Communication on October 21, 2005
* Communique on the 2005 Autumn General Assembly of the CBCK
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea held its 2005 Autumn General Assembly from October 10 to 14 and decided as follows.
1. Bishops approved the revised Korean version of the rites for Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass.
2. Bishops examined the Adjustment of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal to the Catholic Church in Korea (draft) and approved it.
3. Bishops approved the Bylaws on the Publication Permission of the Bible. The Bylaws stipulate that in accordance with the canon law, the publication of the Bible (including the Bible Commentary) should be permitted by the episcopal conference after the examination of the Biblical Committee and the Committee for the Doctrine of the Faith and that the quotation of the New Korean Bible should separately request the copyright permission and approval by the Secretariat General of the CBCK.
4. Bishops decided to distribute to dioceses the Text for Offering Ceremony of the New Korean Bible: Seonggyeong which was prepared by the Biblical Committee to publicize the New Korean Bible among the faithful.
5. To positively cope with controversial bioethical issues, Bishops ordered the Bioethics Committee and the Committee for Catechesis to prepare publicity materials in this regard, including the results of adult stem cell research.
6. The followings are reported to the Bishops: preparation for the Second Asian Congress on Pilgrimages and Shrines (Nov. 21-23, 2005, at Hanmaeum Youth Center in Uijeongbu), which is jointly hosted by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants and the CBCK Committee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants and sponsored by the Archdiocese of Seoul; giving aid to North Korea by the Committee for the Reconciliation of the Korean People; the implementation of overseas aid by the Committee for "Caritas Coreana".
7. New officers of the episcopal conference were elected as follows.
(* newly elected)
President: Most Rev. Augustine Cheong Myeng-cho *
Vice President: Most Rev. Peter Kang U-il *
Secretary: Most Rev. Paul Choi Deok-ki *
Members of the Permanent Council:
Most Rev. Francis Xavier Ahn Myong-ok *
Most Rev. Lucas Kim Woon-hoe *
Executive Secretary: Rev. Basil Cho Kyu-man
▷ Chairmen of the Episcopal Commissions
- Episcopal Commission for Clergy & Religious: Most Rev. Paul Ri Moun-hi *
- Episcopal Commission for Doctrine: Most Rev. Andreas Choi Chang-mou
- Episcopal Commission for Mission & Pastoral: Most Rev. Jacobus Kim Ji-Seok
- Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs: Most Rev. Vincent Ri Pyung-ho *
- Episcopal Special Commission for the Reconciliation of Korean People:
Most Rev. John Chang Yik *
- Episcopal Special Commission for Beatification and Canonization:
Most Rev. Michael Pak Jeong-il
▷ Presidents of the National Committees
- Committee for Family Pastoral Ministry: Most Rev. Jacobus Kim Ji-Seok *
- Committee for Catechesis: Most Rev. Gabriel Chang Bong-hun
- Committee for Education: Most Rev. Matthias Ri Iong-hoon
- Committee for Canonical Affairs: Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk
- Committee for Promoting Christian Unity & Interreligious Dialogue:
Most Rev. Hyginus Kim Hee-joong
- Committee for Social Communications: Most Rev. Paul Choi Deok-ki
- Committee for Culture: Most Rev. Peter Lee Ki-heon *
- Committee for the Reconciliation of Korean People:
Most Rev. Lucas Kim Woon-hoe
- Committee for Evangelization: Most Rev. John Choi Young-soo
- Committee for "Caritas Coreana": Most Rev. Lazzaro You Heung-sik
- Biblical Committee: Most Rev. John Chrysostom Kwon Hyeok-ju
- Committee for Doctrine of the Faith: Most Rev. Andreas Choi Chang-mou *
- Committee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerants:
Most Rev. Vincent Ri Pyung-ho *
- Committee for Liturgy: Most Rev. Joseph Lee Han-taek *
- Committee for Justice & Peace: Most Rev. Boniface Choi Ki-san
- Committee for Catholic Terminology: Most Rev. John Chang Yik
- Committee for the Lay Apostolate: Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung
- Bioethics Committee: Most Rev. Francis Xavier Ahn Myong-ok
▷ Moderators
- Moderator in charge of Religious: Most Rev. Joseph Lee Han-taek
- Moderator of the Korean Foreign Mission Society:
Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk
- Moderator of the Catholic Catechetical Institute:
Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk
- Moderator of the Pontifical Korean College:
Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk
* New President of the CBCK Envisions a "Young and Dynamic" Church
The Most Rev. Augustine Cheong Myeng-cho, Bishop of Pusan and the newly elected President of the CBCK, had a press conference on October 14, 2005 at the episcopal conference building and said, "I will try to become a messenger so that the Catholic Church in Korea can promote evangelization and the common good in various areas through the episcopal conference."
Taking into consideration the aging of population, which is also serious in the Church, and the diminution of young Catholics, he said, "I will concentrate my efforts on making the Church 'young and dynamic.'"
In addition, he mentioned as his main tasks to build the culture of life and to make continuous efforts for the reconciliation and unity of Korean people.
To become a "steersman" of the Catholic Church in Korea through the communion and unity of Bishops, he called on the faithful for collaboration and prayer for him "so that the Bishops can exercise their mission entrusted by Christ, devoting themselves to the proclamation of the Gospel and service for the Church."
Ordained a priest in 1962 and a bishop in 1990, he was appointed as the Bishop of Pusan in 1999 and has served as the Vice President of the CBCK from October 2002 to October 14, 2005.
* Initial Formation Course of Catechumens Opened on the Internet
The Catholic Cyber Pastoral of Seoul Archdiocese (Director: Rev. John Ri Gi-jeong) opens an initial formation course for catechumens on the internet on October 25, 2005 (http://veritas.ne.kr).
This course is composed of 50 units, of which catechumens can take nine units or less per month so that the catechumenate can be six months or more. Each unit is 20 to 40 minutes long.
While taking the course, catechumens should attend Mass 20 times or more and have the affirmation of attendance from their parish. On completing all the units, they will receive a cyber certificate and can be baptized by presenting the certificate to their parish.
The first four units are open to everyone, so that anyone, not only those who want to become Catholics, can taste the Catholicism. And those who join in the full course are required to complete every unit faithfully. On the other hand, they can review what they studied as many times as they want.
There are also many links which connect them to pastors, religious and associations of the parish to have continuous bonds with the actual life in the Church.
This program has been prepared for one year by the Cyber Pastoral department of Seoul Archdiocese. "Internet catechesis is a new way of providing catechesis fitting for the contemporary society, eliminating the limit of time and place. In addition to this initial formation, we will also develop various programs for re-education of the laity." the Rev. John Ri Gi-jeong said.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea held its 2005 Autumn General Assembly from October 10 to 14 and decided as follows.
1. Bishops approved the revised Korean version of the rites for Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass.
2. Bishops examined the Adjustment of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal to the Catholic Church in Korea (draft) and approved it.
3. Bishops approved the Bylaws on the Publication Permission of the Bible. The Bylaws stipulate that in accordance with the canon law, the publication of the Bible (including the Bible Commentary) should be permitted by the episcopal conference after the examination of the Biblical Committee and the Committee for the Doctrine of the Faith and that the quotation of the New Korean Bible should separately request the copyright permission and approval by the Secretariat General of the CBCK.
4. Bishops decided to distribute to dioceses the Text for Offering Ceremony of the New Korean Bible: Seonggyeong which was prepared by the Biblical Committee to publicize the New Korean Bible among the faithful.
5. To positively cope with controversial bioethical issues, Bishops ordered the Bioethics Committee and the Committee for Catechesis to prepare publicity materials in this regard, including the results of adult stem cell research.
6. The followings are reported to the Bishops: preparation for the Second Asian Congress on Pilgrimages and Shrines (Nov. 21-23, 2005, at Hanmaeum Youth Center in Uijeongbu), which is jointly hosted by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants and the CBCK Committee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants and sponsored by the Archdiocese of Seoul; giving aid to North Korea by the Committee for the Reconciliation of the Korean People; the implementation of overseas aid by the Committee for "Caritas Coreana".
7. New officers of the episcopal conference were elected as follows.
(* newly elected)
President: Most Rev. Augustine Cheong Myeng-cho *
Vice President: Most Rev. Peter Kang U-il *
Secretary: Most Rev. Paul Choi Deok-ki *
Members of the Permanent Council:
Most Rev. Francis Xavier Ahn Myong-ok *
Most Rev. Lucas Kim Woon-hoe *
Executive Secretary: Rev. Basil Cho Kyu-man
▷ Chairmen of the Episcopal Commissions
- Episcopal Commission for Clergy & Religious: Most Rev. Paul Ri Moun-hi *
- Episcopal Commission for Doctrine: Most Rev. Andreas Choi Chang-mou
- Episcopal Commission for Mission & Pastoral: Most Rev. Jacobus Kim Ji-Seok
- Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs: Most Rev. Vincent Ri Pyung-ho *
- Episcopal Special Commission for the Reconciliation of Korean People:
Most Rev. John Chang Yik *
- Episcopal Special Commission for Beatification and Canonization:
Most Rev. Michael Pak Jeong-il
▷ Presidents of the National Committees
- Committee for Family Pastoral Ministry: Most Rev. Jacobus Kim Ji-Seok *
- Committee for Catechesis: Most Rev. Gabriel Chang Bong-hun
- Committee for Education: Most Rev. Matthias Ri Iong-hoon
- Committee for Canonical Affairs: Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk
- Committee for Promoting Christian Unity & Interreligious Dialogue:
Most Rev. Hyginus Kim Hee-joong
- Committee for Social Communications: Most Rev. Paul Choi Deok-ki
- Committee for Culture: Most Rev. Peter Lee Ki-heon *
- Committee for the Reconciliation of Korean People:
Most Rev. Lucas Kim Woon-hoe
- Committee for Evangelization: Most Rev. John Choi Young-soo
- Committee for "Caritas Coreana": Most Rev. Lazzaro You Heung-sik
- Biblical Committee: Most Rev. John Chrysostom Kwon Hyeok-ju
- Committee for Doctrine of the Faith: Most Rev. Andreas Choi Chang-mou *
- Committee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerants:
Most Rev. Vincent Ri Pyung-ho *
- Committee for Liturgy: Most Rev. Joseph Lee Han-taek *
- Committee for Justice & Peace: Most Rev. Boniface Choi Ki-san
- Committee for Catholic Terminology: Most Rev. John Chang Yik
- Committee for the Lay Apostolate: Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung
- Bioethics Committee: Most Rev. Francis Xavier Ahn Myong-ok
▷ Moderators
- Moderator in charge of Religious: Most Rev. Joseph Lee Han-taek
- Moderator of the Korean Foreign Mission Society:
Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk
- Moderator of the Catholic Catechetical Institute:
Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk
- Moderator of the Pontifical Korean College:
Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk
* New President of the CBCK Envisions a "Young and Dynamic" Church
The Most Rev. Augustine Cheong Myeng-cho, Bishop of Pusan and the newly elected President of the CBCK, had a press conference on October 14, 2005 at the episcopal conference building and said, "I will try to become a messenger so that the Catholic Church in Korea can promote evangelization and the common good in various areas through the episcopal conference."
Taking into consideration the aging of population, which is also serious in the Church, and the diminution of young Catholics, he said, "I will concentrate my efforts on making the Church 'young and dynamic.'"
In addition, he mentioned as his main tasks to build the culture of life and to make continuous efforts for the reconciliation and unity of Korean people.
To become a "steersman" of the Catholic Church in Korea through the communion and unity of Bishops, he called on the faithful for collaboration and prayer for him "so that the Bishops can exercise their mission entrusted by Christ, devoting themselves to the proclamation of the Gospel and service for the Church."
Ordained a priest in 1962 and a bishop in 1990, he was appointed as the Bishop of Pusan in 1999 and has served as the Vice President of the CBCK from October 2002 to October 14, 2005.
* Initial Formation Course of Catechumens Opened on the Internet
The Catholic Cyber Pastoral of Seoul Archdiocese (Director: Rev. John Ri Gi-jeong) opens an initial formation course for catechumens on the internet on October 25, 2005 (http://veritas.ne.kr).
This course is composed of 50 units, of which catechumens can take nine units or less per month so that the catechumenate can be six months or more. Each unit is 20 to 40 minutes long.
While taking the course, catechumens should attend Mass 20 times or more and have the affirmation of attendance from their parish. On completing all the units, they will receive a cyber certificate and can be baptized by presenting the certificate to their parish.
The first four units are open to everyone, so that anyone, not only those who want to become Catholics, can taste the Catholicism. And those who join in the full course are required to complete every unit faithfully. On the other hand, they can review what they studied as many times as they want.
There are also many links which connect them to pastors, religious and associations of the parish to have continuous bonds with the actual life in the Church.
This program has been prepared for one year by the Cyber Pastoral department of Seoul Archdiocese. "Internet catechesis is a new way of providing catechesis fitting for the contemporary society, eliminating the limit of time and place. In addition to this initial formation, we will also develop various programs for re-education of the laity." the Rev. John Ri Gi-jeong said.