The Crisis in Korean American Roman Catholic Churches and Re-evaluating the Role of Korean Women Religious

While I lack precise information regarding the Korean Catholic Church's system for managing religious orders, my experiences in the United States have led me to observe concerning aspects regarding the level of ministry provided by women religious within Korean American Catholic churches. Unlike priests, who generally operate under the oversight and established support systems of the diocese (though this doesn't inherently mean all are ministering effectively), women's religious orders often seem to lack robust management, resulting in limited expertise and scope of activities. 

This frequently leads to regrettable situations that can significantly undermine the essence of the Korean American Roman Catholic Church in the immigrant community. What appears to be a church community on the surface sometimes functions merely at the level of a specific organization, lacking the profound spiritual depth expected of a church.

By frankly addressing these issues, my intention is to advocate for the true role of the church for Korean Catholic immigrants in the United States of America  and to seek wise solutions to navigate these challenges effectively.

Furthermore, I must point out the seemingly excessive number of women's religious orders in Korea compared to a large country like the United States, which I understand has fewer. We must seriously consider whether this sprawling operation and overabundance are truly necessary.

It is my hope that this raising of concerns will prompt the Korean Catholic Church to confront the realities faced by Korean churches in America and to seek better pastoral systems and more efficient management of religious orders.

To avoid any misunderstanding, I want to emphasize that these issues do not apply to 100% of cases, but rather represent the majority of what I have observed. If you would like specific solutions or have any questions for me, please feel free to respond, and I will gladly offer my input. Furthermore, in my next contribution, I will delve into a more in-depth discussion regarding the priests and bishops within the Korean American Roman Catholic Church as it pertains to the immigrant community.