By Sr Susanna Lee, FMA
ADMA Spiritual Animator
Seoul, South Korea, 11 February 2021 -- With the new ADMA spiritual animator, Fr. Alejandro Guevara, the ADMA networking around the world has been given renewed impetus. The EAO region too, over the past 10 years has experienced a new spring with many new groups of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA) growing in new locations. One of them is Korea. We are grateful to Sr. Susanna Lee, FMA for her sharing.
ADMA's birth in Korea
After the foundation of the first ADMA group in Gwangju, the cradle of the Salesian charism in Korea (SDBs there since 1954) there is already a second group being formed in the capital, Seoul. The Gwangju group with its 12 first members made their promise in 2016 and another two members joined in 2019. This ADMA group is made up of ‘Marian school’ graduates and today with 15 new aspirants shows signs of vitality. After the initial stage with a monthly meeting they plan now to meet every week or at least every second week.
Second group in Seoul
The Seoul group started its formation in 2017 with weekly formation meetings attended by 10 aspirants. During their formation period they have come to know each other (fellowship), know Don Bosco's spirit and ADMA, while their focus is more on their inner strengthening than on an outreaching apostolate at the moment. At present there are 6-7 aspirants ready for the ADMA pledge, scheduled for 24 May 2021. Before their promise they are asking Fr Provincial for their foundation's approval and are already in touch with the ADMA ‘Primaria’ in Turin, Italy.
First Korean ADMA members focus on formation
Since 2020, both groups (300 km apart) have agreed on a common formation plan including the study of Don Bosco's Memoirs of the Oratory, ADMA Regulations and ADMA online (available in Korean translation), Letter of the RM for the 150th anniversary and other Salesian Family documents. As their activity they do some concrete youth apostolate, dedicate time to fellowship, participate in the events of the Salesian Family and pilgrimages.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemi,c all members are busy looking after their families at home and this wonderful plan is not yet put into practice. Since December the ADMA family have begun their simple online encounters. As ADMA we also keep in touch through Kakao-Talk (NB: the most common Korean SNS), share information, useful videos and group news. Thanks to the ADMA online translated into Korean since 2014 (available on the FMA website), we are able to know about the world-wide activities of ADMA and widen our own horizons.
We are grateful to God and to all SDBs and FMAs who have accompanied the ADMA starting period in Korea. Our journey is not without challenges, since our group is not yet well known within the Salesian Family but we are happy to offer our humble contribution little by little. The East Asia - Oceania ADMA networking begun recently helps us to get more inspiration and encouragement on our journey.
Mary Help of Christians, Pray for Us!
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