Seoul, Korea, 26 April 2016 - The Salesian Rectors' meeting was held at the meeting room in Guro-3 dong parish in Seoul at 10AM on April 26th. Total of 20 confreres including 13 rectors from each community, Provincial, delegates of the various sectors, and the provincial secretary had joined for the 2 hours meeting and talked about the news from the Generalate and about each sectors and communities.
Fr Philip, the Rector of Guro 3-dong community as well parish priest, provided the venue for the meeting and welcomed the participants. This was followed by greeting from Fr Provincial, and from Fr Bonaventure Kim who returned after finishing studying in Rome and made his debut to the rectors' meeting today.
The first item is on the agenda was an introduction to the letter of the Vicar of RM. Fr Marcello Baek explained the status of confreres who are absent from the community, the proper measures to be taken for them, and what to do according to each level. The letter also urged us to carry out guidelines for reinforcing the human aspect of the salesian community.
Second, the Fr Isidor Hong, provincial economer, talked about the change in medical security insurance for perpetual confreres. He explained that the existing specified policy which provided benefits only for some diseases such as cancer was being changed into actual damage insurance which covers all medical actions. Third, the process of discernment for a missionary vocation was explained by Fr Timothy Choi, the Missions delegate, in regard to the discernment of missionary vacation among the confreres.
Subsequently, Fr Peter Kim, Youth Ministry delegate, made a proposal about the sharing of personnel network related to youth ministry activity, Fr Marcello Baek, the formation delegate, talked about the workshop 'Rediscovery of Vocation'. This is an ongoing formation program conducted by the Union of Religious Superiors in Korea, He encouraged all to participate in it. Then, Fr Isidor Hong who is also Financial delegate and Fr John Jeong, The Salesian family delegate talked briefly. Br Hilario Seo, SC delegate, recommended that each community participate actively in suggesting proper data management for the digital era and asked that communities provide news to be shared with all confreres.
During the time of community sharing, each community shared their ministry situation and the recent state of the confreres. Concluding the community sharing Fr Provincial said that he hoped to share more actively and simultaneously with the confreres about the information of the various activities and events which each community is doing.
During the free discussion, an opinion was put forward that it would be good to review the bulletin being used by each community and work. It was also mentioned that it would be good to provide the young confreres who are even in initial formation with a chance to participate in discussions about construction, remodelling, a planning of the house in order to gather ideas from them and foster formation and learning in this sector of our life. Also the idea was raised that is necessary to give a chance to the confreres to specialize in accounting or administration.
The meeting ended with the Provincial's exhortation that many confreres should participate in the fraternal meeting for those who lives in the Metro Seoul area. It will be held on May 5th at Don Bosco Youth Center. He also explained the animation visit plan of Fr Vaclav to Korea in early May.
Today's meeting was a rectors' meeting held in Guro 3-dong parish for the first time. The lay parishioners including the lay president of the parish, did their best in preparing a nice welcome. They showed their joy acting like a real family. The participating rectors were highly impressed and extended their gratitude to them.
