* The Third Annual Nationwide Catholic Social Welfare Congress

The Third Annual Nationwide Catholic Social Welfare Congress was held with the theme of “They may be one just as we are: Communion, Sharing and Maturity” in Hoengseong, Gangwondo, from September 3 to 5, 2008. Some 350 from the CBCK Committee for “Caritas Corea” and the Social Welfare Departments in 15 dioceses participated in the congress.

In the opening Mass, the Most Rev. Lazzaro You Heung-sik, President of the CBCK Committee for "Caritas Corea" said, “I hope that Catholic social welfare will be a precious place to bear witness of the living God.” Then he asked all Caritas workers to commit themselves to testifying to the spirit of the Gospel and becoming salt and light of the world.

In this congress, Rev. Francisco Oh Kyeong-hwan (emeritus professor of Incheon Catholic University) gave a lecture on the subject of “Identity of Catholic Social Welfare and Attitude of the Workers in This Area.” Rev. Pius Cho Jae-hyeon (director of ‘HaetSal’(sunlight), a Catholic Youth Association) also lectured on “Spirituality of the Youth and Taize Prayer.”

There were also workshops and a cultural performance. Particularly during the workshops, the participants had a time to discuss various urgent issues in this area: the response of the organizations of Catholic social welfare to the new policy of aged man long-term care insurance service; the strategy to face the changing situation of social welfare; social teachings of the Church and spirituality of social welfare; the more effective ways to promote Catholic social welfare activities in today’s changing context.