Seoul, Korea, 5 May 2016 - May 5th in Korea is Children’s Day, a national holiday. Every year on this day as a tradition, Salesians came together for a fraternal sharing. Over 60 Salesians from Seoul, Chuncheon, Naeri and other surrounding cities gathered on the sports grounds of the Don Bosco Youth Center. Hearty laughter befitting the beautiful clear blue skies of the May filled the grounds, and well represented the purpose of the event which is just to play, run and have fun together like children.
The event, which was mainly held at the Provincial house, began at 9:30 with the holy Eucharist in the chapel on the 4th floor. The celebration was presided by Fr Bonaventure Kim, who has been recently appointed as the Rector of Daerimdong Community. Fr Bonaventure expressed his appreciation for the greeting opportunity after the returning from his 4-year study in Rome. In his homily, he pledged to become a faithful witness like St Paul and commit to demonstrating God’s mercy to young in needed. At the end of the holy Mass, Fr Vaclav Klement, who is in animating visit to Korea for a short period, delivered his greetings and shared the recent 3 months experience of his extraordinary visit to the Tiruchy province in southern India. He also expressed his wish to once again experience, the Korea province's typical character that is so proud of: always sharing time on the sports grounds with the young.
In accordance with the program prepared by “the patron of the play” Fr Timothy Choi, participants divided into four groups by community and spent the morning playing football tennis and tee ball. Fr Marcello Baek’s physical weakness of instantly registering his name on the patient list after spraining his right wrist during a single attempt to bat the ball on the tee attracted much pity from the confreres. Nonetheless, as always, the classic image of the Salesian was created by everyone, from aspirants who just started Salesian community life to the 90-year old confrere in the process creating big laughs and smiles.
A hearty meal prepared at the refectory on 6th floor of the Provincial house, which even included raw skate, Samhap, fermented skate and steamed pork served with Kimchi, and korean wine stew doubled the happiness of sharing among the confreres.
The roars continued on the grounds even after lunch, and greater fun than the loud laughter made by the two football teams playing on the field was the cheers and giggles from the twenty or so spectators on the other side of the fence.
The day concluded with the pledge to share brotherly affection and to be true Salesians who ready to play, run and be together with the young on the playing ground for ever.
