Extraordinary visitation concluded - Korea
Seoul, Korea, 1 November 2017 -- After two month was concluded the Extraordinary visitation of Korean Province in Seoul, with one full day of final meetings with the rectors and with the provincial council. Since August 26 the extraordinary visitor visited all 13 local communities and met personally all SDB confreres, novices and candidates present in the country.
As a moment of communion with the world wide Congregation in each of the 14 communities and all 17 meetings (council, commissions, Salesian Brothers) were watched the video-messages of the Rector Major (Korean subtitles). In each of the 120 personal talks Fr. Vaclav asked the confreres about their 'Cafasso' (spiritual accompaniment), temptations emerging in the highly secularized society and future vision for the growth of the provincial community.
Korea province mission profile offers a large diversity of works, focused mainly on the youth in need and youth at risk: parish (1), high school (1) and alternative schools (3), group homes (10), out of school youth ministry (3), shelter (2), youth center (2), retreat house (1), vocation training center (1), one-stop-service for the youth in need (1), counselling center (3), boarding house (4), youth at risk - probation period of 6 months (1), youth groups - SYM (5), work for migrants (2). Most of the works are subsidies and done in close cooperation with local government agencies.
Large movement of the Salesian Family with 750 Salesian Cooperators, 475 Caritas Sisters of Jesus, 270 FMA Sisters, vibrant VDB groups, just born ADMA group(s) and good number of Don Bosco Alumni is well connected by the Salesian Bulletin (Salesian Family magazine) with circulation of 11.500 copies (bimonthly).
The visitation was well appreciated as growth in communion with the Rector Major (expected visit next November 2018) as well with the other provinces in the EAO region.
Fast changing social situation, culture, economy, religion and young people in the country is indeed a strong call to build up a solid culture of discernment at any level and in each sector of the provincial community. For the young (average age is 44 years) and dynamic province is a clear invitation to strengthen the participatory culture, reflection and action according sound Salesian criteria.
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