Communication on February 9, 2007
* First Korea Youth Day to Be Held in the Diocese of Cheju in August
The CBCK Committee for Youth Ministry (President: the Most Rev. Basil Cho Kyu-man), which was newly established at the 2006 Autumn general assembly of the CBCK, is to hold the first Korea Youth Day from August 18 to 21, 2007 in the Diocese of Cheju, around the theme "I Pray That They May All Be One" (cf. Jn 17:21).
As the Korean participants to the World Youth Day and the Asian Youth Day had expressed their hope to have this kind of youth meeting also in Korea, the diocesan directors for education or for youth ministry had a meeting in 2005 and decided to actualize this plan.
Through the Korea Youth Day 2007, the young participants aged from 18 to 34 from various dioceses can share their experience in the faith and grow mutual-understanding and unity, while staying together at the Catholic families in the Diocese of Cheju.
In the meantime, the World Youth Day Cross and Icon will arrive at Korea on February 18 and start a journey from February 21 to 25, in the Dioceses of Cheju, Uijeongbu and Seoul. The journey of the WYD Cross and Icon will provide an opportunity for Korean youth faithful to gather around the WYD Cross before the Korea Youth Day 2007.
* St. Ottilien Congregation Prepares to Celebrate the Centennial Anniversary of Its Entering into Korea in 2009
On January 15, 2007, the Order of St. Benedict Waegwan Abbey (Abbot: the Rt. Rev. Simon Peter Ri Hyeong-u) established a preparatory committee to mark the 100th anniversary of the entrance of St. Ottilien Congregation into Korea in 2009 and appointed the Rev. Clemens In Young-gyun as the director of the committee.
Beginning with the establishment of the committee, the Waegwan Abbey will prepare the centennial anniversary with the theme of "Renewal and Adaptation of the Community" and advance toward the anniversary following the three-year steps composed of "The Year of Purification,” "The Year of Sanctification" and "The Year of Thanksgiving and Celebration." In 2007, the year of purification, the Waegwan Abbey will have time of self-reflection by inviting speakers and hearing various voices and expectations and also launch the project of inner renewal, for example, through an in-house opinion survey for the renewal of religious life.
As the first men religious institute in Korea, the St. Ottilien Congregation entered into Korea in 1909 and contributed to letting the religious tradition take roots in Korea.
The Rev. In said, "We will try to make the 100th anniversary a year of grace to reflect on the past 100 years and prepare for the 100 years to come. Moreover, as the centennial is significant also in the history of the religious institutes in Korea, we plan to invite other men religious institutes to celebrate it together."