A portrait of a country and its culture of South Korea.

Art and Culture:

The arts and culture of South Korea is rich and vibrant having a history of creative innovation in the field of painting, sculpture, music, dance, drama and literature. . However, since the division of Korea in 1948, South Koreans have developed a culture of their own which is different from North Korean culture. The arts and culture of South Korea has been greatly inspired by Confucianism and Buddhism which is evident in the style of architecture, housing, costumes, and beliefs. Koreans are very open to change and are fast catching up with international trends.

Korea. The land of the morning calm..

South Korea is a country full of diversity with a wide range of terrains, religions, professions and traditions. It is loaded with more than 5,000 years of history while at the same time innovative and modern. Since its economic crisis in 1997, Korea has built itself to be a focal point in international relations and a dynamic site for tourist and expats.

In Korea, most activities, particularly pertaining to customs in the home, are done on the floor. The emphasis that Koreans place on the floor has roots in its traditional heating system. Unlike most countries that use a central heating and air system, the Korean people are accustomed to adjusting the room temperature by adjusting the floor temperature (“ondol”). Since they have been using the “ondol” system for so long, sitting and sleeping on the floor is quite comfortable for them.

When entering a room, it is normal to remove your shoes at the door. Although the floor is clean, Korean people often like to wear slippers around the house. Separate bathroom slippers are usually provided.

Important Holidays

One thing that will be hard to ignore once in South Korea is how rich in culture the country continues to be. The people pride themselves on maintaining their numerous traditions to this day. Koreans use both the Solar and Lunar calendar which results in a number of holidays. There are 15 national holidays in all and most of them are observed by the majority of businesses, school, and other institutions. Especially during the 3-day festival of Seol-nal, everything except for public transportation shuts down.

Kimchi

spicy pickled cabbage that is presented at almost every meal; it is made by soaking whole cabbages in salted water and spices for several hours and then smothering them in spicy seafood paste and other ingredients to create a strong flavour, it is loaded with vitamins and minerals and the tastes differ from region to region.

Our presence in Korea since1995June20th.

With great joy, hope and enthusiasm and expectations also knowing the struggles and challenges USA province took the initiation to begin the mission in Korea in1995 June 20.We are grateful to Sr.Joanna Fernandes and all those who have been a part of this mission at different times in different ways....We acknowledge that USA province has taken a lot of initiation and struggle to saw the charism of Marie Poussepin in this Korean soil.

The persecution of the Catholic Church was an important event in Korean history.

Korean Martyrs were the victims of religious persecution against Catholic Christians during the 19th century in Korea. The first Korean priest, Andrew Kim Tae-gon, prompted by his faith in God and his love for the Christian people, found a way to make the difficult task of a missionary entry into Korea. However, just thirteen months after his ordination he was put to death by the sword when he was just 26 years old and the holy oils of ordination were still fresh on his hands.

Pope John Paul II, speaking at the canonization, said, "The Korean Church is unique because it was founded entirely by lay people. This fledgling Church, so young and yet so strong in faith, withstood wave after wave of fierce persecution. Thus, in less than a century, it could boast of 10,000 martyrs. The death of these martyrs became the leaven of the Church and led to today's splendid flowering of the Church in Korea.The blood of the martyrs is the seed for the faith of the people in Korea...

We belong to the Incheon Diocese and our parish is known as " Sam-jong Dong" .

Our Ministry

Dominican Charity Day care: Bucheon. since1999

Our Day care is situated in Bucheon City. It is recognized by the City Hall. We welcome all the kids in our Day care. They are from the broken families, working couples. multi cultural, different religion, rich poor and so on.. Day care is opened at 7:30 to 19:30. We offer help to the poor and broken families by helping materially, listening to them, allow them to share their problems, visit their families if they allow us to do .

Our staff work hard and faithful in their responsibilities..also open to receive all the programs we offer for them..We help the kids not only in education and various activities but to grow in their faith through celebrating Eucharistic once a month also giving them short reflection for the important feasts in the church.. We make them to be aware of the "Ecology" recycling programs and the safety of the kids.. We make the kids to be aware of the realities of the poor and the sick and help them when it is needed. Parents are happy to send the kids in our day care since it is a Catholic institution. At present we have 99 kids and 15 staff. Dominican Charity Day care is well known in Bucheon city.. Sr. Selma is working as a staff and Sr.Celine as a directross in the day care..

Group Home: Poussepin's home

South Korea is widely regarded as a developed country, with its height technology and fast global development, and provides sufficient welfare programs and care for the old and young. And in the midst of all repaid change of the country, we give our service to the girl child, who are abandoned from their families.

Poussepin’s group home is a private residence for children who cannot live with their families, categories of single parents, physically and mentally abused children, Being unwanted, unloved, uncared and forgotten from their loved ones.We also accept the children who are in critical and emergency of protection and care for the shorter period.

Being abandoned, unloved, not cared for, forgotten by everybody, that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat. These are the category of the children come to the Poussepin’s home. We with the help of government, benefactors and friends, poussepin’s home gives them "model programs", of education, health care, spiritual needs, cultural programs and involvement in all the various activities necessary for the growth of these children. Poussepin’s home goal is to re-united the children to their family. And this is the greatest challenge and long process, to search out the parents and counsel the parents, which takes years. And with the long process and preparation to send back the children to their own family.At present we have 5girls and 3staff...Sr.Suman is directly involved in it..

Dominican Laity

We started the dominican laity with 4 ladies. They are very eager to know the Dominican spirituality. They are given special formation through Dominican fathers.. Sr.Celine collaborates with the fathers since the group comes every month to receive the formation classes in our house.. We pray together the office, have the Eucharist, praying rosary, sharing the faith experiences every month.. At present we have 24 members...

Marie Poussepin Lay Associates:(since 2015

Committed to deepening their prayer life, involvements in their parish, Make known Marie Poussepin's charitable works, they share in the mission and spirituality of our Congregation.

They come together once a month- the third week of Monday at 6:30 praying the Rosary in our chapel followed by study of our Congregation, the Charism of Marie Poussepin. They are younger, older, retired, working, single, married and widowed women gathering together to become more deeply part of a community of love and holiness as advised by Blessed Marie Poussepin. They are the Lay associates of the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation. After a formation period in which the candidates are instructed in the charism of the order, its history, and Dominican prayer life.

While they are with us, sister in charge instruct them in the deeper meanings of the sacraments, the beatitudes, and other parts of the gospel. These sessions help them to open their hearts and minds to the great treasures of our faith.

The associates participate in decisions regarding what will be studied. At present there is a group started in October 26th, 2015 with seven members. They are always welcomed to pray together in our chapel. This associate is guided by one of our sisters at present (Sr.Celine). They will have open discussions, sharing, have fun while at the same time supporting one another.

It is a joyful group of people supported our community, try to live a life “firm in faith, unwavering in hope and generous in charity” as Blessed Marie Poussepin taught us.

Bible study Group:Since 2015

It is a small group of 7 to 8 people who are from different parishes come together on Sunday’s evening and we have BIBLE reading and faith sharing about one and half hours. It deepens their knowledge about the WORD OF GOD and increases their faith in the Lord. The WORD OF GOD becomes a source of strength for them. This faith sharing and life experiences makes them to have more faith and trust in the Lord. Sr.Selma directly involve with them in their faith formation...

English classes for the blind people. Since 2016.

There is a group of blind people cared by the diocese of Incheon for their welfare and dignity as a human being. Sr.Suman was asked to give English class for them. They are happy and grateful the service she does for them. It is one way of reaching out the need for the signs of the time..