Communication on June 4
* Message Issued for the Day for the Environment
On the occasion of the Day for the Environment on June 5, 2004, the Most Rev. John Choi Young-soo, Auxiliary Bishop of Taegu and President of the CBCK Committee for Justice & Peace, issued a message with the title "Simple Life for God." He stressed in the message that we should pursue true happiness by a simple way of living, that is, a life style of wanting and spending less.
Citing the words of the Pope, "Modern society will find no solution to the ecological problem unless it takes a serious look at its life style."(Message for the World Day for Peace, 1990, n. 13), Bishop Choi urged sincere reflection on our life style and efforts to enter into this way of living with deep sense of responsibility.
Bishop Choi also paid special attention to the environmental changes and called for positive efforts to reduce the damage caused by global warming and climate change worldwide.
For this purpose, he suggested ways to preserve the environment, such as to use public transportation more and operate heating or air conditioning less for the sake of saving fossil fuel resources, to develop and use alternative energy resources like solar power, wind power and tidal power, to create renewable resources through rainwater recycling and tree planting and to encourage energy efficiency when constructing churches as well as houses or buildings.
* Gen Fest 2004 Flourishes with 3,700 Young People Participating
"Gen Fest 2004," the festival of young people who are pursuing and living out the spirit of the Focolare Movement, was held on May 26, 2004 at Daeyang Hall of Sejong University in Seoul.
Some 3,700 young people, including those from the Philippines, Thailand, Japan, Italy and Germany, participated in the festival and among those present were Protestant pastors and youth as well.
The festival, held with four themes, "Myself," "the Family," "Society", and "the World," offered participants a good opportunity to reflect themselves and make commitment to contribute to building the family, society, and the world with the spirit of Focolare Movement. In particular, during the fourth section of "the World," Japanese, Thai and Philippine young people explained the activities of Gen in their countries and performed folk dances before other participants.
"Gen" is composed of the youth who strive to make the world united in the spirit of Chiara Lubich, the founder and current president of the Focolare Movement. Gen Fest started in Italy in 1975 and the International Gen Fest is held every fifth year. In Korea, it was the third festival held on the national level following 1987 and 1993.
* National Congress for the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
The third national Congress for the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament was solemnly held on May 26, 2004, at the Martyrs' Mountain, a shrine in the Diocese of Chonju, with some 11,000 Catholics participating.
Prepared by the Association for the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration of the Diocese of Chonju (President: Mr. Simon Chae Su-hyeon, Director: Rev. Joachim Kim Gwang-seok), the Congress became the place where the faithful worshiped Jesus Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament and made resolution to become the apostles proclaiming His teachings.
His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan, who presided the Solemn Mass, said, "Let us deeply appreciate the love of our Lord present in the Eucharist and be sanctified by his love so that each and every person in the world can enjoy the genuine peace of Christ."
During the Congress, there was also a special lecture by the Most Rev. Vincent Ri Pyung-ho, Bishop of Chonju, on the "Eucharist and the Family," as well as benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament and Eucharistic procession.
By the way, to prepare the Congress the Association for the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration of the Diocese of Chonju made a novena from May 17 to 25 and nocturnal adoration on the previous night.
On the occasion of the Day for the Environment on June 5, 2004, the Most Rev. John Choi Young-soo, Auxiliary Bishop of Taegu and President of the CBCK Committee for Justice & Peace, issued a message with the title "Simple Life for God." He stressed in the message that we should pursue true happiness by a simple way of living, that is, a life style of wanting and spending less.
Citing the words of the Pope, "Modern society will find no solution to the ecological problem unless it takes a serious look at its life style."(Message for the World Day for Peace, 1990, n. 13), Bishop Choi urged sincere reflection on our life style and efforts to enter into this way of living with deep sense of responsibility.
Bishop Choi also paid special attention to the environmental changes and called for positive efforts to reduce the damage caused by global warming and climate change worldwide.
For this purpose, he suggested ways to preserve the environment, such as to use public transportation more and operate heating or air conditioning less for the sake of saving fossil fuel resources, to develop and use alternative energy resources like solar power, wind power and tidal power, to create renewable resources through rainwater recycling and tree planting and to encourage energy efficiency when constructing churches as well as houses or buildings.
* Gen Fest 2004 Flourishes with 3,700 Young People Participating
"Gen Fest 2004," the festival of young people who are pursuing and living out the spirit of the Focolare Movement, was held on May 26, 2004 at Daeyang Hall of Sejong University in Seoul.
Some 3,700 young people, including those from the Philippines, Thailand, Japan, Italy and Germany, participated in the festival and among those present were Protestant pastors and youth as well.
The festival, held with four themes, "Myself," "the Family," "Society", and "the World," offered participants a good opportunity to reflect themselves and make commitment to contribute to building the family, society, and the world with the spirit of Focolare Movement. In particular, during the fourth section of "the World," Japanese, Thai and Philippine young people explained the activities of Gen in their countries and performed folk dances before other participants.
"Gen" is composed of the youth who strive to make the world united in the spirit of Chiara Lubich, the founder and current president of the Focolare Movement. Gen Fest started in Italy in 1975 and the International Gen Fest is held every fifth year. In Korea, it was the third festival held on the national level following 1987 and 1993.
* National Congress for the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
The third national Congress for the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament was solemnly held on May 26, 2004, at the Martyrs' Mountain, a shrine in the Diocese of Chonju, with some 11,000 Catholics participating.
Prepared by the Association for the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration of the Diocese of Chonju (President: Mr. Simon Chae Su-hyeon, Director: Rev. Joachim Kim Gwang-seok), the Congress became the place where the faithful worshiped Jesus Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament and made resolution to become the apostles proclaiming His teachings.
His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan, who presided the Solemn Mass, said, "Let us deeply appreciate the love of our Lord present in the Eucharist and be sanctified by his love so that each and every person in the world can enjoy the genuine peace of Christ."
During the Congress, there was also a special lecture by the Most Rev. Vincent Ri Pyung-ho, Bishop of Chonju, on the "Eucharist and the Family," as well as benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament and Eucharistic procession.
By the way, to prepare the Congress the Association for the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration of the Diocese of Chonju made a novena from May 17 to 25 and nocturnal adoration on the previous night.