KOREAN MISSIONARIES

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 37, 7 November 1942, Page 3

KOREAN MISSIONARIES

Interned Priests To Be Repatriated News has been received by, the Rev. Father J. McGlynn, the priest in charge of St. Columban’s, Wellington, that most of the missionary priests of that order in • Korea are now at liberty and at work. For months past the position in Korea (a Japanese governed country) had been obscure, but it was known that priests had been interned. Now it appears that the interned priests belonged to coutt.tries which were at war with Japan; and are being repatriated by the Japanese authorities. In a group of eight missionaries are ihe Key. Dr. Uurliliy, Wellington, and Kev. 11. Hayward, Christchurch. 'Hie repatriation of the eight prics-ts is taking place at the express wish of the Holy See. Being interned they would have been barred from missionary work for the duration of the war. Twentvfour priests remain to staff the two St. < 'olunihan’s territories in Korea. These, have been given their liberty and -allowed to remain because of their Irish (south of Ireland) citizenship. According to Father,McGlynn, the presence of Irish missionaries is proving to bo a groat advantage, not only in their own mission districts, but to others in the missionary field. They can help Io man the vioariatos nf other nations who may be hampered by technical dillicullies. due to their citizenship. In Ihe other ■w.nr-affooted lands whore SI. Columban’s missionaries are located —Chinn, Burma, and the I’hilinninos —rill rhe missionaries appear to be free and supplying Ihe spiritual needs of (heir people.