Retreat of Salesian Aspirants in military service
By Fr. Mathew Moon Soomin, SDB
Uijongbu, Korea, 15 September 2017 -- Due to the historical and social situation of South Korea, our candidates are supposed to complete their (compulsory) military service before the novitiate. In the past there was 36 months long military service duty, however now they are called fortunately only 21 month long experience of the military life. Our candidates are enrolled for the military service only after two years of their Aspirantate life.
At present there are 10 Aspirants (one on stand by) in military service. Last week (September 12-15) was organized by the Military Diocese of Korea in the Uijong Bu 'One Heart Training Center' a nation wide retreat for all Catholic seminary students undergoing their military service. After a long time our Aspirants met their friends and experienced again a typical Salesian family environment.
For this occasion together with Fr. Moon Soo Min, who is in charge to accompany the military service Aspirants, came together also few other Salesians to encourage our young generations at the end of the retreat. Thanks to God, all of the Aspirants in the military are in good health and high spirit.
The Roman Catholic Military Ordinariate of Korea (http://www.gunjong.or.kr) , immediately subject to the Holy See, provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Republic of Korea(South Korea) Armed Forces and their families. At the service of the Military Ordinariate are 96 diocesan priests and 42 religious sisters serving 96 parishes, since 2010 under the leadership of Bishop Francis Xavier Yu Soo Il, OFM (photo).
