At the beginning of May we welcomed Irenaeus, a Korean ordinand, who is spending 6 weeks in the Diocese, alongside three priests who were on a shorter trip to the UK. The Diocese has been linked with South Korea since 2011 and this visit is one of many that take place with bishops, priests and laity travelling both to and from each diocese to share experiences, discuss mutual interests and establish parish links.
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Irenaeus is currently in training as an ordinand in the Diocese of Seoul and during his time in the UK he hopes to see how being a minister in England differs from ministry in Korea. He has a full itinerary where he will be visiting churches and organisations all over the Diocese, staying with a variety of hosts and taking part in services and events. So far this has included joining both Archdeacon Alison and Revd Charlie Nobbs as they walked around the Diocese for the Thy Kingdom Come pilgrimage, attending an Intern Development Training Day for the Ministry Experience Scheme and visiting the Warm Hub at St John the Baptist, Peterborough.
A week after Irenaeus arrived we welcomed three priests from Korea; the Revd Gregory S. Yang, Vicar of Gangnam Church, the Revd Micah M. Jeon, Vicar of Choji Church and the Revd John A. Jeong, Assistant Priest of Onsoori Church. They spent 3 days in the Diocese to learn more about pastoral support for communities.
During their time in the Diocese they experienced what different parishes are doing to support pastoral care, including a reflective morning service in Abingdon Church with Revd Jun Kim, a craft session at Denton Church with Revd Morna Simpson, a wellbeing morning at ‘Time To Be’ held at Werrington Parish Church and a lunchtime Eucharist at St John the Baptist Church, Peterborough with Revd Michelle Dalliston. They also met with Bishop Debbie for afternoon tea before attending the Peterborough Deanery Ascension Day Eucharist at St Kyneburga’s Church Castor which is celebrating its 900 year anniversary in 2024.
Irenaeus has much still planned before his departure in the middle of June and we wish him well in his training.
More details on the Diocese's link with Korea can be found here