Written by KOR SocCom

Seoul, South Korea, 13 November 2024 -- On 6 November, Fr Miguel Angel García, the General Councillor for Youth Ministry, in accompanying with Fr Jose Lorbeth Vivo, his team member in Rome, arrived in Korea to preside over the EAO Region’s Youth Ministry Delegates Meeting (8–12 November). During his visit, he took the opportunity to visit various pastoral places, prises the confreres for their dedication, and encourage young people to dream.

On his arrival, Fr García visited the Youth Dream Center in Seoul, which the Salesians operate under the city’s auspices. After a short briefing on the center’s pastoral activities, he shared a few words and enjoyed an open conversation with the staff. He expressed his impression: "This is a remarkable youth ministry site. I’m deeply moved by the diverse activities addressing the different needs of young people, achieved through the unique Salesian creativity. As the name 'Dream Center' suggests, it’s clear that many young people here are inspired to dream, which fills me with joy."

The next morning, on 7 November, accompanied by Provincial, Fr Marcello Baek Kwanghyun, he visited the Salesian Sisters' Provincial House to celebrate Mass. Around 100 sisters warmly welcomed him, and he offered a conference on Salesian youth ministry. Fr García was highly impressed by the collaboration and partnership between the SDB and FMA. Later that afternoon, guided by the Provincial, he traveled to the formation community in Gwangju. There, he was warmly received by Fr Bonaventura Kim Sunho, the rector, and the Shinandong Community confreres. He continued to offer insights on youth ministry, engaging in fraternal conversations and sharing.

On 8 November Fr García visited the Ilgok-dong Salesian High School community, not far from the Shinandong Formation Community. This school, established 70 years ago as the first Salesian presence in Korea, represents a rich chapter of Korean Salesian history. He was welcomed by the principal, Fr Peter Parj Jiyoung, along with the school staff, and engaged in a briefing on activity, Q&A, and sharing.

He returned to Seoul on the evening of November 8 to lead the EAO Youth Ministry Delegates Meeting held at the Provincial House, which continued until November 12. He departed for Rome late that night.

During his week-long stay in Korea, Fr García devoted most of his time to the EAO Youth Ministry Delegates Meeting. However, he found opportunities to meet Korean confreres and visit communities, where he shared intriguing perspectives. He noted his appreciation for the wide range of youth ministry activities undertaken by the Korean Salesian Province, remarking that this diversity greatly enriches the province's life. He also expressed admiration for the lay collaborators’ profound understanding of their mission and respect for the Salesian charism, emphasizing that well-prepared lay collaborators are key to the future of the Salesian mission.

Fr García offered advice on preparations for the 2027 World Youth Day: "Maintaining good collaboration with the diocese is essential. I understand one of your members is deeply involved with the diocesan committee, which is fortunate for us. A grand plan is necessary to host guests well and provide convenient services like transportation and accommodation. Many nations invest considerable time to participate in such a significant event, so it’s crucial to communicate well in advance. Particularly, we need to organize well at the regional level, since there will be many young people from East Asia."

He added, "Now is the time to pay more attention to unseen forms of poverty—emotional, relational, and familial deprivation, which seem to be prominent in Korean society, especially among young people. In this regard, I congratulate the province’s efforts in establishing counseling and communication centers to address these new challenges facing youth." He urged the province to dedicate more resources to the ministry of migrant workers, saying, "The phenomenon of migrant workers is inevitable in Korea, where birth rates are the lowest in the world. Neglecting pastoral care in this area would be a major loss. At times like these, discernment and courage are needed to set a proper direction in ministry, and now is the time to make decisions regarding pastoral support for migrant workers."

Fr García also shared a message for the Salesian Family groups: "I hope every family group will listen more closely to the voices and needs of young people, creating spaces within each group for their presence and engagement. Globally, not only religious congregations but also lay groups, such as the Cooperator and SYM, are experiencing difficulties in attracting and retaining young members, and I understand that Korea is no exception. I encourage each group to overcome these challenges in a way that suits the local context and to introduce young adults to Don Bosco’s charism, inviting them to join in."

It was Fr García’s first visit to Korea in four years since being elected General Councillor for Youth Ministry. Although his week-long stay was largely tied up with the EAO Youth Ministry Delegates Meeting, he managed to gain a profound insight into the Korean Province's pastoral life and expressed his heartfelt and valuable suggestions for the Korean Province.

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