Communications on Apr. 19, 2002
* Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Sent a Letter to a Catholic Leader of North Korea
On April 6, the Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung(President of the Committee for the Reconciliation of Korean People of the Archdiocese of Seoul) sent a letter to Mr. Samuel Jang Jae-eun, Chairman of the Roman Catholic Association of North Korea, asking to pray for the reconciliation and unity of Korean people and wishing him blessing of God.
In this letter handed to Mr. Jang through visiting delegation of the Committee, the Most Rev. Yeom expressed his joy to be involved in this noble work of uniting Korean people into one, saying, "now, with more patience and prayer, we should bring together our minds and efforts to advance peaceful reunification, which is long-awaited wish of Korean people."
Mr. Jang reportedly was happy to receive the letter from Rev. Joseph Jeong Gwang-ung, Director of the Committee, and expressed appreciation for it, saying, "we are pleased that the Most Rev. Yeom was ordained a bishop and has come to take the presidency of the Committee."
In the meantime, the delegation inspected three noodle factories the Committee operates in North Korea to monitor the situation of production and distribution. They also discussed the question of unifying the distribution channel as the Roman Catholic Association and agreed to do so. So far, the distribution has been carried out through two channels of Ok-ryu noodle factory and the Association. Besides, they visited food distribution center in Pyeong-yang and looked around the situation.
* Japanese Catholics Interested in Korean Model of Basic Ecclesial Community
Thirty-five delegates from the Diocese of Nagasaki, Japan, including Rev. Nakamura Mitsuru and Mr. Nagaro Hiroki made a five-day visit to Korea from April 12, to learn about the Basic Ecclesial Community in the Archdiocese of Seoul.
The interest in Basic Ecclesial Community(BEC) of the Diocese of Nagasaki arose when His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan introduced the movement at 1999 Priests' Mission Congress of Western Japan.
The Diocese of Nagasaki, having some 70,000 Catholics in 72 parishes, is now preparing for implementation of BEC by translating teaching and study materials, which were provided by the Archdiocese of Seoul.
* A Belgian Priest Awarded Ho-am Prize for 40-Year Social Services
Rev. Didier T'Serstevens, director of a social welfare center in the Diocese of Chonju named 'Rainbow Family', was chosen as one of the winners of the 12th Ho-am Prize, offered by the Ho-am Foundation, in virtue of his 40 years of services for farmers and the disabled, regardless of their nationalities and religions. The award ceremony will be held at Ho-am Art Hall in Seoul, on May 23.
Rev. T'Serstevens, born in Brussels, Belgium and ordained a priest in 1958, came to Korea in 1960 for the ministry of the Church in Korea which was devastated due to the Korean War(1950-1953) and served in the Diocese of Chonju. In 1984, he established 'Rainbow Family', social welfare facilities for people with serious disability, and since then he has concentrated himself on taking care of them up to now.
In particular, he made special efforts to promote farmers' life, by initiating reclamation project in early 1960s and establishing a cheese factory for the first time in Korea, which served as basis of self-support of the local elderly.
When this factory was firmly established, he started to look after the disabled with the conviction of 'Bring the disabled hidden in dark into the bright world' and opened 'Rainbow Family' in 1984.
Although he himself suffers from a chronic disease of 'multiple sclerosis', he still cares for 150 disabled people. He said, "I feel greatest delight when our family members get better and leave here for self-supporting life."
Wishing young priests to have more interest in special pastoral ministry including social welfare services, he attributed the glory of this Prize to Ms. Park Nam-sun, who also taking care of the Rainbow Family members just like a mother of a family.
* Cardinal Kim Lectured at Protestant-run Women's University on 'Human Dignity'
His Excellency Stephen Cardinal Kim visited Protestant-run Ewha Women's University and talked to the students about the love of God.
In his lecture titled "God is Love - Human Dignity" in which some 2,700 students participated, Cardinal Kim stressed that the dignity and equality of human being flow from the infinite and unconditional love of God toward us.
He said, "no public authorities can violate the dignity of human being and all social structure would collapse if basic human rights are violated."
He also stressed God's immeasurable love Who embraces all people as His children however poor they are, and asked the students to "try to love ourselves and our neighbors always keeping God in mind, even though we cannot fully respond to such love of God".
Ewha(means "Pear Blossoms") Women's University, founded by a American Methodist missionary in 1886 under the sponsorship of Queen Myeongseong of Choson dinasty, is the first female university of long history in Korea. This is the first time for Cardinal Kim to visit this university.
* The Catholic Times Celebrates 75th Anniversary of Foundation
His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan, the Most Rev. Giovanni Battista Morandini, Apostolic Nuncio in Seoul and other Bishops congratulated the 75th anniversary of foundation of the Catholic Times at the inauguration of history exhibition held in Peace Gallery of Myongdong Cultural Center on April 10, and thanked for its contribution to the Church in Korea and Korean society.
In the congratulatory speech, the Most Rev. Paul Ri, Archbishop of Taegu, evoked the three important stages of the Catholic Times throughout its history and stressed on the important role of laity who founded it in 1927 aimed at being the light and salt to Korean people during the dark period of invasion of Japan.
His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim who worked as President of the Catholic Times for two years from 1964 to 1966 said "although it is not long compared to its 75 years of history, that period was very important for me for it marked my life of priest in terms of my love and commitment to the service of the Church. As it was closing time of Vatican Council II, I tried to use the Catholic Times as much as possible to transmit information of the Universal Church to the Church in Korea."
The Most Rev. Giovanni Battista Morandini, Apostolic Nuncio in Seoul, reminding the special messages of the Pope John Paul II and His Eminence Cardinal Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, said "the Catholic Times is areopagus of new evangelization", and added "I worked in several countries but Korea is one of the rare countries having such high quality of Church newspaper, a wonderful tool to carry out the mission of the Church. I thank particularly journalists who are the soul and voice of the newspaper. The Holy Father said the newspaper was always the voice of new evangelization."“
The Most Rev. Augustine Cheong, President of the Committee for Social Communications, wished the Catholic Times to be faithful to fulfill its prophetic mission and the role to be the salt and light to the Church and the society and to respond to the need of times and to proclaim the Gospel to the world.
On April 6, the Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung(President of the Committee for the Reconciliation of Korean People of the Archdiocese of Seoul) sent a letter to Mr. Samuel Jang Jae-eun, Chairman of the Roman Catholic Association of North Korea, asking to pray for the reconciliation and unity of Korean people and wishing him blessing of God.
In this letter handed to Mr. Jang through visiting delegation of the Committee, the Most Rev. Yeom expressed his joy to be involved in this noble work of uniting Korean people into one, saying, "now, with more patience and prayer, we should bring together our minds and efforts to advance peaceful reunification, which is long-awaited wish of Korean people."
Mr. Jang reportedly was happy to receive the letter from Rev. Joseph Jeong Gwang-ung, Director of the Committee, and expressed appreciation for it, saying, "we are pleased that the Most Rev. Yeom was ordained a bishop and has come to take the presidency of the Committee."
In the meantime, the delegation inspected three noodle factories the Committee operates in North Korea to monitor the situation of production and distribution. They also discussed the question of unifying the distribution channel as the Roman Catholic Association and agreed to do so. So far, the distribution has been carried out through two channels of Ok-ryu noodle factory and the Association. Besides, they visited food distribution center in Pyeong-yang and looked around the situation.
* Japanese Catholics Interested in Korean Model of Basic Ecclesial Community
Thirty-five delegates from the Diocese of Nagasaki, Japan, including Rev. Nakamura Mitsuru and Mr. Nagaro Hiroki made a five-day visit to Korea from April 12, to learn about the Basic Ecclesial Community in the Archdiocese of Seoul.
The interest in Basic Ecclesial Community(BEC) of the Diocese of Nagasaki arose when His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan introduced the movement at 1999 Priests' Mission Congress of Western Japan.
The Diocese of Nagasaki, having some 70,000 Catholics in 72 parishes, is now preparing for implementation of BEC by translating teaching and study materials, which were provided by the Archdiocese of Seoul.
* A Belgian Priest Awarded Ho-am Prize for 40-Year Social Services
Rev. Didier T'Serstevens, director of a social welfare center in the Diocese of Chonju named 'Rainbow Family', was chosen as one of the winners of the 12th Ho-am Prize, offered by the Ho-am Foundation, in virtue of his 40 years of services for farmers and the disabled, regardless of their nationalities and religions. The award ceremony will be held at Ho-am Art Hall in Seoul, on May 23.
Rev. T'Serstevens, born in Brussels, Belgium and ordained a priest in 1958, came to Korea in 1960 for the ministry of the Church in Korea which was devastated due to the Korean War(1950-1953) and served in the Diocese of Chonju. In 1984, he established 'Rainbow Family', social welfare facilities for people with serious disability, and since then he has concentrated himself on taking care of them up to now.
In particular, he made special efforts to promote farmers' life, by initiating reclamation project in early 1960s and establishing a cheese factory for the first time in Korea, which served as basis of self-support of the local elderly.
When this factory was firmly established, he started to look after the disabled with the conviction of 'Bring the disabled hidden in dark into the bright world' and opened 'Rainbow Family' in 1984.
Although he himself suffers from a chronic disease of 'multiple sclerosis', he still cares for 150 disabled people. He said, "I feel greatest delight when our family members get better and leave here for self-supporting life."
Wishing young priests to have more interest in special pastoral ministry including social welfare services, he attributed the glory of this Prize to Ms. Park Nam-sun, who also taking care of the Rainbow Family members just like a mother of a family.
* Cardinal Kim Lectured at Protestant-run Women's University on 'Human Dignity'
His Excellency Stephen Cardinal Kim visited Protestant-run Ewha Women's University and talked to the students about the love of God.
In his lecture titled "God is Love - Human Dignity" in which some 2,700 students participated, Cardinal Kim stressed that the dignity and equality of human being flow from the infinite and unconditional love of God toward us.
He said, "no public authorities can violate the dignity of human being and all social structure would collapse if basic human rights are violated."
He also stressed God's immeasurable love Who embraces all people as His children however poor they are, and asked the students to "try to love ourselves and our neighbors always keeping God in mind, even though we cannot fully respond to such love of God".
Ewha(means "Pear Blossoms") Women's University, founded by a American Methodist missionary in 1886 under the sponsorship of Queen Myeongseong of Choson dinasty, is the first female university of long history in Korea. This is the first time for Cardinal Kim to visit this university.
* The Catholic Times Celebrates 75th Anniversary of Foundation
His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan, the Most Rev. Giovanni Battista Morandini, Apostolic Nuncio in Seoul and other Bishops congratulated the 75th anniversary of foundation of the Catholic Times at the inauguration of history exhibition held in Peace Gallery of Myongdong Cultural Center on April 10, and thanked for its contribution to the Church in Korea and Korean society.
In the congratulatory speech, the Most Rev. Paul Ri, Archbishop of Taegu, evoked the three important stages of the Catholic Times throughout its history and stressed on the important role of laity who founded it in 1927 aimed at being the light and salt to Korean people during the dark period of invasion of Japan.
His Eminence Stephen Cardinal Kim who worked as President of the Catholic Times for two years from 1964 to 1966 said "although it is not long compared to its 75 years of history, that period was very important for me for it marked my life of priest in terms of my love and commitment to the service of the Church. As it was closing time of Vatican Council II, I tried to use the Catholic Times as much as possible to transmit information of the Universal Church to the Church in Korea."
The Most Rev. Giovanni Battista Morandini, Apostolic Nuncio in Seoul, reminding the special messages of the Pope John Paul II and His Eminence Cardinal Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, said "the Catholic Times is areopagus of new evangelization", and added "I worked in several countries but Korea is one of the rare countries having such high quality of Church newspaper, a wonderful tool to carry out the mission of the Church. I thank particularly journalists who are the soul and voice of the newspaper. The Holy Father said the newspaper was always the voice of new evangelization."“
The Most Rev. Augustine Cheong, President of the Committee for Social Communications, wished the Catholic Times to be faithful to fulfill its prophetic mission and the role to be the salt and light to the Church and the society and to respond to the need of times and to proclaim the Gospel to the world.