My name is Zenobius Cho, and I was born and raised in South Korea. I did not become a Catholic until I was an adult. Of course, my spiritual journey did not end with my entry into the Church. As an adult Catholic, I took seriously the Lord´s command: “As the Father sent me, I also send you.” (John, chapter 18)
I began to search for ways to share my faith even beyond the boundaries of my own country. My missionary journey began when I entered the Columban Fathers Lay Mission Program. After completing the formation training for Columban lay missionaries, I was sent to Chile in 2008. My original plan was to spend three years on mission in Chile and then return to South Korea. I was assigned to the parish of San Matías (St. Matthias) on the outskirts of the city of Santiago. Like every missionary, I struggled to learn a new language and to adapt to a culture that is very different from my own. However, I found the Chilean people to be friendly and supportive. Gradually, I began to feel at home. I lived alone in a small, rented house which had been used by the Columban Sisters. Across the “pasaje” (passageway) lived my neighbors, a married couple, Juan Vidal and Gladys Carcamo. Juan and Gladys have no children, so I soon became their “adopted son.” I couldn´t complain because Gladys was a great cook and so I became a regular guest at the dining table.
Gladys and Juan were very active in the chapel of Sagrada Familia (Holy Family), where I regularly participated in the celebration of the Eucharist. Sagrada Familia has a very active group of lay apostles who are involved in many pastoral activities. I noticed that in addition to the parishioners who lived in the area, every Sunday a different group of couples would come to Mass. After Mass, they did not head home but moved next door to the chapel´s meeting room and kitchen. I learned that the couples belonged to a Catholic movement of married couples called “Sagrada Familia de Nazaret” (Holy Family of Nazareth). Each Sunday, a different community of the movement would come to our chapel and prepare a meal for anyone who needed to be fed. These couples brought the food and prepared it. The guests, each Sunday, included families, the elderly, the unemployed and the homeless. I was invited to sit at the table as were the local priests of the parish. I realized how important sharing a meal together is for building community.
In 2011, I left Chile and returned to South Korea, but my missionary journey was not finished. The years I had spent me in Chile helped me to discern that the Lord was calling me to the priesthood. I entered the Columban seminary in Korea and began my preparation for the missionary priesthood. With the grace of God, I was ordained in 2019. I asked the good Lord to let me return to Chile. He heard my prayers, and in 2020, I was assigned to Chile. However, my return to Chile was delayed because of the pandemic. I returned to Chile in January 2021. Once again, my prayers were heard, and I was assigned to the Parish of San Matias, where I had lived and worked as a lay missionary. Now, I am called to serve God’s people as Padre Genovio; that’s what the people call me.
I was happy to see that the small communities of married couples continued their apostolate of feeding the hungry on Sundays in the Sagrada Familia chapel. The parish of San Matias has nine chapels in a densely populated sector of the municipality of Puente Alto. As a priest, I had to share the responsibility of providing the sacraments with the pastor, Fr. John Greene and two of our married deacons. I soon discovered that there were a lot more families and individuals who needed food assistance. All the chapels try to provide food packages to those who need it in their sector. That assistance is critical, especially in the winter. When Fr. Greene returned to Ireland, I was appointed pastor.
One of my favorite passages in the Gospel is the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. When the disciples wanted to send away the crowd, Jesus told them, “Give them something to eat yourselves.” (Luke 9, 13) If some of my parishioners were going hungry, I would have to do something about it. I hoped that we could do more and I floated the idea of opening a “comedor” (soup kitchen) during the winter months of June, July and August. I wanted the soup kitchen to be open as much as possible and not limited to Sundays. I consulted the parish council, and they agreed. However, they told me that while there would be no problem in getting volunteers to operate the “comedor,” they doubted that we could keep it open five days a week. As a parish, we did not have the resources to do that. I told our Columban superior, Fr. Mike Howe, about our project and he promised to get in contact with Columban benefactors in the United States. Once again, our generous Columban benefactors came through. With their help, we set up the parish comedor in Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza (Our Lady of Hope) chapel.
Our parish comedor has been a great success, feeding between between 80 and 100 people five days a week. The “comensales” (those who share the table) include families with young children, the unemployed, the sick, the elderly and the homeless. Senora Gloria is a senior citizen who comes regularly because the food is good and well prepared. Senora Jordana is a single mother with three children, and she struggles to make ends meet. The comedor helps her to make sure that her children can eat every day. Senorita Carolina has serious health problems, but she is happy to come to the comedor, not only because she is fed, but also because of the friendly way she is treated. Senor Carlos works in construction, but right now he is unemployed. His strong faith brought him to the comedor so that Jesus could feed him. Senorita Maria is a volunteer cook in the comedor, and she feels happy and proud to serve those who are in need. Sister Rosa belongs to the Holy Family Sisters and admits that she did not know how to cook but she is happy to learn. Her only suggestion is that we need a bigger dining room so that no one must wait outside to get a place at the table.
As a lay missionary, I knew the joy of being invited to sit at the table of my parishioners. They taught me that sharing a meal is not just a matter of necessity but a way to build communion and fraternity. I am grateful that now, as a missionary priest, I can share the table with those who are in need and give them something to eat, as Jesus would tell me. I also want to express my gratitude to our Columban benefactors who make this wonderful apostolate possible.
Columban Fr. Zenobius Cho (Padre Genovio) lives and works in Chile.