Soyoung, who is from South Korea, first heard of the Columbans during an international meeting of leaders in Seoul. She was inspired by the lay missionaries and clergy she spoke to and was intrigued to find out more about their vocations as they appeared ‘so happy’.
Soyoung contacted the Columbans and expressed her interest in finding out more about the society and their Lay Mission programme. She came to Britain to study English, and for some holiday time. While here, she took the initiative to contact us.
Soyoung studied English in Manchester for 3 months before travelling to the Columbans Headquarters in Solihull, Birmingham on Tuesday 7th May 2024.
Soyoung’s immersion began right away. Columban Lay Missionary Nathalie Marytsch accompanied Soyoung to Fatima House, a project managed by the Columbans that provides accommodation for destitute female asylum seekers in Birmingham City Centre. She had a brief introduction to asylum and refugee matters and learnt about how some people who come to this country seeking protection end up being destitute, like the women at Fatima House. Soyoung shared some time with the women in the house and heard a first-hand account of what it is like to be destitute.
Soyoung also learnt how Columban missionaries work in partnership with other catholic agencies to ‘welcome the stranger’. Mission is to be understood in a broad context which goes beyond being confined to a church building and/or Sunday masses. Our commitment to the poor and marginalised is at the centre of the mission of God that Pope Francis calls for.
On Wednesday 8th May, Soyoung accompanied James Trewby, Columban Justice and Peace Co-ordinator for the region of Britain, on a visit to a Catholic secondary school in the north of Birmingham. The day focused on how the ‘hostile environment’ policies adopted by successive governments are impacting the mental health of people seeking safety in Britain. The programme was designed by James for the school’s Year 10 Chaplaincy and UNICEF teams.
Talking of the day’s encounter, James explains “I often ask young people and teachers what percentage of the world’s total refugees are in Britain. They usually respond with guesses between 50 and 80%. The truth is nearer 1%; in terms of the number of asylum applications per head of population, the UK is only the 20th highest in Europe! It is so important we understand the truth about how people seeking safety are treated in our country, and then reflect on it through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.”
James adds, “The time with the young people was enriched by Soyoung’s presence. The young people shared their interest in other cultures, and were very excited to meet a Korean – a number were K-Pop fans!”
Soyoung was able to learn about one of our Columban JPE priority areas through input from James, games and activities, and from thought-provoking sharing of lived experience by Maurice from the refugee story-sharing charity ‘Stories of Hope and Home’. Finally, she joined a time of prayer and reflection using our prayer stations.
Thursday was a busy day for Soyoung, who, along with Nathalie, stated her day by exploring the local scene with Lay Missionary Getrudes Samson and Columban Interreligious Dialogue Co-ordinator, Mauricio Silva. Soyoung was able to experience life in a multifaith and multicultural neighbourhood and visited a local Gurudwara and a Hindu temple.
After lunch, Nathalie and Soyoung travelled to Sparkbrook, an inner-city area of south-east Birmingham and where Hope Garden is located. Hope Therapeutic Garden is a project run by the Azadi Trust, a small Christian charity based in south-east Birmingham. Nathalie visits every week to support the running of the project and was keen for Soyoung to join her. With a particular focus on supporting those marginalised by ethnicity, disability or status, the therapeutic garden is a quiet place where people from the local community can drop in to have a cup of tea and see the love of Christ in action. Some choose to put their green fingered skills to good use, planting, watering and harvesting fruit and vegetables whereas others prefer to sit, chat or read a book.
Soyoung immersed herself in the experience, joining others to build an insect hotel, somewhere for bugs, insects, wild bees and other pollinators to shelter and at the same time encouraging biodiversity.
Describing her experience, Soyoung explains, “I would say that I am quite a sensitive person. In the past, back at home, I have been told that this isn’t always a good trait. People here that I’ve encountered have told me this isn’t the case! Having compassion and showing empathy to others is a good thing. I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience in Britain as I’ve felt happy and I’ve been able to be myself!”
When asked what her plan is next, Soyoung boldly said, “I follow God in my mind and every day I pray and talk to Him. I listen to God. I trust he has a plan for me. I will follow Him.”
Soyoung departed the Columban house in Solihull on Friday morning, eager to reflect on her experience with the Columbans in Britain and keen to explore whether or not she is being called by God to be a missionary and where God’s plan will take her next.
The Columbans in Britain are proud to offer interested individuals the opportunity to explore what a vocation with the Columban Missionaries might look like. Through short exposure visits to Birmingham, people drawn to explore a calling from God, will be supported in immersing themselves in Columban mission projects whilst exploring issues surrounding faith, migration and poverty. With the help of Nathalie, Columban Invitation to Mission Co-ordinator, lay missionaries, priests and co-workers united and developed an interesting and varied programme for Soyoung that enabled her to understand a little more about the society, our values and our key priorities- these being justice, peace, interreligious dialogue and care for creation.
If you’re keen on living out the Gospel and exploring your faith, whilst understanding more about issues of migration, poverty, justice and peace then please email invitationtomission@columbans.co.uk for more information.
