A piece of sunshine

Joyfully, honorably

When we go to the Catholic Diocese of Andong in North Gyeongsang Province, there is a cornerstone engraved with the pastoral motto, "Joyfully, honorably". 

 

The statement of mission of the Diocese of Andong says as follows: "In this place, we cultivate the kingdom of heavens filled with joy through living simply with an open mind, treasuring life, and sharing and serving one another."

 

The symbol mark of the Diocese of Andong consists of the circle symbolizing the joyful community, the Eucharist, the kingdom of heaven, the cross in the center, and six heads of barley around the cross. 

 

On May 26, Andong Diocese celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass in memory of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Diocese of Andong with the theme, "Memory, thanks, and promise." 

 

"Joyfully and honorably" are the keywords of the Diocese of Andong which was founded in 1969 with the first Bishop Dupont (Rene Marie Albert Dupont, 1929-) who was born in Orleans, France, and grew up under faithful and pious parents who were farmers.

 

Renatus Dupont entered the seminary in 1947 and wrote the thesis on an anonymous Christian. He entered "Missions etrangeres de Paris" (Paris Foreign Missions Society) to become a missionary in 1950 and went on to study theology at Gregorian University in Rome in 1951. He was ordained a priest in 1953. 

 

Then, he was sent to Korea in 1954. At that time, Korea suffered a lot and struggled much to survive poverty and hardship. In the beginning, he lived for 15 years in Daejeon. He chose the Korean name "Dubong" and moved to the Diocese of Andong in 1969 to serve as Diocesan bishop for 20 years up to 1990. 

 

Andong is called the city of noble birth with the culture of Confucianism and Confucian scholars. So, the atmosphere of Andaong city is rather authoritarian and exclusive. 

 

Among 16 dioceses in Korea, Andong is the smallest and poorest, but the city is filled with a cultural inheritance and the air is most pure and clean, but the population has decreased a lot.

 

Bishop Dubong worked hard to support the human rights of farmers through collaborating with priests and lay people without any authoritarian attitude. He organized the Catholic Farmers' Movement (JOC) and built the Farmers' Center, Catholic Sangji College, Sangji middle and high schools, and Damian Clinic as well.

 

From the beginning of his seminary life, he sincerely wanted to live as a worker-priest and always emphasized living the spirituality of poverty in daily life. He didn't have the bishop's coat of arms and pastoral moto symbolizing his bishopric. However, he always kept the motto "Joyfully and honorably" deep in his heart.

 

After retirement, he is doing the organic farming and sharing the products with neighbors, conducting retreats, and giving various lectures to people.

 

In appreciation of all his contributions for the common good of society in Korea, the presidential award for immigrants this year was given to Bishop Dubong in celebration of the 12th "Together Day," May 20.

 

"The Most Wonderful Life" published by Pauline in 2011 is a collection of his special talks for Lent at Myeongdong Cathedral. This little book tells us how to be truly happy, how to love wholeheartedly, how to be the best, and how to realize the dream.

 

Truly, "If a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it brings forth much fruit." (John 12:24)

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