PROVINCE OF
KOREAN HOLY MARTYRS
SOUTH, KOREA
BRIEF HISTORY
OFM's presence in Korea began on Sep 14, 1937, with the coming of Br. Deguire and Br. Bellerose, missionaries from Canada. Then the first friary in Korea was established in Daejeon City on Dec 15, 1938. But OFM's presence in Korea was broken due to the 2nd World War and the Korean War in the 1940~1950s. But Canadian brothers came again and rebuilt the friary with early Korean brothers and overcame the difficult period of Korean history. In that time missionaries from Italy came to Korea and started their ministries in Jinju City and the southern part of Korea.
On Jul 5, 1957, the 1st friary in Daejeon was officially approved as "Our Lady of Angels Friary" and a leprosarium, called "Sacred Heart House" opened, which is one of the most meaningful events in the history of the Korean Province.
In 1964, missionaries from the Cantabria Province of Spain started coming to Korea, and in 1965, missionaries from Mexico also came to Korea and started ministries.
On Sep 9, 1965, St. Francis Friary which is now the provincial house was built in Jeongdong, Seoul. And On Oct 4, 1969, OFM KOREA was approved as the Blessed Korean Martyrs Vice-Province, and Br. Apollinaris Van Leeuwen was appointed by the Minister General as the 1st Vice-Provincial on Feb 14, 1970.
On Jul 30, 1971, the formation community which had belonged to the Provincial House moved into "Our Lady of Peace Friary", a house built in Seongbukdong and consecrated in 1971.
Since that time, OFM Korea continually grew up and finally got approved as the Holy Korean Martyrs Province on Dec 10, 1987.
MISSION
Continuous attention to mission for the northern part of
China and a response to the overseas requests for mission
The Provincial Definitory
Provincial Minister
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Vicar Provincial
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Definitor
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Definitor
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