chargé d'affaires at the apostolic nunciature in the Philippines, who hails from the Archdiocese of Koupéla.
Cardinal Yeom will soon retire from his episcopal post, replaced by Mgr Chung Soon-taick.
“I am very pleased to be given the opportunity to build fraternal solidarity between the Catholic Church in Korea and Burkina Faso through St Andrew Kim,” Card yeom said. “I believe that it will allow us to be more deeply united in the love of God.”
For his part, Mgr Kaboré said: “It is such a great honour to enshrine the remains of St Andrew Kim at a cathedral in Burkina Faso. This is a sign of unity and the communion of saints.”
For the Burkinabe-born Vatican diplomat, the story of the Korean martyrs impressed immensely during his previous posting at the apostolic nunciature in Seoul, so much so that he asked Card Yeom for such a gift from the Catholic community of his country.
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12/02/2016 15:14
08/02/2021 14:04
