A Study on the History of Changes of Social Welfare Apostolate of Women Religious in the Korean Catholic Church

This study aims to examine the historical development of the social welfare apostolate of Korean Catholic Women Religious communities, which have played an important role in Catholic social welfare since their arrival in Korea in 1888. For this purpose, the social welfare apostolate of 51 women's religious communities has been organized in chronological order, and their contributions to the world and the church have been examined. This study examines how the social welfare apostolate of Korean Catholic Women Religious has witnessed God's gaze and mercy towards the poorest in the world in the modern and contemporary history of Korea, dividing the 130-year history into five periods. The first period, germination period is the first entry into Korea and commitment to the poor (1880-1959); the second period, growth period is the impact of institutionalization and changes in social service due to industrialization (1960-1979); the third period, expansion period is the expansion of social welfare institutions in quantity and quality (1980-2009); and the last period, decline and transformation period is a period of renewal and challenge through decline and reflection due to changing times (2010 onwards). Consequently, Korean Catholic Women Religious consider social welfare apostolate as a meaningful activity that affirms their identity and charisma religious who live out the grace they have received from God in love for their neighbors. Based on the findings of the study, the future direction of the social welfare apostolate of women's religious community was explored and presented.