The supporter group for the vice-province of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands

2016 Salesian Mission Day in Korea

By Fr. Ben Kim, SDB

Seoul, Korea, 23 October 2016 -- “I felt that I could do nothing there, but I have been changed through such an experience. I recognized that to be with them is primary and significant for a missionary.” It is said by Fr Lupicino Kim moving to Zimbabwe for his new appointment after three-year of missionary life in Zambia. A church located in 7th floor of the Provincial House was packed. People who attended the Salesian Mission Day event listened to stories of missionaries’ lives, and they shared with each other how to get involved in the mission of the Church, which is the proclamation of the good news of Christ.

Although it was humid and drizzling, Salesian family, more than 300 attendances including SDB, FMA, SCG, Salesian cooperators, youth groups and other religious and lay people from all around Korea gathered together in the Provincial House on the Mission Sunday of 23rd of October in 2016. The theme of the Mission Day event was “Come, Help Us!” which is about mission for Oceania. Celebrating the Mission Day with the same topic, all the Salesians around the world are reminded of the spirit of mission, and choose one mission place to help in which we express solidarity in spiritual and financial. The mission place in our solidarity this year is an oratory in Fiji in the Pacific.

Well prepared opening prayer with Don Bosco’s dream of Oceania began the event followed by various and meaningful sessions in program. The morning session was about a share of 4 participants’ experience. Fr Timothy Choi, the first participant, who is the provincial Missions Delegate, explained the theme of the Mission Day this year, Fr Lupicino Kim, the next, who is a missionary in Zimbabwe, shared his three-year African life as a missionary by some fascinating photos and stories, and Agnes Cho, a lay missionary, who is involved in SYM Korea, told her one-year missionary experience in Salesian school in Cambodia. Also, she was a member of Salesian volunteering youth group in Cambodia before. Following the three former sharers, John Kim, the last participant, who is the father of Fr Lupicino Kim shared his own experience as a father who has a missionary son in the third world. He told all attendants that as a parent, he has been always concerned and worried about his son Fr Lupicino, but in faith and prayers he has tried to overcome difficulties and rather to show him stronger before him. His share impressed and moved the hearts of all people there.

After lunch, attendants enjoyed the exhibition of photos and cultural crafts from mission places, located in the Hall on the 7th floor in the Provincial House, and watched a 20 mins-length video of the mission of Oceania from Rome. Then, all thought and shared together good ideas of mission with each other, and the final mass was celebrated by Fr Stefano Yang, the Provincial.

In his homily during the mass, the provincial said, “The Rector Major had a short visit to Korea yesterday. He repeatedly told me, ‘you do not need to worry about sending your confreres to other countries whether for the mission or for study, but take courage and send them out. Our congregation consists of 90 provinces. They are not separated from each other, but they are in one. Our Salesian mission of saving souls is the same in everywhere in the Salesian spirit.’ Remembering his words, I hope that many members of the Salesian family will challenge it. Mission is not an option, but our priority.”

Strongly encouraging missionary challenges, he particularly stressed that accepting and enduring difficulties in silence and striving to overcome them in which we rely on the mercy of God in our living places is practicing the missionary spirit in our daily lives. During the mass, there was a special event that a group of supporters for the vice-province of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, in where Fr Steven Yoo Korean missionary is, was established.

Salesian Mission Day 2016 was an opportunity of prayer that Salesian family humbly asked God to bless his people, especially the missionaries who are taking their mission of proclaiming the good news for the young in the Spirit of Don Bosco, and a moment that everyone might decide to carry out the mission in ordinary life.

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