CBCK News
2009-08-27 10:51
7,647
Communication on July 7, 2006

* The First Patristics Seminar for Seminarians 


The Korean Patristics Society (President: Rt. Rev. Abbot Simon Petro Ri Hyong-u, OSB) held the first Patristics Seminar for seminarians, with the theme "De Gratia et Libero Arbitrio by St. Augustinus", at Aaron Retreat House in Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do on June 26, 2006.  



It was an opportunity for seminarians to be more aware of the lives and teachings of the Church Fathers. In this seminar, 30 seminarians from Catholic Universities of
Kwangju , Daejeon, Pusan and Suwon and around 20 members of the Korean Patristics Society participated and shared their knowledge and faith one another.



Lee Bong-chun, a deacon of the Suwon Catholic University, made a presentation on the subject of "Consideration of the Doctrine of Grace based on De Gratia et Libero Arbitrio of St. Augustinus: Focusing on the Significance of 'New Creature'". He asserted, "The harmony between God's grace and man's free will is nothing but 'new creation of human nature'. The only way for the harmony is made through Jesus Christ, true God and true man."


Lee Gyeong-hun, a seminarian of the Catholic University of Daejeon, commented, "Human nature is given to all human beings. So the grace bestowed through the faith in Jesus Christ could not be regarded exclusively as human nature" 


The Rev. Vincent Choe Wono, undersecretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea and a member of the Korean Patristics Society, mentioned, "This first Patristics Seminar for seminarians is an epoch-making event and a successful example for the development of patristics in Korea." and added, "I hope that, inspired by the spirit and intelligence of Church Fathers, many seminarians become good pastors."



The Korean Patristics Society decided to hold annually the patristic seminar for seminarians. The next seminar is going to be held at St. J. Hasang Education Center of Daejeon diocese on
June 25, 2007.