| By Catholic News
Service
MARYKNOLL, N.Y. (CNS) — A Korean cardinal
looked with gratitude toward the past and with hope toward the future
as he dedicated a granite replica of the gate to the city in Pyongyang,
North Korea, at Maryknoll headquarters in New York.
Unveiled and formally dedicated Sept. 30 by Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk
of Seoul, South Korea, the monument is inscribed with the names of the
90 Maryknoll priests, Brothers and Sisters who served in the Pyongyang
Diocese.
The monument was presented to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding
of the Diocese of Pyongyang, which began as a Maryknoll mission in North
Korea. There are currently more than 5 million Korean Catholics, based
mainly in South Korea.
The cardinal, who is apostolic administrator of the North Korean diocese,
expressed gratitude for the work and sacrifices of Maryknollers in Korea
and singled out Maryknoll Msgr. George Carroll, who was apostolic vicar
of Pyongyang from 1950 to 1975.
“I will never forget him for his great work for all the Korean people
who were suffering during the Korean War,” the cardinal said. “They
had nothing to eat or to clothe themselves. The Korean people could only
survive because of aid from Msgr. Carroll.”
Two Maryknoll Sisters who served as missioners in Pyongyang — Sisters
Elenita Barry, 100, and Sarah Fogarty, 92 — attended the Sept. 30
dedication.
Other guests included Archbishop Celestino Migliore, Vatican nuncio to
the United Nations, and Archbishop Hector Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte of Trujillo,
Peru.
More than 850 members of the Korean-American community attended from as
far away as Washington and Philadelphia.
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