4 new novices
Daejon, Korea, 28 January 2020 -- After the Lunar New Year that fell on 25 January this year, the Korean Novitiate is moving from Naeri (quiet seashore location) back to Daejon (a city of 1.5 million) after 10 years, where it opened back in 1992. Four new novices, who were entrusted by the Provincial Fr. Timothy Choi to the novice master's care are moving to Daejon: John Park Jeonghyo, John Lee Haeseong, Francis Jeong Haein and Gabriel Kim Sonwoo.
The former community of the novitiate in Naeri continues the mission as a retreat house for young people and Salesian Family members (Rector Fr. Stefano Yang Seongook) while the novitiate in Daejon brings the novices in touch with youth in need (Don Bosco group homes), youth at risk (reformatory volunteer services) and youth integral education activities (Salesian Youth Center) where SDB and FMA are at work together with lay mission partners (Rector Fr. Paul Choi Kwangseob).
The SDB novitiate in Korea first opened in Gwangju (1962-1964). Over the past 58 years moved to the following venues: Seoul - Daerim Dong (1964-1983), Gwangju (1984-1990), Seoul-Daerimdong (1990-1992), Daejon (1992-2010), Naeri (2010-2020) and now again to Daejon (2020).
At present in the EAO region there are 4 novitiates with current novices - Ba Thon (Vietnam), Fatumaca (Timor Leste), Lawaan (Philippines), Daejon (Korea) and another 4 novitiates without novices this year - Chofu (Japan), Suva (Fiji), Sampran (Thailand) and Tigaraksa (Indonesia).
The whole Congregation is grateful for the continuous blessing and gift of 435 novices every year.
