* Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Daegu Appointed
Pope Benedict XVI appointed the Most Rev. John Choi Young-soo, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Daegu, as the Coadjutor Archbishop of the same archdiocese, the Apostolic Nunciature in Korea announced on February 3, 2006.
Since ordained a bishop in February 2001, he has served as the auxiliary of Daegu, assisting the Most Rev. Paul Ri Moun-hi, Archbishop of Daegu.
The Archbishop Choi said at a press conference, "I will do my best to succeed and develop the tradition of our archdiocese, following the will of the archbishop. In particular, I will mak e efforts for the unity of priests and for the sanctification of the faithful." For this, he called on the priests, religious and the laity in the archdiocese to pray for him.
As the archdiocese is preparing for the 100th anniversary of its constitution in 2011, Archbishop Ri said, "We are trying to make our 100th anniversary the year to make a resolution for r enewal, development and new evangelization. I believe Archbishop Choi will continue this effort with more energy and strength by collecting various opinions in the diocese."
Born in 1942 in Gyeongsan, Archbishop Choi was ordained a priest in 1970 and ordained a bishop in 2001. Before ordained a bishop, he had served as the procurator of the archdiocese, presi dent of Nongong Catholic Hospital, and president of the Catholic Times and of Daegu Pyeonghwa Broadcasting Corporation.
* Archdiocese of Seoul Appoints Auxiliary Bishops as Regional Episcopal Vicars
The Archdiocese of Seoul strengthened the structure of regional episcopal vicars, by appointing the three auxiliary bishops as episcopal vicars for three regions in the archdiocese.
It was made public on February 2, 2006 that the archdiocese appointed the three auxiliary bishops as regional episcopal vicars; the Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung for central area of Seou l; the Most Rev. Lucas Kim Woon-hoe for eastern area of Seoul; and the Most Rev. Basil Cho Kyu-man for western area of Seoul. They were also appointed as the vicar general, the episcopal vicar for social ministry apostolate and the episcopal vicar for t he youth, respectively. Until now, three monsignors have served as the episcopal vicars for the three regions.
The appointment of auxiliary bishops as regional episcopal vicars was one of the practical suggestions from the archdiocesan synod closed in September 2003. It aims at more autonomous and effective pastoral care on the level of parish and region, by establishing closer relationship between priests and bishops, and through this, between the faithful and bishops. "Communion and communication between priests and the Archbishop" is one of t he most important responsibilities entrusted to the episcopal vicars.
The Rev. Benedict Kwak Seong-min, chancellor of the archdiocese, said, "This system intends to improve the effectiveness of the pastoral care of the faithful in the archdiocese. In order that this system can bear fruits, all the faithful, religious and priests in the archdiocese should be united in prayer and cooperate in one heart."