Communication on January 25, 2008
* Message for Overseas Aid Sunday 2008
For the Overseas Aid Sunday on January 27, 2008, the Most Rev. Lazzaro You Heung-sik, President of the CBCK Committee for 'Caritas Corea', issued a message with the theme of "While we have the opportunity, let us do good to all" (Gal 6:10).
In his message, Bishop Lazzaro You asked the faithful, as citizens of the world and inhabitants of the global village, to express the service of charity towards the hungry, the needy, and those without hope of a better future.
He observed that "today about a billion of the world population live in absolute poverty, and every year more than eight million people die in poverty. Under a showy slogan of development and progress, dark mist cast long shadow."
Bishop Lazzaro You pointed out, "Lamentably, in these days Korea has not significantly contributed to the struggle against poverty in the global village." Then he added, "Now, it is time for the Catholic faithful to actively fulfill their responsibility for the neighbours."
He also said, "On the Ad Limina Apostolorum of Korean Bishops, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged their continuous initiatives and practical gestures of reconciliation undertaken for the well-being of North Koreans. This derives from an ancient tradition of the Church: to share burdens of those in suffering, whether near you or far off from you; to give them what is theirs, not ours."
* 2008 Mystery of Life Award Ceremony
The second Mystery of Life Award Ceremony was held at Coste Hall of Myeongdong Cathedral of Seoul on January 17, 2008. This award was granted by the Seoul Archdiocesan Committee for Life. In this ceremony, there were some 500 attendants including His Eminence Nicholas Cardinal Cheong Jinsuk, Archbishop of Seoul, the Most Rev. Emil Paul Tscherrig, Apostolic Nuncio to Korea, and Mr. Peter Rowe, Australian Ambassador to Korea.
His Eminence Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, Australia, was awarded the Grand Prix, in recognition of his efforts to establish the Pontifical Institute John Paul II for studies on marriage and family, and of his commitments to pro-life movements through lots of writings and lectures.
The award in the Life Science category went to Prof. Sung Young-chul (Department of Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Korea), in recognition of his research in curing patients with incurable diseases and improving the quality of their lives.
In the category of humanistics, the Research Institute for Life and Culture (Director: Rev. Dominic U Jae-myeong) was given an award because of its distinguished service to the pro-life movement on an interreligious and interdisciplinary level, creating a new term 'ecoculture'.
The Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, President of the Seoul Archdiocesan Committee for Life, said, "The Church is convinced that she is in her nature called to protect the dignity of human life. I appreciate you, three awardees, on your important services to build the culture of life against the culture of death, and also expect your constant efforts in this area."
The Most Rev. Basil Cho Kyu-man, President of the award committee, said, "The award committee did its best to select candidates who can be good examples to others in respecting life and dedicating themselves to life. It is not too much to reiterate how valuable the human life is."