Communication on October 15
* Diocese of Uijongbu Welcomes Its First Bishop
On October 11, 2004, the Most Rev. Joseph Lee Han-taek took the canonical possession of Uijongbu at Uijongbu Stadium with some 8,000 participating, including the Most Rev. Emil Paul Tscherrig, Apostolic Nuncio in Korea, the Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, Archbishop of Seoul, and the Most Rev. Andreas Choi Chang-mou, Archbishop of Kwangju who currently heads the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea.
During the installation Mass, Bishop Lee said, "I will focus on realizing the image of church the risen Lord showed to us, that is, the church positively approaching brothers and sisters in need." He also said, "All members of the local church of Uijongbu, including clergy, religious and the laity, are the gifts from God and the living witnesses that the Lord is always with us." Emphasizing the "communion among the people who encountered the risen Lord," he said, "I hope all of us, as Christians, can build communion among ourselves which binds us together as brothers and sisters in Christ."
In his congratulatory message, His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan expressed his hope for the young diocese, saying that, "It is amazing and moving to see in the faces of young priests their joy and the enthusiasm for evangelization. It also clearly shows what the way of God is."
Archbishop Choi said, "I pray that Mary may protect and intercede for the young Diocese of Uijongbu so that it can serve as the stepping stone to the peaceful unification of our nation."
* New Apostolic Nuncio Asks the Church in Korea to Be a "Missionary Church"
The Most Rev. Emil Paul Tscherrig, appointed by the Holy Father as the new Apostolic Nuncio in Korea on May 22, 2004, arrived in Korea on October 6 and participated in the opening meeting of the 2004 Autumn General Assembly of the CBCK on October 12, 2004.
Meeting with Korean bishops, Archbishop Tscherrig thanked them, in the name of the Holy Father and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, for the great contribution of the Church in Korea to the World Mission and asked them "to be ready when the Lord calls on you to be his instruments of salvation also in other parts of this Region and the world."
He also conveyed the greeting and blessing of the Holy Father, who "has always shown a very special affection of the Church and the people of Korea" and who is given "a great consolation from the faith of the people of God in Korea and their love for Christ and the Church."
* Mass Offered to Celebrate the 26th Anniversary of the Pontificate of His Holiness
A Mass to celebrate the 26th Anniversary of the election to the Pontificate of His Holiness John Paul II was offered at Myongdong Cathedral of Seoul on October 13, 2004. At the Mass, presided by the Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, Archbishop of Seoul, some 600 Catholics attended, including priests, religious and lay faithful.
Archbishop Cheong said in his homily, "The Holy Father, since he was elected as the 264th Pope in 1978, has worked and continues to work as the Apostle of peace and unity, still visiting many places in the world despite his ill health, and always exerted great influence to people, including Christians." He urged, "Let us pray that the will of God can be carried out through the work of the Pope, Vicar of Christ."
After the Mass, a ceremony followed to welcome the Most Rev. Emil Paul Tscherrig, the new Apostolic Nuncio in Korea. Archbishop Tscherrig asked the attendants, "Let us cooperate with the Holy Father to break all sorts of division and conflicts and realize love and unity in the world."
On October 11, 2004, the Most Rev. Joseph Lee Han-taek took the canonical possession of Uijongbu at Uijongbu Stadium with some 8,000 participating, including the Most Rev. Emil Paul Tscherrig, Apostolic Nuncio in Korea, the Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, Archbishop of Seoul, and the Most Rev. Andreas Choi Chang-mou, Archbishop of Kwangju who currently heads the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea.
During the installation Mass, Bishop Lee said, "I will focus on realizing the image of church the risen Lord showed to us, that is, the church positively approaching brothers and sisters in need." He also said, "All members of the local church of Uijongbu, including clergy, religious and the laity, are the gifts from God and the living witnesses that the Lord is always with us." Emphasizing the "communion among the people who encountered the risen Lord," he said, "I hope all of us, as Christians, can build communion among ourselves which binds us together as brothers and sisters in Christ."
In his congratulatory message, His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan expressed his hope for the young diocese, saying that, "It is amazing and moving to see in the faces of young priests their joy and the enthusiasm for evangelization. It also clearly shows what the way of God is."
Archbishop Choi said, "I pray that Mary may protect and intercede for the young Diocese of Uijongbu so that it can serve as the stepping stone to the peaceful unification of our nation."
* New Apostolic Nuncio Asks the Church in Korea to Be a "Missionary Church"
The Most Rev. Emil Paul Tscherrig, appointed by the Holy Father as the new Apostolic Nuncio in Korea on May 22, 2004, arrived in Korea on October 6 and participated in the opening meeting of the 2004 Autumn General Assembly of the CBCK on October 12, 2004.
Meeting with Korean bishops, Archbishop Tscherrig thanked them, in the name of the Holy Father and the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, for the great contribution of the Church in Korea to the World Mission and asked them "to be ready when the Lord calls on you to be his instruments of salvation also in other parts of this Region and the world."
He also conveyed the greeting and blessing of the Holy Father, who "has always shown a very special affection of the Church and the people of Korea" and who is given "a great consolation from the faith of the people of God in Korea and their love for Christ and the Church."
* Mass Offered to Celebrate the 26th Anniversary of the Pontificate of His Holiness
A Mass to celebrate the 26th Anniversary of the election to the Pontificate of His Holiness John Paul II was offered at Myongdong Cathedral of Seoul on October 13, 2004. At the Mass, presided by the Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, Archbishop of Seoul, some 600 Catholics attended, including priests, religious and lay faithful.
Archbishop Cheong said in his homily, "The Holy Father, since he was elected as the 264th Pope in 1978, has worked and continues to work as the Apostle of peace and unity, still visiting many places in the world despite his ill health, and always exerted great influence to people, including Christians." He urged, "Let us pray that the will of God can be carried out through the work of the Pope, Vicar of Christ."
After the Mass, a ceremony followed to welcome the Most Rev. Emil Paul Tscherrig, the new Apostolic Nuncio in Korea. Archbishop Tscherrig asked the attendants, "Let us cooperate with the Holy Father to break all sorts of division and conflicts and realize love and unity in the world."