Photo by Darren BoonSINGAPORE – The Korean Catholic community in Singapore welcomed its new chaplain Father Louis Kim Soo Chang (photo) who arrived on Thursday Sep 17 to take up his new posting in Singapore. Father Kim replaces Father Peter Lee Myung Ho who returned to Korea on Sep 20.
This is Father Kim’s first overseas posting in the seven years of his priestly ministry. Father Kim, 36, who hails from the diocese of Chuncheon, will take up residence at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd so as to minister to the Korean Catholic community in Singapore.
Speaking with the help of an interpreter Anita Kim, Father Kim tells CatholicNews that although “it is a different experience going overseas to serve”, he is happy. He also shared that at one time, he wanted to go overseas to minister to Korean Catholics living abroad.
Getting down to work, Father Kim expressed his desire that the community will become “one happy community without division”. He also hopes to place “more emphasis on the liturgy” especially in the area of music.
So far he feels “very good” about his Singapore posting, says Father Kim, and feels encouraged that the Korean community is very involved in many church activities. He is cheered by their “happy and bright faces” and “their passion in what they’re doing”.
Esther Yoo, Vice President of the Korean community said, “We are very happy. We hope we can grow in harmony, in faith and in love with Father Kim.”
Meanwhile, Father Kim is unsure on how long his posting would be as it is up to the Korean Bishops to decide. The overseas postings of Korean priests are decided and planned by the Archdiocese of Seoul.
The number of Korean Catholics in Singapore number around 1,000. Weekend Masses in Korean are held between three to four times monthly at the Cathedral apart from the weekly Wednesday morning Mass. A special children’s Mass in Korean is held every Saturday afternoon, except for the third Saturday of the month.
Other activities organised from the Cathedral’s grounds include bible studies either in the mornings or afternoons on every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. There are 140 members in the Legion of Mary in 11 praesidia.
There is also an RCIA class in Korean held every Sunday at 10.00am in the Cathedral. Catechism classes for the children are held on Saturday.
By Darren Boon
darren.boon@gmail.com
