Salesian Formation House, Gwangju - Shinan dong, Korea, 26 December 2020 -- Truly fitting in this special lockdown Christmas in many countries, the South Korea, Gwangju-based SDB and FMA formation communities released a YouTube Musical as a joint venture on 24 December, ('참 좋았다') inspired by Pope Francis' Encyclical 'Laudato Si'. The main motivations indicated were 'to overcome the Covid pandemic' and 'spread Laudato Si' awareness. As the title the SDB-FMA have chosen the Genesis Creation story theme: 'It was really good'.
This little more than 40-minute musical video offers a strong heartfelt Laudato Si awareness message at many levels - contents, the songs and dances chosen, use of recycled costumes with some 6 sequences inspired by the Encyclical: Caring for Creation, Recycling, forest, pollution and human greed etc. By the end we have a fine insight into the whole process of preparation and through the credits we can appreciate how many Salesian Family members and benefactors were involved.
Gwangju (1.8M population) is the cradle of the Salesian mission in Korea (1954) with two SDB communities and 7 FMA communities, among them also the FMA novitiate and SDB aspirantate & postnovitiate (Rector Fr Bosco Park) with a strong presence of other groups of the Salesian Family (Provincial house of Caritas Sisters of Jesus, VDB and many centres of Salesian Cooperators and hundreds of committed Don Bosco Past Pupils. The whole SDB formation community was involved, under the leadership of of musical director and script writer (Cl. Marciano Lee Changmin) and all other formands on the stage or as the band, while two of the formators were serving as cameramen. As one might guess, a lot of other professional lay mission partners were involved at the preparation stage.
The Musical was already introduced by 3 trailers released during the Christmas Novena and within the first 24 hours after the release, and has already more than 2000 views with many comments: many youth and SF members were moved to tears, appreciating the joint SDB-FMA performance and are waiting especially for a 'live' performance after the pandemic!
With Pope Francis we wish you a Merry Christmas - full of Hope and Care for our Common Home!
- Musical on 'Salesian Oratorio' YouTube channel
- Musical full version
- Trailer of the musical 1
- Trailer of the musical 2
- Trailer of the musical 3
