Action Plans for the Poor during the Lenten Season
On January 23, 2008, the Most Rev. Lazzaro You heung-sik, President of the CBCK Committee for “Caritas Corea” issued a letter urging the faithful to share what they have with others, especially those who are poor, in accordance with the Message of Lent 2008 of H.H. Pope Benedict XVI.
In this letter, Bishop Lazzaro You proposed four action plans as follows:
1) Teaching the faithful to awaken their concern for the poor in dioceses and parishes.
2) Posting the translated 2008 Lenten Message of our Holy Father Benedict XVI 2008 and related poster on the parish bulletin board before the Ash Wednesday, February 6, 2008.
3) Inviting the faithful to observe the Day of Fast for Charity on Friday, March 14, 2008.
4) Promoting the Collection for Charity on Palm Sunday, March 16, 2008.
Starting Up the Archdiocesan Committee for Social Communication of Seoul
The Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul, presided over the Mass for the establishment of the Archdiocesan Committee for Social Communication of Seoul at the Coste Hall of the Myeongdong Cathedral of Seoul on January 26, 2008.
In his homily, Bishop Andrew Yeom, President of the Archdiocesan Committee for Social Communication of Seoul, said, “From now on, the Archdiocesan Committee for Social Communication of Seoul will help the communicators of mass media with their faith life and the proclamation of the Gospel, as the Archdiocese of Seoul has been keenly aware of the insufficient pastoral care for them and the inappropriate deployment of human resources.” And he asked them “to remember the responsibility to build a sound society, defending and proclaiming the truth.”
Besides the committee, three new related bodies held their inaugural meetings: Catholic Journalist Association (CJA), Catholic Union of the Press (UCIP)/Seoul, and Catholic Association for Communication (SIGNIS)/Seoul. The CJA is the de facto blanket organization covering all three bodies. Mr. Kim Hong, Vice President of Korean Broadcasting System and first president of the CJA, said, “We, Catholic journalists, have already set up and run a Catholic Journalist Club (CJC) for 40 years. But it is a very meaningful moment for us to see the renewal of the CJC/Seoul with the establishment of the CJA.” With the inaugural declaration the participating members pledged to:
- fulfill the mission to proclaim the Gospel following the example of Jesus Christ.
- promote the understanding of the public about the Christianity in the field of social communication.
- cooperate in the communion and solidarity of the Catholic faithful.