By Mr Shin Laurentio - Councilor for formation
Seoul, 18 July 2022 -- Almost 300 Salesian Cooperators from Korea province (Coordinator Mr Andrea Park Man-sik) held their traditional annual conference in five zones over the last 3 weekends between July 3 and July 17 for the first time after the pandemic 'online break'.
On July 3 (Seoul, Gyeonggi province zone), then on July 10 (Daejeon central zone and on July 17 southwest zone (Gwangju), southeast region (Busan, Changwon) and Jeju island zone. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference was held as a “face-to-face” meeting for the first time in three years, and more than 300 ASC members from 28 out of 30 local centers nationwide attended.
The logistics, program and any kind of support was carefully and diligently prepared and accompanied by the members of 12th Provincial Council, working hand in hand with their provincial Delegates, Fr Bosco Park, SDB and Sr Gertruda Kim, FMA.
Theme of this annual conference was inspired by the words of St Francis de Sales, “Do everything through love, nothing through constraint.” The reflection on situation in each local center was divided by sub-topics to find a way forward, in order to move in the desired direction and strengthen their identity. The following topics were suggested:
- the importance of monthly meetings
- the current status of apostolic activities and necessary apostolate in the present age
- the role of local center members
- the animation of new vocations and inactive center members.
Reflecting on the recent situation of not being able to engage in the ASC local center activities or having only non-face-to-face meetings for the past two years and six months, looking back on the identity and mission as a Salesian Cooperator at the individual (=me) and community (=center) level, and revitalizing it. Group reflections fostered meaningful results for all participants.
Fr Bosco Park Hae-seung, SDB provincial delegate for the Salesian Cooperators in Korea, shared in his homily during the conclusion Mass for the Seoul zone, “Just as the root is important for a tree, the Salesian Cooperators will return to the roots, reflect on their identity and mission, and bear fruit when moving forward.”
Summing up, the 5 annual conferences with a total of 300 Salesian Cooperators of Korea in 2022 were held at the following venues:
- Seoul Metropolitan zone: July 3, Seoul provincial house (SDB)
- Central zone: July 10, Daejeon Jeongnim-dong (SDB)
- Jeju zone: July 10, Jeju island, Isidor Youth House (FMA)
- Southeast zone: July 17, Busan Salesian Spirituality House (FMA)
- Southwest zone: July 17, Gwangju, Salesian Girls’ High School, Jisan-dong (FMA)
Korea province of Salesian Cooperators offers its members every year at province level two opportunities for recollection (Advent and Lent season) and one day of 'annual conference' in the month of July.
We are grateful to all who helped this important formation event and pray for manifold fruits in the life, mission and daily witnessing of the largest group of the Salesian Family in South Korea.
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