Communications on Oct. 4, 2002
* Catholic Association of Spiritual Theology Established
With the initiative of theologians and pastoral workers in the field of spiritual theology, the Catholic Association of Spiritual Theology was established for mature spirituality of the Catholic Church in Korea.
On September 25, 2002, some 150 theologians and pastoral workers of spiritual theology gathered at the Catholic University of Seoul and officially announced the establishment of the Catholic Association of Spiritual Theology.
"We will humbly work for the glory of God, salvation of humanity and missionary work by concentrating our wisdom and effort on the spiritual apostleship which develops and applies spiritual charisma," the declaration read.
The joint representative Rev. Ignatius Ryou Byeong-il, President of Theology Faculty of Catholic University of Seoul, said, "we decided to set up this Association on the consensus that theologians and pastoral workers of spiritual theology should take the lead in the qualitative development of the Church in Korea in line with the quantitative growth."
The Association will devote itself to studying Christian spirituality and developing inculturation spirituality and plans to hold academic conferences and publish spirituality-related materials. Furthermore, it will open its door to all those interested in spirituality in order to provide the faithful with practical and empirical spirituality, not being limited to the academic dimension.
On the same day, the Association had the first academic conference and sought for suitable values and spirituality for people in modern society that suffers from the conflicts of cultures and values.
* Roles of Catholic Women's Activity in Persecution Period in Korea Delved into at a Symposium
A new opinion was raised that Catholic women's activity in persecution period in Korea was precisely correspondent to that of the early Church community of Apostles.
This opinion was proposed at a symposium titled "The Catholic Church of Korea and Women" which the Research Institute for Korean Church History held at Coste Hall of Myongdong of Seoul on September 28, 2002.
Rev. Joseph Kim Seong-tae who made the keynote address at the symposium classified the activity of Catholic women in Apostolic Churches into five categories; pastoral care of women such as caring for the female patients and education of women; good deeds and charity for neighbors; providing their houses as place for gathering; cooperation in missionary work; devoted effort to serve the ecclesial community as church leaders.
In this regard, Prof. Kim Jeong-suk of Yeongnam University proposed the opinion that the activity of Catholic women in persecution period in Korea had parallels with that of the early Church community of Apostles.
She supported this opinion with concrete evidences.
According to her, Catholic women of those days served for the female patients and orphans and strictly practiced charity in everyday life. In particular, women Catholics such as Kang Wan-suk and Yu Deok-i provided their houses as shelters for missionaries.
Besides, some of them served priests at the altar and were zealous in distributing Church books. Finally, since Shinyu persecution, Korean women Catholics had been devoted for ecclesial community by various activities such as caring for the imprisoned Catholics, hiding and treating priests or the faithful and working for fundraising.
Mr. Bang Sang-geun, researcher of the Research Institute for Korean Church History, pointed out, "as seen in the record of Hwang Sa-young's letter on silk, at that time two thirds of the Catholics were women and their influence on the Church affairs was very important," and explained, "their activity became more systemic around the great persecution in 1866 by organizing four mission districts in Seoul and conducting missionary work enthusiastically."
However, Shin Young-suk, lecturer of Seoul Women's University, pointed out that after the persecution period the roles of women Catholics considerably shrank to the traditional passive role of women due to the demand of the Church to follow the example of St. Mary and conduct obedience and sacrifice.
With the initiative of theologians and pastoral workers in the field of spiritual theology, the Catholic Association of Spiritual Theology was established for mature spirituality of the Catholic Church in Korea.
On September 25, 2002, some 150 theologians and pastoral workers of spiritual theology gathered at the Catholic University of Seoul and officially announced the establishment of the Catholic Association of Spiritual Theology.
"We will humbly work for the glory of God, salvation of humanity and missionary work by concentrating our wisdom and effort on the spiritual apostleship which develops and applies spiritual charisma," the declaration read.
The joint representative Rev. Ignatius Ryou Byeong-il, President of Theology Faculty of Catholic University of Seoul, said, "we decided to set up this Association on the consensus that theologians and pastoral workers of spiritual theology should take the lead in the qualitative development of the Church in Korea in line with the quantitative growth."
The Association will devote itself to studying Christian spirituality and developing inculturation spirituality and plans to hold academic conferences and publish spirituality-related materials. Furthermore, it will open its door to all those interested in spirituality in order to provide the faithful with practical and empirical spirituality, not being limited to the academic dimension.
On the same day, the Association had the first academic conference and sought for suitable values and spirituality for people in modern society that suffers from the conflicts of cultures and values.
* Roles of Catholic Women's Activity in Persecution Period in Korea Delved into at a Symposium
A new opinion was raised that Catholic women's activity in persecution period in Korea was precisely correspondent to that of the early Church community of Apostles.
This opinion was proposed at a symposium titled "The Catholic Church of Korea and Women" which the Research Institute for Korean Church History held at Coste Hall of Myongdong of Seoul on September 28, 2002.
Rev. Joseph Kim Seong-tae who made the keynote address at the symposium classified the activity of Catholic women in Apostolic Churches into five categories; pastoral care of women such as caring for the female patients and education of women; good deeds and charity for neighbors; providing their houses as place for gathering; cooperation in missionary work; devoted effort to serve the ecclesial community as church leaders.
In this regard, Prof. Kim Jeong-suk of Yeongnam University proposed the opinion that the activity of Catholic women in persecution period in Korea had parallels with that of the early Church community of Apostles.
She supported this opinion with concrete evidences.
According to her, Catholic women of those days served for the female patients and orphans and strictly practiced charity in everyday life. In particular, women Catholics such as Kang Wan-suk and Yu Deok-i provided their houses as shelters for missionaries.
Besides, some of them served priests at the altar and were zealous in distributing Church books. Finally, since Shinyu persecution, Korean women Catholics had been devoted for ecclesial community by various activities such as caring for the imprisoned Catholics, hiding and treating priests or the faithful and working for fundraising.
Mr. Bang Sang-geun, researcher of the Research Institute for Korean Church History, pointed out, "as seen in the record of Hwang Sa-young's letter on silk, at that time two thirds of the Catholics were women and their influence on the Church affairs was very important," and explained, "their activity became more systemic around the great persecution in 1866 by organizing four mission districts in Seoul and conducting missionary work enthusiastically."
However, Shin Young-suk, lecturer of Seoul Women's University, pointed out that after the persecution period the roles of women Catholics considerably shrank to the traditional passive role of women due to the demand of the Church to follow the example of St. Mary and conduct obedience and sacrifice.