austraLasia

Seoul, South Korea, 14 March 2023 -- Last weekend, 12 March, the SYM (Salesian Youth Movement) Korea prepared another young adults recollection in Seoul, Daerim-dong Salesian Youth Center. The SYM event was attended by 44 young people, eight SDBs and two FMAs. The day especially involved young people who are preparing to attend the WYD 2023 in Lisbon. It became a time of grace for each of us through ‘Lectio Divina’ - prayerful listening to the Word of God in community. This Lenten retreat was also a venue for the second preparation meeting for the WYD 2023 in Portugal.

Even if not many of the EAO provinces SYM member might be able to join Lisbon 2023, August 1-6 World Youth Day, each can follow the invitation of Pope Francis on the way to Lisbon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVlXDssyJXU&t=25s). The bishop of Rome, who celebrates today the 10th anniversary of his election today, is inviting the young people to made a youthful, creative WYD, not just a photocopy of the past 14 editions of the WYD, started by Saint John Paul II in Rome, 1986.

The Salesians of Don Bosco and the Salesian Family are preparing also for a special SYM meeting in Lisbon during the World Youth Day week. At WYD Lisbon 2023, the SYM Day will be celebrated on 2 August at the Salesian house in Estoril. It will be attended by the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime and Sister Chiara Cassuola, who will participate for the first time as Mother General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.

A quite large participation of Korea SYM members is also inspired and motivated by a possible WYD 2027 in Seoul. Already last October 2022 Seoul Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick, OCD announced the candidacy of Seoul (South Korea) for the upcoming WYD in 2027. The Carmelite archbishop presented this opportunity of apossible WYD 2027 in Seoul as an extraordinary opportunity to relaunch youth ministry in the country with the lowest birth rate in the world.