The only Catholic clinic in Mongolia was reopened yesterday by Bishop Wenceslao Padilla of Ulaan Baatar.

St. Mary’s Clinic, which is in the compound of the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in the Mongolian capital had been closed since April for the building of a new extension.

The work went ahead with the help of the Catholic Medical Center (CMC), a South Korean medical group.

Also present at the opening ceremony were Father Remigio Lee Dong-ik, president of the Catholic Medical Center, who flew in especially for the event from South Korea, and Father Stephanus Kim Seong-hyeon, parish priest of Han-uul Church.

In a speech, Father Lee said the bigger clinic, which has more medical facilities and staff, will better serve even more patients.

“This cannot be done alone, so many people’s prayers and support are needed,” he added.

The clinic was first established by Father Michael Kim Joong-ho from Seoul archdiocese in 2004 when the Korean doctor priest began offering medical services to poor people in Ulaan Baatar.

With continued support from Seoul Archdiocese and the CMC, the clinic has grown steadily and has treated more than 13,000 patients since 2008.