Communication on December 9, 2005
* Message for the 22nd Caritas Sunday Issued
On the occasion of the 22nd Caritas Sunday on December 11, 2005, the Most Rev. Lazzaro You Heung-sik, President of the CBCK Committee for "Caritas Coreana," issued a message and called on the faithful "to become instrument of our Lord by practicing the spirit of sharing and sowing the seed of hope in the world."
In the message entitled "Blessed Are the Merciful!"(Mt 5:7), Bishop You said, "sharing is a privilege given to all," and that "just a little love and concern can help the needy find the meaning of life in this world."
In particular, he warned against the consumerism prevailing in our society, saying, "The Church community should make efforts for the evangelization of society which is imbued with consumerism." "We are being enslaved by consumerism day by day without recognizing. …… Therefore, we should live out as stewards who care for the need of neighbors and God's creation, by means of a proper way of consumption," he stressed.
The bishop also asked the faithful "to pursue the common good and the love for neighbors, following the teaching of Vatican Council II which calls for the total commitment of our whole person to the spirit of sharing," because "when we bring together our love and care for neighbors, the Church community can render systematic and well-planned help to the needy and marginalized."
* "Day of Life" Celebrated in Seoul Archdiocese
In line with the establishment of the diocesan committee on life in last October, the Archdiocese of Seoul celebrated "Day of Life" on December 4, 2005, on the Human Rights Sunday, to widely proclaim the dignity of life and contribute to the building of the culture of life. The day featured with various events, including "Life Mass," musical concert for life, ceremony of promising organ donation, lectures on life, signature collecting campaign for the abolition of death penalty and opening of a publicity booth for life.
"Life Mass," the focus of the day's events, was presided by the Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk, Archbishop of Seoul, in concelebration of His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan, the Most Rev. Emil Paul Tscherrig, the Apostolic Nuncio to Korea, and two Auxiliary Bishops and priests in Seoul Archdiocese. Besides Catholics, representatives of diplomatic missions to Korea and Catholic lawmakers also attended the Mass.
In particular, the Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul and the chairman of the diocesan committee on life, said that some 1,000 dioceses in 170 countries all over the world had expressed their support by sending letters or messages and the Holy Father also sent a blessing message for the Day of Life. Bishop Yeom said, "The Holy Father blessed all those who are dedicated to the life movement and invoked Mary's intercession for all our efforts to defend the dignity of life."
Archbishop Cheong said in his homily, "In efforts to defend human rights, the Church in our time must give a priority to the respect for the dignity of human life," and stressed "awareness to the dignity of human life is a way of practicing the faith."
In addition, ten celebrities, including singers, movie stars and TV stars, were named as the "honorary publicity ambassadors" for the life movement of the Archdiocese of Seoul.
* Tribunal Opened for the Cause of Beatification of the Servant of God Thomas Choe Yang-eop, Priest
On December 3, 2005, the CBCK Episcopal Special Commission to Promote Beatification and Canonization held the first judicial inquiry for the cause of beatification of the Servant of God Thomas Choe Yang-eop, priest, to investigate the life, virtues and reputation of sanctity of the Servant of God.
The first session was proceeded by reading of the postulator's petition, presentation of nomination letters, reading of the decree of "Introduction of the Cause and Constitution of the Tribunal," oaths of all those concerned, and presentation of materials of evidence.
The Most Rev. Gabriel Chang Bong-hun, Bishop of Cheongju, said, "The opening of tribunal for the cause of beatification of Fr. Choe is a historical event to show that there are also the aspects of soteriology and the faith in the martyrdom-focused history of the Church in Korea. He can be a model for the evangelization of the Catholic Church in Korea in new era."
The Most Rev. Michael Pak Jeong-il, chairman of the Episcopal Special Commission to Promote Beatification and Canonization, said, "Having this joyous and meaningful event, I thank the Congregation for the Causes of Saints for permitting the opening of this tribunal by declaring "nihil obstat" and also remember the dedication of many people who have worked and will work for the cause of beatification of Fr. Choe."
The tribunal will be held on fourth Thursday in every other month at the conference room of the CBCK.
On the occasion of the 22nd Caritas Sunday on December 11, 2005, the Most Rev. Lazzaro You Heung-sik, President of the CBCK Committee for "Caritas Coreana," issued a message and called on the faithful "to become instrument of our Lord by practicing the spirit of sharing and sowing the seed of hope in the world."
In the message entitled "Blessed Are the Merciful!"(Mt 5:7), Bishop You said, "sharing is a privilege given to all," and that "just a little love and concern can help the needy find the meaning of life in this world."
In particular, he warned against the consumerism prevailing in our society, saying, "The Church community should make efforts for the evangelization of society which is imbued with consumerism." "We are being enslaved by consumerism day by day without recognizing. …… Therefore, we should live out as stewards who care for the need of neighbors and God's creation, by means of a proper way of consumption," he stressed.
The bishop also asked the faithful "to pursue the common good and the love for neighbors, following the teaching of Vatican Council II which calls for the total commitment of our whole person to the spirit of sharing," because "when we bring together our love and care for neighbors, the Church community can render systematic and well-planned help to the needy and marginalized."
* "Day of Life" Celebrated in Seoul Archdiocese
In line with the establishment of the diocesan committee on life in last October, the Archdiocese of Seoul celebrated "Day of Life" on December 4, 2005, on the Human Rights Sunday, to widely proclaim the dignity of life and contribute to the building of the culture of life. The day featured with various events, including "Life Mass," musical concert for life, ceremony of promising organ donation, lectures on life, signature collecting campaign for the abolition of death penalty and opening of a publicity booth for life.
"Life Mass," the focus of the day's events, was presided by the Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk, Archbishop of Seoul, in concelebration of His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan, the Most Rev. Emil Paul Tscherrig, the Apostolic Nuncio to Korea, and two Auxiliary Bishops and priests in Seoul Archdiocese. Besides Catholics, representatives of diplomatic missions to Korea and Catholic lawmakers also attended the Mass.
In particular, the Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul and the chairman of the diocesan committee on life, said that some 1,000 dioceses in 170 countries all over the world had expressed their support by sending letters or messages and the Holy Father also sent a blessing message for the Day of Life. Bishop Yeom said, "The Holy Father blessed all those who are dedicated to the life movement and invoked Mary's intercession for all our efforts to defend the dignity of life."
Archbishop Cheong said in his homily, "In efforts to defend human rights, the Church in our time must give a priority to the respect for the dignity of human life," and stressed "awareness to the dignity of human life is a way of practicing the faith."
In addition, ten celebrities, including singers, movie stars and TV stars, were named as the "honorary publicity ambassadors" for the life movement of the Archdiocese of Seoul.
* Tribunal Opened for the Cause of Beatification of the Servant of God Thomas Choe Yang-eop, Priest
On December 3, 2005, the CBCK Episcopal Special Commission to Promote Beatification and Canonization held the first judicial inquiry for the cause of beatification of the Servant of God Thomas Choe Yang-eop, priest, to investigate the life, virtues and reputation of sanctity of the Servant of God.
The first session was proceeded by reading of the postulator's petition, presentation of nomination letters, reading of the decree of "Introduction of the Cause and Constitution of the Tribunal," oaths of all those concerned, and presentation of materials of evidence.
The Most Rev. Gabriel Chang Bong-hun, Bishop of Cheongju, said, "The opening of tribunal for the cause of beatification of Fr. Choe is a historical event to show that there are also the aspects of soteriology and the faith in the martyrdom-focused history of the Church in Korea. He can be a model for the evangelization of the Catholic Church in Korea in new era."
The Most Rev. Michael Pak Jeong-il, chairman of the Episcopal Special Commission to Promote Beatification and Canonization, said, "Having this joyous and meaningful event, I thank the Congregation for the Causes of Saints for permitting the opening of this tribunal by declaring "nihil obstat" and also remember the dedication of many people who have worked and will work for the cause of beatification of Fr. Choe."
The tribunal will be held on fourth Thursday in every other month at the conference room of the CBCK.