DILI (UCAN): A 12-member delegation of the Committee for Pastoral Care for Migrants of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea [CBCK] paid a visit to Timor-Leste as part of strengthening cooperation with the Timorese Church and government for better protection and welfare of migrant communities, the conference said in an October 23 statement.
During the October 11-15 visit, led by Father Hwang Seong-ho, the committee’s secretary general, the delegation visited Timor-Leste agencies and facilities entrusted with sending migrant workers abroad, including SEFOPE [National Secretariat for Vocational Training and Employment].
The delegates visted Virgílio Cardinal do Carmo da Silva, archbishop of Dili on October 11. They also made courtesy calls to president, José Ramos-Horta, and prime minister, Xanana Gusmão. They spoke with Church and government officials about the plight of Timor-Leste migrants in Korea and the support services migrants receive from the Korean Church.
They also promised to improve the pastoral care programme for the migrants.
“I hope that through this journey, you will better understand the people of East Timor and, upon returning to Korea, will be even more hospitable to East Timorese workers,” Cardinal da Silva said following the meeting.
On October 12, the Korean delegation participated in a Holy Mass in Dili, visited the archdiocesan cathedral, parishes, chapels and homes of people. They also paid a visit to EX-Korea Alumni, an organisation of Korean migrants in Timor-Leste.
On October 14, Horta thanked Korea for employment and support for Timor-Leste workers in the country.
He noted that due to difficulty in obtaining visas for spouses working in Korea, Timor-Leste has been suffering from social problems related to family breakdowns.
He requested the Korean Church delegation to speak to the Korean government to ensure that workers’ families stay together.
South Korea is home to about 7,000 Timorese migrants, according to official data.
