Youth ‘safehouse’ in Seoul, cross made from DMZ wires
Two signs marked Christmas and Jubilee celebrations in Seoul’s Catholic community. Seoul Ajit’s new facility aims to boost an initiative that has helped more than 6,000 troubled youth in five years. For Archbishop Chung, the cross made with iron wires from the DMZ is a “powerful testament to our collective yearning for peace”.
Seoul (AsiaNews) – Two important events marked Christmas celebrations in the Archdiocese of Seoul this year, highlighting two crucial issues for the future, namely youth and peace.
This was especially poignant at a time when the country is still shaken by very serious political and constitutional crises that began on 3 December with President Yoon Yuk-yeol's failed attempted to impose martial law.
On Christmas Eve, Auxiliary Bishop Paul Lee, who is responsible for WYD2027 preparations, celebrated Mass in the new premises of Seoul Ajit, a place of refuge for young people in the large metropolis. In Korean, Ajit (아지트) literally means “hideout” or “safehouse”.
The archdiocese undertook the initiative in 2019 with the mission of accompanying “youth with the Love of Jesus.” The facility is in Seoul's Suyu district, and is open from Monday to Friday to anyone between the ages of 9 and 24.
In the past five years, it welcomed more than 6,000 young people, providing crisis counselling, as well as cultural enrichment, meals and educational opportunities.
Seoul Ajit is more than a physical space since it also operates a mobile unit, a large bus set up to visit areas frequented by young people. Volunteers trained to connect with young people are on board, expanding the reach and impact of the Suyu facility.
In his Christmas homily, Bishop Lee drew a parallel with the nativity. Just as Jesus came into the world in a humble stable, unseen by many, to embody love and salvation, so does Seoul Ajit seek to be a hidden but vital sanctuary thanks to the work of the Holy Spirit, “where youth can place their trust, rediscover their dreams, and bask in an environment suffused with love and security.”
The other remarkable event in Seoul during Christmas celebrations was the presence of the Jubilee Cross of Hope that accompanied the opening of the Holy Year last Sunday in Myeongdong Cathedral.
Made with iron wires from the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that separates North and South Korea, the cross, said Archbishop Peter Chung in his homily, “stands as a powerful testament to our collective yearning for peace in Korea. It calls us to look beyond our individual challenges and commit to healing and solidarity with those who endure hardship.”
Above all, for the prelate, “true hope carries the power to shape not only our hearts but also our social fabric, inspiring us to live lives of service and love.”
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