Communications on Jan. 25, 2002
* Active Participation in Foreign Relief is Urged
On the occasion of the 2002 Caritas Coreana Sunday, January 27, the Most Rev. Gabriel Chang issued a message entitled "Let's Send Love to Afghan Refugees and the Hungry People in the World" and urged Korean Catholics to share their love to give them hope.
He appealed all Korean Catholics to show positive gesture to foreign aid while the international concerns for critical starvation in the world and refugee problems provoked by Afghan are increasing.
"Emergence aid is requested for millions of people in starvation and refugees who suffer from the consequence of September 11 tragic terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C. last year and the retaliation war of the U.S.A. against Afghanistan. It was thanks to the support of the Universal Church that the Church in Korea could construct many churches and make economic growth after the Korean War. So, it is our turn to help people in Afghanistan, Africa, Asia and Latin America who suffer from starvation, deprivation, poverty and war",the message read.
The message pointed out that the participation rate of Korean Catholics to foreign relief aid has been slow down in recent years compared to the past.
According to the statistics of the Caritas Coreana, in 1993 the second collection income of the Caritas Coreana Sunday amounted to around 6 billion won but that of 2001 amounted only to 8.5 billion won.
During 9 years the Catholic Church in Korea contributed total sum of 9,252,000,000 won to 309 charity organizations.
This makes average of 10 billion won of annual contribution and when converted it into the number of Catholics, the sum of contribution of each Korean Catholic comes to 260 won.
* Exchange between Churches in Korea and Japan to Take New Phase
The Most Rev. Augustine Cheong, Bishop of Pusan, decided to appoint two of his priests to the Diocese of Hiroshima, Japan, at the priests transfer in January. It is the first time that the Church in Korea send Korean priests to Japan for the pastoral ministry of local Japanese people. So far, the Church in Korea send priests for pastoral care of Korean Catholics in abroad or for foreign mission.
In August 2001, at the preparatory meeting of the celebration of the first anniversary of the peace pact between the Diocese of Pusan and the Diocese of Hiroshima the Most Rev. Misue Atzumi, Bishop of Hiroshima, asked the Most Rev. Cheong to send priests to his Diocese or pastoral ministry of Japanese local Catholics. Also, he made further request to send seminarians to study theology in Japan and be ordained as diocesan priests of the Diocese of Hiroshima.
In August 2000, the Diocese of Pusan established sisterhood relationships with the Diocese of Hiroshima, Japan and the Diocese of Anpanta, the Philippines.
In August 2001, these three Dioceses had first anniversary celebration in Busan.
Japan has 16 dioceses and around 400,000 Catholics. The Diocese of Hiroshima has 41 parishes and some 21,200 Catholics and 23 priests.
"Sending Korean priests to the Diocese of Hiroshima may help the difficult pastoral situation of our Sister Church due to the lack of priests. Also we expect this will witness the unity in Christ of our two Churches and play an important role in building up positive relationship between the two countries. Our expectation from it is great", the Most Rev. Cheong said.
* The Asking of the Archbishop of Seoul to the Lawyers
The Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong, Archbishop of Seoul, asked those in judicial world to devote themselves to social justice and protection of human rights, expressing concern over the recent scandalous resignation of Prosecutor General, at the New Year's Mass for the Catholic Lawyers' Association(Pres.: Mr. Silvester Kim, Jin-seok) held in Seoul, on January 16.
"If lawyers had reflected on themselves as the teachings of Confucius who said 'A man of virtue reflects on himself three times a day', they could have avoided current situation of disgrace", he said.
He also emphasized that lawyers first of all should bear proper virtues as social leaders and spirit of self-sacrifice. Especially, he asked the Catholic lawyers to "recognize the mission given by God to work for the people and try to be genuine Christians by always keeping in mind the will of God in your work, that is, interpreting and administering laws". He invited the lawyers to pray every day to reflect on themselves before God.
Some 400 former and active lawyers attended the Mass, arranged by the Catholic Lawyers' Association, and had time for thinking about their mission and role as Catholics.
* 115 Servants of God
The "Committee for Selection of 'Servants of God'", aimed at integrated promotion of beatification and canonization of Korean Martyrs, held the third meeting in Wanju, Jeollabuk-do from Jan. 15-16, and selected 115 Servant of God whose qualification as such is beyond controversy and certainty of martyrdom is confirmed.
The Committee members including the Rev. Peter Ryu, Han-young (Director of Yang-eop Church History Institute) selected Servants of God on the basis of the lists submitted by each Diocese, research result of the Committee for Promotion of Beatification and Canonization and the list drawn up by the Committee for Celebration of 200th Anniversary of the Church in Korea in 1984.
The Committee, among 215 persons discussed as candidates at first, selected 115 including Jeong Yag-jong, Gwon Sang-yeon and the Rev. Zhou Mun-mo as martyrs and the Rev. Thomas Choi Yang-eop and Kim Bum-u as 'witnesses'. The Committee will present the list to the "Episcopal Special Commission for Beatification and Canonization" to be held in March for approval.
Other 29 persons whose Christian names are imperfect and certainty of martyrdom is uncertain were reserved for reexamination, and 71 persons were excluded because the certainty of their martyrdom was not proved.
The Most Rev. Michael Pak, Chairman of the Episcopal Special Commission for Beatification and Canonization, who presided over the meeting, said, "for effective process of beatification and canonization, veneration and devotion to martyrs should be promoted", and then invited pastors and the faithful "to pray and visit to the sanctuary of martyrs".
* Ecumenical Events Held during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
On the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity(Jan. 18-25), clergymen of the Catholic, Protestant, Anglican and Lutheran Churches in Korea had joint event at Catholic-run Sogang University on January 21, under freezing cold weather.
This year, the Week was characteristically featured with a soccer game of clergymen as well as the annual joint prayer meeting for Christian unity. The Committee for Promoting Christian Unity & Interreligious Dialogue of the CBCK, the National Council of Churches in Korea, the Orthodox Church in Korea and the Lutheran Church in Korea prepared this ecumenical event.
Playing soccer game together on the grounds covered with snow, the priests and ministers of each denomination could experience the feeling of being brothers. To them, to win or lose game did not matter at all.
After soccer game, with the theme of "For with you is the fountain of life"(Ps 35,10), prayer meeting went on with Opening, Invocation of the Holy Spirit, Prayer of Repentance, Reading of the Word, Confession of Faith, Exchange of the Sign of Peace and Blessing. The representatives of each denomination, holding candles for the unity of Churches in hands, renewed their pledge "to love and be united each other following the will of the Lord", escaping from narrow and arrogant mind.
Some 200 clergymen and believers of different faith participated in the event, including the Most Rev. Giovanni Battista Morandini, Apostolic Nuncio in Korea, the Most Rev. Boniface Choi, President of Committee for Promoting Christian Unity & Interreligious Dialogue, and the Rev. John Kim, Secretary General of the CBCK.
The Most Rev. Giovanni Battista Morandini said in his congratulatory message, "the prayer that 'they may all be one, Father,' reflects our urgent cry", and called the participants to live as witnesses of peace and reconciliation.
In addition to the soccer game, a joint choir composed of Catholic and Protestant seminarians presented beautiful songs, suggesting bright future toward the Christian unity.
* Pilgrimage to Historic Sites of Korean Martyr Augustine Jeong Yak-jong Arranged
To celebrate Augustine Jeong Yak-jong being selected as "This Month's Cultural Figure" for January by the Ministry of Culture & Tourism of the Korean Government, a pilgrimage to his historic sites was arranged on January 20, by the Korean Martyrs Exaltation Committee of Seoul Archdiocese(Director: Rev. Peter Bae Gap-jin), the Ministry of Culture & Tourism, Namyangju-si, and his descendants.
Some 450 believers and his descendants participated in the pilgrimage, from Myeongdong Cathedral of Seoul to Cheonjinam sanctuary where he was buried, via Jeoldusan sanctuary, Seosomun sanctuary where he martyred, and Majae, his birthplace. The pilgrimage offered the participants good opportunity to learn about life, thoughts and faith of Jeong Yak-jong, one of the martyrs of Sinyu Persecution in 1801 and great leader of the nascent Korean Catholic community.
During Mass celebrated at Majae, the Rev. Tae-gon Andrew Kim, Director of Honam Catholic Church History Research Institute, said in his homily, "Jeong taught people that God is our 'Great Parents', applying Confucian virtue of filial piety, and that martyrdom is definitive witness of this virtue and natural response to the grace given by God. Such a view of theology is unprecedentedly unique in the history of theology."
"Today's pilgrimage was not only a journey to meditate his life, death and thoughts but also time for dedication to pledge to take lead in realizing the Kingdom of God which he dreamt of, by reviving his faith in our lives", said the Rev. Peter Bae Gap-jin, who generally managed the event.
On the occasion of the 2002 Caritas Coreana Sunday, January 27, the Most Rev. Gabriel Chang issued a message entitled "Let's Send Love to Afghan Refugees and the Hungry People in the World" and urged Korean Catholics to share their love to give them hope.
He appealed all Korean Catholics to show positive gesture to foreign aid while the international concerns for critical starvation in the world and refugee problems provoked by Afghan are increasing.
"Emergence aid is requested for millions of people in starvation and refugees who suffer from the consequence of September 11 tragic terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C. last year and the retaliation war of the U.S.A. against Afghanistan. It was thanks to the support of the Universal Church that the Church in Korea could construct many churches and make economic growth after the Korean War. So, it is our turn to help people in Afghanistan, Africa, Asia and Latin America who suffer from starvation, deprivation, poverty and war",the message read.
The message pointed out that the participation rate of Korean Catholics to foreign relief aid has been slow down in recent years compared to the past.
According to the statistics of the Caritas Coreana, in 1993 the second collection income of the Caritas Coreana Sunday amounted to around 6 billion won but that of 2001 amounted only to 8.5 billion won.
During 9 years the Catholic Church in Korea contributed total sum of 9,252,000,000 won to 309 charity organizations.
This makes average of 10 billion won of annual contribution and when converted it into the number of Catholics, the sum of contribution of each Korean Catholic comes to 260 won.
* Exchange between Churches in Korea and Japan to Take New Phase
The Most Rev. Augustine Cheong, Bishop of Pusan, decided to appoint two of his priests to the Diocese of Hiroshima, Japan, at the priests transfer in January. It is the first time that the Church in Korea send Korean priests to Japan for the pastoral ministry of local Japanese people. So far, the Church in Korea send priests for pastoral care of Korean Catholics in abroad or for foreign mission.
In August 2001, at the preparatory meeting of the celebration of the first anniversary of the peace pact between the Diocese of Pusan and the Diocese of Hiroshima the Most Rev. Misue Atzumi, Bishop of Hiroshima, asked the Most Rev. Cheong to send priests to his Diocese or pastoral ministry of Japanese local Catholics. Also, he made further request to send seminarians to study theology in Japan and be ordained as diocesan priests of the Diocese of Hiroshima.
In August 2000, the Diocese of Pusan established sisterhood relationships with the Diocese of Hiroshima, Japan and the Diocese of Anpanta, the Philippines.
In August 2001, these three Dioceses had first anniversary celebration in Busan.
Japan has 16 dioceses and around 400,000 Catholics. The Diocese of Hiroshima has 41 parishes and some 21,200 Catholics and 23 priests.
"Sending Korean priests to the Diocese of Hiroshima may help the difficult pastoral situation of our Sister Church due to the lack of priests. Also we expect this will witness the unity in Christ of our two Churches and play an important role in building up positive relationship between the two countries. Our expectation from it is great", the Most Rev. Cheong said.
* The Asking of the Archbishop of Seoul to the Lawyers
The Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong, Archbishop of Seoul, asked those in judicial world to devote themselves to social justice and protection of human rights, expressing concern over the recent scandalous resignation of Prosecutor General, at the New Year's Mass for the Catholic Lawyers' Association(Pres.: Mr. Silvester Kim, Jin-seok) held in Seoul, on January 16.
"If lawyers had reflected on themselves as the teachings of Confucius who said 'A man of virtue reflects on himself three times a day', they could have avoided current situation of disgrace", he said.
He also emphasized that lawyers first of all should bear proper virtues as social leaders and spirit of self-sacrifice. Especially, he asked the Catholic lawyers to "recognize the mission given by God to work for the people and try to be genuine Christians by always keeping in mind the will of God in your work, that is, interpreting and administering laws". He invited the lawyers to pray every day to reflect on themselves before God.
Some 400 former and active lawyers attended the Mass, arranged by the Catholic Lawyers' Association, and had time for thinking about their mission and role as Catholics.
* 115 Servants of God
The "Committee for Selection of 'Servants of God'", aimed at integrated promotion of beatification and canonization of Korean Martyrs, held the third meeting in Wanju, Jeollabuk-do from Jan. 15-16, and selected 115 Servant of God whose qualification as such is beyond controversy and certainty of martyrdom is confirmed.
The Committee members including the Rev. Peter Ryu, Han-young (Director of Yang-eop Church History Institute) selected Servants of God on the basis of the lists submitted by each Diocese, research result of the Committee for Promotion of Beatification and Canonization and the list drawn up by the Committee for Celebration of 200th Anniversary of the Church in Korea in 1984.
The Committee, among 215 persons discussed as candidates at first, selected 115 including Jeong Yag-jong, Gwon Sang-yeon and the Rev. Zhou Mun-mo as martyrs and the Rev. Thomas Choi Yang-eop and Kim Bum-u as 'witnesses'. The Committee will present the list to the "Episcopal Special Commission for Beatification and Canonization" to be held in March for approval.
Other 29 persons whose Christian names are imperfect and certainty of martyrdom is uncertain were reserved for reexamination, and 71 persons were excluded because the certainty of their martyrdom was not proved.
The Most Rev. Michael Pak, Chairman of the Episcopal Special Commission for Beatification and Canonization, who presided over the meeting, said, "for effective process of beatification and canonization, veneration and devotion to martyrs should be promoted", and then invited pastors and the faithful "to pray and visit to the sanctuary of martyrs".
* Ecumenical Events Held during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
On the occasion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity(Jan. 18-25), clergymen of the Catholic, Protestant, Anglican and Lutheran Churches in Korea had joint event at Catholic-run Sogang University on January 21, under freezing cold weather.
This year, the Week was characteristically featured with a soccer game of clergymen as well as the annual joint prayer meeting for Christian unity. The Committee for Promoting Christian Unity & Interreligious Dialogue of the CBCK, the National Council of Churches in Korea, the Orthodox Church in Korea and the Lutheran Church in Korea prepared this ecumenical event.
Playing soccer game together on the grounds covered with snow, the priests and ministers of each denomination could experience the feeling of being brothers. To them, to win or lose game did not matter at all.
After soccer game, with the theme of "For with you is the fountain of life"(Ps 35,10), prayer meeting went on with Opening, Invocation of the Holy Spirit, Prayer of Repentance, Reading of the Word, Confession of Faith, Exchange of the Sign of Peace and Blessing. The representatives of each denomination, holding candles for the unity of Churches in hands, renewed their pledge "to love and be united each other following the will of the Lord", escaping from narrow and arrogant mind.
Some 200 clergymen and believers of different faith participated in the event, including the Most Rev. Giovanni Battista Morandini, Apostolic Nuncio in Korea, the Most Rev. Boniface Choi, President of Committee for Promoting Christian Unity & Interreligious Dialogue, and the Rev. John Kim, Secretary General of the CBCK.
The Most Rev. Giovanni Battista Morandini said in his congratulatory message, "the prayer that 'they may all be one, Father,' reflects our urgent cry", and called the participants to live as witnesses of peace and reconciliation.
In addition to the soccer game, a joint choir composed of Catholic and Protestant seminarians presented beautiful songs, suggesting bright future toward the Christian unity.
* Pilgrimage to Historic Sites of Korean Martyr Augustine Jeong Yak-jong Arranged
To celebrate Augustine Jeong Yak-jong being selected as "This Month's Cultural Figure" for January by the Ministry of Culture & Tourism of the Korean Government, a pilgrimage to his historic sites was arranged on January 20, by the Korean Martyrs Exaltation Committee of Seoul Archdiocese(Director: Rev. Peter Bae Gap-jin), the Ministry of Culture & Tourism, Namyangju-si, and his descendants.
Some 450 believers and his descendants participated in the pilgrimage, from Myeongdong Cathedral of Seoul to Cheonjinam sanctuary where he was buried, via Jeoldusan sanctuary, Seosomun sanctuary where he martyred, and Majae, his birthplace. The pilgrimage offered the participants good opportunity to learn about life, thoughts and faith of Jeong Yak-jong, one of the martyrs of Sinyu Persecution in 1801 and great leader of the nascent Korean Catholic community.
During Mass celebrated at Majae, the Rev. Tae-gon Andrew Kim, Director of Honam Catholic Church History Research Institute, said in his homily, "Jeong taught people that God is our 'Great Parents', applying Confucian virtue of filial piety, and that martyrdom is definitive witness of this virtue and natural response to the grace given by God. Such a view of theology is unprecedentedly unique in the history of theology."
"Today's pilgrimage was not only a journey to meditate his life, death and thoughts but also time for dedication to pledge to take lead in realizing the Kingdom of God which he dreamt of, by reviving his faith in our lives", said the Rev. Peter Bae Gap-jin, who generally managed the event.