By Sr. Mary Anne Terrenal, RGS

Sr. Mary Anne Terrenal is a Good Shepherd sister working with needy girls and women in Seoul, South Korea.

First Joseph
In the most Catholic Churches in Europe and America and even in my own country, the Philippines, there is prominent statue of St. Joseph, the fosterfather of Jesus Christ. The inscription underneath is usually “Go to Joseph.”

We Catholics go to St. Joseph for our material and spiritual needs of the Holy Family here on earth will aid us who call on him for help. We also pray to St. Joseph to obtain for us the Grace of a happy death, like his own, in the warm presence of Jesus and His Virgin –Mother.

Second Joseph
Here in Seoul, for the past two years now, many Catholic Missionary-social workers like myself often use this expression “Go to Joseph,” with another Joseph in mind Dr. Joseph Sunwoo, bachelor, doctor of internal medicine, director of Joseph Clinic.

Hundredth Sheep
I first met Dr. Joseph Sunwoo ten years ago, soon after he arrived from USA, where he had spent ten years as a resident physician in New York, after graduating from Seoul Catholic Medical College. Even then he was looking for a hospital where he could treat people who could not go surgery due to poverty. In my vocabulary, He was a “good shepherd” in search of the “hundredth sheep” in this fast-getting –rich city of Seoul. From then on, to everyone who needed medical help I said, “Go to Joseph.”

Call 865-9289
Ever so often I receive a message from some old counsellee or fellow -missionary saying, “Sister, I am sick, here is a poor man that must see a doctor right away.” At once I answer, “Go to Joseph Clinic. Call 865-9289.”

Thought for the Times
One day it occurred to me that I send patients only to Joseph’s Clinic. That’s when the “Thought for the Times” struck me. Would that one of these days it wouldn’t be a phone call asking where to get free medical help; would that it were a millionaire on the other end of the line saying, “Sister, I have couple of extra million won. Do you anybody who can make good use of it?” I would immediately say, “Go to Joseph”. Meantime, I let the first Joseph look after the second Joseph.

“Sister, I am sick, here is a poor man that must see a doctor right away.” At Once I answer, “Go to Joseph”.
“Sister, I have a couple of extra million won. Do you know anybody who can make good use of it?” I would immediately say “Go to Joseph”