austraLasia #3434
KOR: Perpetually Professed Seminar
NAERI: 16 May 2014 -- From May 12 to 13 at the Salesian retreat centre located in Naeri, the middle part of the peninsula at the sea side there was a seminar for perpetually professed confreres of Korea Province. As the first event held after installing the new provincial, Fr Stephan Yang, on April 26 it gained much interest from the confreres, 73 out of 80 perpetually professed Salesians resident in the country took part; the 7 who were missing included 3 confreres who were essential for the works and 4 deacons who had to attend the class at the seminary.
The seminar began late afternoon on the 12th with a prayer prepared by the Sinandong community, the postnovitiate in Kwangju, which was then followed by reports on activities of the provincial teams. First, Fr Marcelo Baek on the Preparatory commission for the 200th anniversary of Don Bosco's birth. He reported on the Fr Lenti's 7 volumes as published (in Korean) and on a conference on Don Bosco's spirituality to take place at the provincial house in the coming week. Also he mentioned plans 2015, among them a symposium on Don Bosco's spirituality and a youth festival prepared the Youth Ministry and Spirituality Institute which he heads. Fr Baek also gave attention to a planned scholarship fund for poor students to be launched next year.
The report by Bro Hilario Seo from the Social Communications' team followed. He presented various activities in the field, especially offering guidelines for Social Networking Services (SNS) activity by Salesians. These guidelines have been put together and elaborated from different experiences in social networking services and the positive and negative aspects of these for consecrated individuals. He offered hints on areas people need to be careful with or at least keep in mind. He suggested one idea as a practice for the exercise for the monthly recollection in the digital era: a confrere could give the possibility to someone in authority to access his personal accounts in SNS activity, should he meet with accident or death.
In the evening there was a time to present the GC27 - a one month later viewpoint by Fr Stephen Nam, former provincial. He presented some details on the process, illustrated with Presentation software. He dwelt in particular on the more interesting points such as the election of the Rector Major and his Councillors and GC27 deliberations. Also he explained to confreres how they could approach the conclusions of the GC27, using its key words: mystic (spirituality), prophet (fraternal life), servant (youth ministry) and work and temperance. He insisted that we have to realise these concepts in our daily life, in the light of the Pope Francis' teaching which invites us to go out to the peripheries.
The first day of the seminar schedule concluded with fraternal sharing - a glass of beer, cheers for Bro Peter No who celebrates his golden jubilee this year and for four confreres who celebrate the 25 anniversary of their first profession.
On the second day Fr Marcelo began proceedings once more but this time wearing his 'vice provincial' hat. He spoke about the Fr John Lee Committee, reporting diligently on a number of activities. He explained the principles of the Church and Congregation on matters concerning confreres who are deceased and who have begun to attract the admiration of the people for their life and activity, then presented some plans on the issue entrusted to the Committee by the last provincial chapter.
Fr Michael Chang, provincial economer and head of the mission office, explained the mission office's work. It has just two years of history. He highlighted the practice of linking the mission territories with potential resources from amongst people who admire Don Bosco's spirit. Nor did he hide his desire to find new benefactors to support missionary work, starting from the basis of visibility and credibility that we Salesians have in Korean society.
This was followed by free discussion on hot issues in the Province, and a question-answer time. Various opinions were expressed, alternative solutions and claims. It was seen as an opportunity to achieve common awareness that will be most important for bringing about unity through effective communications and expanded empathy among the confreres. The new provincial confirmed that he intends to follow up patiently, and in a spirit of faith, various outstanding problems through proper discussion and discernment, and listening much to confreres.
The Seminar concluded with the Mass for St Mary Mazzarello's Feast, celebrated by the provincial. In his homily he suggested total commitment to Don Bosco's mission to youth, imitating Mary Mazzarello's dedication to young people in need and her capacity for following Don Bosco's guidance.
KOR: Perpetually Professed Seminar
The seminar began late afternoon on the 12th with a prayer prepared by the Sinandong community, the postnovitiate in Kwangju, which was then followed by reports on activities of the provincial teams. First, Fr Marcelo Baek on the Preparatory commission for the 200th anniversary of Don Bosco's birth. He reported on the Fr Lenti's 7 volumes as published (in Korean) and on a conference on Don Bosco's spirituality to take place at the provincial house in the coming week. Also he mentioned plans 2015, among them a symposium on Don Bosco's spirituality and a youth festival prepared the Youth Ministry and Spirituality Institute which he heads. Fr Baek also gave attention to a planned scholarship fund for poor students to be launched next year.
The report by Bro Hilario Seo from the Social Communications' team followed. He presented various activities in the field, especially offering guidelines for Social Networking Services (SNS) activity by Salesians. These guidelines have been put together and elaborated from different experiences in social networking services and the positive and negative aspects of these for consecrated individuals. He offered hints on areas people need to be careful with or at least keep in mind. He suggested one idea as a practice for the exercise for the monthly recollection in the digital era: a confrere could give the possibility to someone in authority to access his personal accounts in SNS activity, should he meet with accident or death.
In the evening there was a time to present the GC27 - a one month later viewpoint by Fr Stephen Nam, former provincial. He presented some details on the process, illustrated with Presentation software. He dwelt in particular on the more interesting points such as the election of the Rector Major and his Councillors and GC27 deliberations. Also he explained to confreres how they could approach the conclusions of the GC27, using its key words: mystic (spirituality), prophet (fraternal life), servant (youth ministry) and work and temperance. He insisted that we have to realise these concepts in our daily life, in the light of the Pope Francis' teaching which invites us to go out to the peripheries.
The first day of the seminar schedule concluded with fraternal sharing - a glass of beer, cheers for Bro Peter No who celebrates his golden jubilee this year and for four confreres who celebrate the 25 anniversary of their first profession.
On the second day Fr Marcelo began proceedings once more but this time wearing his 'vice provincial' hat. He spoke about the Fr John Lee Committee, reporting diligently on a number of activities. He explained the principles of the Church and Congregation on matters concerning confreres who are deceased and who have begun to attract the admiration of the people for their life and activity, then presented some plans on the issue entrusted to the Committee by the last provincial chapter.
Fr Michael Chang, provincial economer and head of the mission office, explained the mission office's work. It has just two years of history. He highlighted the practice of linking the mission territories with potential resources from amongst people who admire Don Bosco's spirit. Nor did he hide his desire to find new benefactors to support missionary work, starting from the basis of visibility and credibility that we Salesians have in Korean society.
This was followed by free discussion on hot issues in the Province, and a question-answer time. Various opinions were expressed, alternative solutions and claims. It was seen as an opportunity to achieve common awareness that will be most important for bringing about unity through effective communications and expanded empathy among the confreres. The new provincial confirmed that he intends to follow up patiently, and in a spirit of faith, various outstanding problems through proper discussion and discernment, and listening much to confreres.
The Seminar concluded with the Mass for St Mary Mazzarello's Feast, celebrated by the provincial. In his homily he suggested total commitment to Don Bosco's mission to youth, imitating Mary Mazzarello's dedication to young people in need and her capacity for following Don Bosco's guidance.
