Communications on May. 3, 2002
* Joint Prayer Meeting of Religions for the Abolition of Death Penalty Held at Buddhists' Temple
On April 24, some Catholic clergy and religious and those of Won Buddhism visited a Buddhists' temple in Seoul named Bongeun-sa and participated in a joint prayer meeting carried out in Buddhist's rite.
This prayer meeting was prepared by "Religions Association for the Abolition of Death Penalty" to promote forgiveness and reconciliation between the condemned and the victims of crimes. This marked the first step since the Association of seven religions decided to hold such prayer meetings in various rites of respective religions.
In the day's "Cheondoje", the Buddhists' rite to guide the soul of the executed to "Geukrak"(land of perfect bliss), the participants from different religions prayed the same wish, that is, "to overcome revenge and punishment and to make the world a better place where human life is respected."
Among the Catholic participants were Rev. Paul Lee Chang-young, Executive Secretary of the Committee for Justice & Peace of the CBCK, and Rev. Thomas Lee Young-wu, President of the Social Correction Apostolate Committee of the Archdiocese of Seoul.
Rev. Paul Lee said in his address, "this prayer meeting was arranged on the sympathy that religionists who have struggled to abolish death penalty now should take the lead in sharing the suffering of victims and their families," and wished that "these meetings will bring consolation to them and eventually advance the world where human life is respected."
The next meeting is to be held on May 22 with the host of Won Buddhism and the Catholic Church will arrange the third meeting scheduled in June.
* The Most Rev. Boniface Choi Succeeded to the Bishop of Inchon
The Most Rev. Boniface Choi Ki-san, Coadjutor Bishop of Inchon, succeeded to the Bishop of Inchon on April 25, succeeding the Most Rev. William J. McNaughton.
His succession took place at Dap-dong St. Paul Cathedral of Inchon with the presence of the Most Rev. Giovanni Battista Morandini, Apostolic Nuncio in Seoul, the Most Rev. William J. McNaughton, other Bishops of the CBCK, priests and some 2,700 Catholics.
After the succession, he exchanged greeting of peace with other Bishops, council members, and lay and religious representatives and heard the vow of obedience from 151 diocesan priests.
He is the first native Bishop in 41-year history of the Diocese of Inchon. With his succession, the Diocese of Inchon expects new phase of the 20-year evangelization plan set up at the Diocesan Synod(closed in November 2000).
The Most Rev. Choi said in his inauguration homily, "since I feel inadequate for the Diocesan Bishop, I will keep in mind the Word, 'apart from me, you can do nothing.'(Jn 15,5) and will sincerely walk together with brother priests for the well-being of all the faithful in the Diocese".
He also promised to address pending issues such as implementation of 20-year evangelization plan and pastoral ministry for laborers considering the characteristic of Inchon as industrial complex, etc.
The Most Rev. William J. McNaughton, M.M., the first Diocesan Bishop of Inchon who laid the basis for development with his 41-year commitment expressed gratitude to all the faithful and wished the Diocese of Inchon could introduce more people to the Mystical Body of Christ. He will depart for Boston, U.S.A. on May 13.
The new Bishop, since appointed as Coadjutor Bishop of Inchon with right of succession in September 1999, has assisted the Diocesan Bishop.
The Diocese of Inchon having 85 parishes and 360,000 Catholics is now full of liveliness with new Diocesan Bishop.
On April 24, some Catholic clergy and religious and those of Won Buddhism visited a Buddhists' temple in Seoul named Bongeun-sa and participated in a joint prayer meeting carried out in Buddhist's rite.
This prayer meeting was prepared by "Religions Association for the Abolition of Death Penalty" to promote forgiveness and reconciliation between the condemned and the victims of crimes. This marked the first step since the Association of seven religions decided to hold such prayer meetings in various rites of respective religions.
In the day's "Cheondoje", the Buddhists' rite to guide the soul of the executed to "Geukrak"(land of perfect bliss), the participants from different religions prayed the same wish, that is, "to overcome revenge and punishment and to make the world a better place where human life is respected."
Among the Catholic participants were Rev. Paul Lee Chang-young, Executive Secretary of the Committee for Justice & Peace of the CBCK, and Rev. Thomas Lee Young-wu, President of the Social Correction Apostolate Committee of the Archdiocese of Seoul.
Rev. Paul Lee said in his address, "this prayer meeting was arranged on the sympathy that religionists who have struggled to abolish death penalty now should take the lead in sharing the suffering of victims and their families," and wished that "these meetings will bring consolation to them and eventually advance the world where human life is respected."
The next meeting is to be held on May 22 with the host of Won Buddhism and the Catholic Church will arrange the third meeting scheduled in June.
* The Most Rev. Boniface Choi Succeeded to the Bishop of Inchon
The Most Rev. Boniface Choi Ki-san, Coadjutor Bishop of Inchon, succeeded to the Bishop of Inchon on April 25, succeeding the Most Rev. William J. McNaughton.
His succession took place at Dap-dong St. Paul Cathedral of Inchon with the presence of the Most Rev. Giovanni Battista Morandini, Apostolic Nuncio in Seoul, the Most Rev. William J. McNaughton, other Bishops of the CBCK, priests and some 2,700 Catholics.
After the succession, he exchanged greeting of peace with other Bishops, council members, and lay and religious representatives and heard the vow of obedience from 151 diocesan priests.
He is the first native Bishop in 41-year history of the Diocese of Inchon. With his succession, the Diocese of Inchon expects new phase of the 20-year evangelization plan set up at the Diocesan Synod(closed in November 2000).
The Most Rev. Choi said in his inauguration homily, "since I feel inadequate for the Diocesan Bishop, I will keep in mind the Word, 'apart from me, you can do nothing.'(Jn 15,5) and will sincerely walk together with brother priests for the well-being of all the faithful in the Diocese".
He also promised to address pending issues such as implementation of 20-year evangelization plan and pastoral ministry for laborers considering the characteristic of Inchon as industrial complex, etc.
The Most Rev. William J. McNaughton, M.M., the first Diocesan Bishop of Inchon who laid the basis for development with his 41-year commitment expressed gratitude to all the faithful and wished the Diocese of Inchon could introduce more people to the Mystical Body of Christ. He will depart for Boston, U.S.A. on May 13.
The new Bishop, since appointed as Coadjutor Bishop of Inchon with right of succession in September 1999, has assisted the Diocesan Bishop.
The Diocese of Inchon having 85 parishes and 360,000 Catholics is now full of liveliness with new Diocesan Bishop.