Communication on December 10
* "Sharing is Not an Option But an Obligation" - Caritas Sunday Message Stresses
The Most Rev. Lazzaro You Heung-sik, Coadjutor Bishop of Daejeon and President of the CBCK Committee for "Caritas Coreana," issued a Message for the 21st Caritas Sunday on December 12, 2004 and urged every believer to actively participate in the practice of sharing, saying, "To share the grace and gift we received from God with our neighbors is not an option but an obligation."
In the Message titled "Towards God in Love of Brothers," he said, "Sharing is an opportunity of grace to restore the human nature God inscribed in us." And he added, "We can share with the love of our Lord when we practice the love for the poor and needy neighbors."
"In a sense, helping the needy is the visible fruits of conversion and penitence. Therefore, if you cannot reach the needy in person, participate in the charity work of your ecclesial communities, since we can achieve more when cooperating together."
"The love for God generates the love for neighbors, and the latter, in turn, nurtures the first," he stressed the love for our neighbors, saying that it is the fastest way to advance towards God.
* The Day of Migrants To Be Observed on the First Sunday of May
The Permanent Council of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea held its meeting on December 6, 2004 and decided to move the Day of Migrants, which has been observed in January, to the first Sunday of May. It also determined to take countermeasures against the pseudo-spirituality movements.
The decision to move the Day of Migrants was made in accordance with the request of the CBCK Committee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants, because it conforms more to the original intention of the Day to share the difficulties and sorrow of migrants, by facilitating the arrangement of events for migrants in May, not in cold winter season in January. The decision will be presented to the 2005 Spring General Assembly of the CBCK for the approval.
In addition, the Permanent Council also examined the "Report on the Pseudo-Spirituality Movements" prepared by the Pastoral Institute of Korea and decided to take countermeasures against such movements and to distribute guidance materials for Catholics.
In conformity to the request of the Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa (CERNA) and the Conference of the Latin Bishops of the Arab Regions (CELRA), the Permanent Council decided to observe a Day of Fasting and Prayer for Peace in the Holy Land on December 22 and let this decision be announced through diocesan bulletins.
* Bishop of Cheongju Asks Cooperation for the Preparation of the Golden Anniversary of the Institution of the Diocese
The Most Rev. Gabriel Chang Bong-hun, Bishop of Cheongju, issued a pastoral letter, calling on the faithful for cooperation in the preparation for the 50th anniversary of the institution of the diocese in 2008.
Titled "Towards the Golden Anniversary," the letter said, "In setting out the preparation in earnest, I sincerely hope the anniversary can be an important opportunity for renewal and development of the diocese and a turning point for evangelization of local community and for mission to the North."
Regarding the diocesan synod, which is to be held from 2006 to 2008 after two years of preparation from 2005, he called on the faithful for positive concern, participation and prayer, saying, "The success of synod depends on the participation of the faithful in the diocese. If people have lukewarm attitudes, the synod will turn out to be meaningless."
Reaffirming the pastoral purposes of making "community of faith centered on the Eucharist," "community of learning centered on the Bible" and "community of sharing centered on the communion," Bishop Chang said, "If we live out these purposes in our daily life, we can reach the aim of 15% of evangelization rate or 200,000 Catholics in the diocese by 2010."
The Most Rev. Lazzaro You Heung-sik, Coadjutor Bishop of Daejeon and President of the CBCK Committee for "Caritas Coreana," issued a Message for the 21st Caritas Sunday on December 12, 2004 and urged every believer to actively participate in the practice of sharing, saying, "To share the grace and gift we received from God with our neighbors is not an option but an obligation."
In the Message titled "Towards God in Love of Brothers," he said, "Sharing is an opportunity of grace to restore the human nature God inscribed in us." And he added, "We can share with the love of our Lord when we practice the love for the poor and needy neighbors."
"In a sense, helping the needy is the visible fruits of conversion and penitence. Therefore, if you cannot reach the needy in person, participate in the charity work of your ecclesial communities, since we can achieve more when cooperating together."
"The love for God generates the love for neighbors, and the latter, in turn, nurtures the first," he stressed the love for our neighbors, saying that it is the fastest way to advance towards God.
* The Day of Migrants To Be Observed on the First Sunday of May
The Permanent Council of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea held its meeting on December 6, 2004 and decided to move the Day of Migrants, which has been observed in January, to the first Sunday of May. It also determined to take countermeasures against the pseudo-spirituality movements.
The decision to move the Day of Migrants was made in accordance with the request of the CBCK Committee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants, because it conforms more to the original intention of the Day to share the difficulties and sorrow of migrants, by facilitating the arrangement of events for migrants in May, not in cold winter season in January. The decision will be presented to the 2005 Spring General Assembly of the CBCK for the approval.
In addition, the Permanent Council also examined the "Report on the Pseudo-Spirituality Movements" prepared by the Pastoral Institute of Korea and decided to take countermeasures against such movements and to distribute guidance materials for Catholics.
In conformity to the request of the Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa (CERNA) and the Conference of the Latin Bishops of the Arab Regions (CELRA), the Permanent Council decided to observe a Day of Fasting and Prayer for Peace in the Holy Land on December 22 and let this decision be announced through diocesan bulletins.
* Bishop of Cheongju Asks Cooperation for the Preparation of the Golden Anniversary of the Institution of the Diocese
The Most Rev. Gabriel Chang Bong-hun, Bishop of Cheongju, issued a pastoral letter, calling on the faithful for cooperation in the preparation for the 50th anniversary of the institution of the diocese in 2008.
Titled "Towards the Golden Anniversary," the letter said, "In setting out the preparation in earnest, I sincerely hope the anniversary can be an important opportunity for renewal and development of the diocese and a turning point for evangelization of local community and for mission to the North."
Regarding the diocesan synod, which is to be held from 2006 to 2008 after two years of preparation from 2005, he called on the faithful for positive concern, participation and prayer, saying, "The success of synod depends on the participation of the faithful in the diocese. If people have lukewarm attitudes, the synod will turn out to be meaningless."
Reaffirming the pastoral purposes of making "community of faith centered on the Eucharist," "community of learning centered on the Bible" and "community of sharing centered on the communion," Bishop Chang said, "If we live out these purposes in our daily life, we can reach the aim of 15% of evangelization rate or 200,000 Catholics in the diocese by 2010."