THE KUKMIN DAILY

“Christ came for all humanity, so he tries to bring us together in love. The churches should not fear refugees, but work for their integration.”

During a press conference on August 14 at the Catholic Building in Jung-gu, Seoul, Brother Alois Loeser (64), prior of the Taize Community in France, the first Protestant monastery ever established, gave this response to a question about the refugee problem.

The Taize community grew while accepting refugees. It was established in 1940 when a Protestant monk, Brother Roger, settled together with other men in the small village of Taize, France, to form the community. They accepted refugees displaced by World War II, and in 1950 they welcomed refugees fleeing oppressive dictatorships in Portugal and Spain. In the 1970s they received “boat people” from Vietnam. There were also refugees from Rwanda and other parts of Africa, and from the Balkan peninsula. Over 30 refugees were accommodated, though it is a small village with 100 some monks and a little more than 50 villagers.

Brother Alois confessed that the process of accepting refugees was not free of worry. Language and cultural differences caused problems. One example was a couple from Africa who had lived in Paris for a year but did not know French. It took a long time to build understanding with them. “Reconciliation is always accompanied by a series of dangers,” Brother Alois said.

Nevertheless, the Taize community thought of God, who is open to all peoples. They shared long conversations with the refugees and built up trust. “What the refugees really need is not material support but someone to listen to their stories,” Brother Alois said. “We must build friendship with them as we listen to their stories telling why they left their homes and traveled all the way to this place.” Through such a process, the refugees became extraordinary friends and melted into the community.

What did Brother Alois think about the refugees who came from Yemen to Jeju Island? He referred again to the Taize experience. He said they first sent two monks to the place where the refugees were, to listen to their stories. “Everything begins by meeting and eating together,” he said.

“In the family and in the church, we must live in the spirituality of reconciliation and forgiveness,” he said. Without excluding anyone, we should be together with Christ and share friendship. Then we can be liberated from antagonism and become free. “Christ stretched out his arms on the cross and tried to gather us all in love. When we are friendly with each other, there is a surge of creativity that forms relations of trust among us.”

Reporter DongWoo Kim (love@kmib.co.kr), with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)
Photo by senior reporter Kang Min Seok

Original Article in Korean:
“그리스도는 모두를 사랑 속에 모으려… 교회는 난민과 통합 위해 노력해야”: 개신교 공동체 ‘떼제’ 알로이스 뢰저 원장수사의 난민 문제 해법