CBCK News
2009-08-27 11:03
6,704
Communication on March 16, 2007
* Thanksgiving Mass for the 30th Anniversary of the Inauguration of Marriage Encounter of Korea

 

On March 11, 2007, Marriage Encounter of Korea (ME Korea, Directors: Mr. Hugo Lee Yun-sik & Mrs. Angella Jo Yun-suk, Spiritual Priest: Rev. Joseph Kim Ung-tae) celebrated the thanksgiving Mass for the 30th anniversary of its inauguration at St. Ignatius House of Sogang University.

 

Marriage Encounter of Korea (ME Korea) was initiated in February 1976 by three Korean couples and a Maryknoll priest who held an English 'ME Weekend'. On March 11, 1977, the Korean 'ME Weekend' was held for the first time. Since then, over past 30 years, around half of all the ME members (73,000 married couples, 1,600 religious and 1,200 priests) participated in 2,962 weekend meetings.

 

The Mass was presided over by His Eminence Nicholas Cardinal Cheong Jinsuk, Archbishop of Seoul, with concelebration by 11 priests who represented each diocesan ME. The attendance of 190 married couples was also remarkable.

 

In his homily, Cardinal Cheong said, "I congratulate ME Korea on its growth from a small mustard seed to a big tree, and appreciate its contribution to the announcement of the true meaning of marriage and its continuous and various services." In addition, he hoped that ME Korea would continue to bring a light of love within and outside the Church.

 

During the Mass, Cardinal Cheong awarded 'blessed testimonials of family apostolate' to 16 married couples representing ME Korea and each diocesan ME, and asked them to make more efforts for the evangelization of family.

 

After the Mass, the ceremony for 'transcribing the Bible in one heart' of ME families on a nationwide scale and a presentation of a commemorative song of its 30th anniversary, 'Being a light of life and love', followed.