Communications on Dec. 20, 2002
* This Year, Episcopal Ordinations and Installations Took Place
This year the Catholic Church in Korea had a joy to welcome three new bishops and three diocesan bishops. Beginning with the episcopal ordination of the Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung and the Most Rev. Joseph Lee Han-taek as Auxiliary Bishops of Seoul in January, the Most Rev. Boniface Choi Ki-san was succeeded to the Bishop of Inchon in April and the Most Rev. Peter Kang U-il was installed the Bishop of Cheju in October, and the Most Rev. Francis Xavier Ahn Myong-ok as the Bishop of Masan in November 11. Besides, the Most Rev. Kim Lucas Woon-hoe was ordained as Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul in November 21.
On the other hand, on the occasion of the 40 anniversary of the establishment of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church in Korea, she had honor to have the visit of high prelates of the Apostolic See. Cardinal Cresecenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and Cardinal Francis Arinze, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue came to Korea in July and September, respectively. The two prelates visited and looked around the Church in Korea and were given deep impression by her dynamic energy strong enough to contribute to the evangelization in the Church in Asia and universal Church.
* Seven Religions to Launch Movement for the Abolition of the Mother and Child Health Law
The CBCK(Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea) decided to take the initiative in the movement for the abolition of the Mother and Child Health Law from February 2003 in solidarity with other religions and civic groups. The law, established on February 8, 1973, limitedly allows abortions within 28 weeks from the conception.
Rev. Casimir Song Yul-sup, new Secretary General of the CBCK, Rev. Paul Lee Chang-young, Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs, and the executive secretaries of the relevant national committees such as the Committee for Family Pastoral Ministry, the Committee for Justice & Peace, the Committee for Promoting Christian Unity & Interreligious Dialogue, the Committee for Women and the Committee for Social Communications had an ad hoc meeting on December 11 and decided to develop a four-step movement, that is, prayer, education, publicity and implementation.
According to the decisions, the relevant committees of the CBCK and seven religions will hold a joint seminar with the theme of "Why the Abortion is a Murder?" at the conference room of the National Assembly Library in February 2003 and will issue a joint statement in the name of the CBCK and seven religions.
Besides, they decided to make known the unconstitutional character of the law and the dignity of human life through mass media and to invite people to the movement of life through various means, for example, street concerts or one-person demonstrations.
Along with this, on February 7, 2003, a day before the 30th anniversary of the law, they will stage a candlelight street protest and celebrate Mass to console the souls of the unborn babies. Also the National Federation of Catholic Physicians' Guilds of Korea and other conscientious doctors will issue a "declaration of conscience" in this regard and in the monthly meeting of the seven religions for the abolition of the death penalty the participants will recite the prayer for the aborted lives.
* Volunteer Sister at Joseph Clinic Receives Medal for Merit
On December 13, the Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul, awarded Medal for Merit to Sister Susan Baldus, M.M. for her 40 years of dedication for the handicapped persons and their rehabilitation.
"While I was working at the Joseph Clinic I felt that God was among us. I thank all patients and co-volunteers including medical doctors who allowed me this opportunity. Working as volunteer with them was an honor for me. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude," Sr. Susan said.
Sr. Susan Baldus came to Korea in 1964 and since then she dedicated her life for the handicapped persons and their rehabilitation at Maryknoll Hospital in Busan and served as volunteer in Inchon and Seoul. In 1983 she opened Jisan Rehabilitation Center in Busan for the poor handicapped persons who cannot afford the medical treatment.
She has worked at the Joseph Clinic from 1995 as volunteer physical therapist. She returned for good to the United States to assist elderly Sister at Maryknoll Sisters' Mother House in New York on December 17.
This year the Catholic Church in Korea had a joy to welcome three new bishops and three diocesan bishops. Beginning with the episcopal ordination of the Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung and the Most Rev. Joseph Lee Han-taek as Auxiliary Bishops of Seoul in January, the Most Rev. Boniface Choi Ki-san was succeeded to the Bishop of Inchon in April and the Most Rev. Peter Kang U-il was installed the Bishop of Cheju in October, and the Most Rev. Francis Xavier Ahn Myong-ok as the Bishop of Masan in November 11. Besides, the Most Rev. Kim Lucas Woon-hoe was ordained as Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul in November 21.
On the other hand, on the occasion of the 40 anniversary of the establishment of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church in Korea, she had honor to have the visit of high prelates of the Apostolic See. Cardinal Cresecenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and Cardinal Francis Arinze, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue came to Korea in July and September, respectively. The two prelates visited and looked around the Church in Korea and were given deep impression by her dynamic energy strong enough to contribute to the evangelization in the Church in Asia and universal Church.
* Seven Religions to Launch Movement for the Abolition of the Mother and Child Health Law
The CBCK(Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea) decided to take the initiative in the movement for the abolition of the Mother and Child Health Law from February 2003 in solidarity with other religions and civic groups. The law, established on February 8, 1973, limitedly allows abortions within 28 weeks from the conception.
Rev. Casimir Song Yul-sup, new Secretary General of the CBCK, Rev. Paul Lee Chang-young, Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs, and the executive secretaries of the relevant national committees such as the Committee for Family Pastoral Ministry, the Committee for Justice & Peace, the Committee for Promoting Christian Unity & Interreligious Dialogue, the Committee for Women and the Committee for Social Communications had an ad hoc meeting on December 11 and decided to develop a four-step movement, that is, prayer, education, publicity and implementation.
According to the decisions, the relevant committees of the CBCK and seven religions will hold a joint seminar with the theme of "Why the Abortion is a Murder?" at the conference room of the National Assembly Library in February 2003 and will issue a joint statement in the name of the CBCK and seven religions.
Besides, they decided to make known the unconstitutional character of the law and the dignity of human life through mass media and to invite people to the movement of life through various means, for example, street concerts or one-person demonstrations.
Along with this, on February 7, 2003, a day before the 30th anniversary of the law, they will stage a candlelight street protest and celebrate Mass to console the souls of the unborn babies. Also the National Federation of Catholic Physicians' Guilds of Korea and other conscientious doctors will issue a "declaration of conscience" in this regard and in the monthly meeting of the seven religions for the abolition of the death penalty the participants will recite the prayer for the aborted lives.
* Volunteer Sister at Joseph Clinic Receives Medal for Merit
On December 13, the Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul, awarded Medal for Merit to Sister Susan Baldus, M.M. for her 40 years of dedication for the handicapped persons and their rehabilitation.
"While I was working at the Joseph Clinic I felt that God was among us. I thank all patients and co-volunteers including medical doctors who allowed me this opportunity. Working as volunteer with them was an honor for me. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude," Sr. Susan said.
Sr. Susan Baldus came to Korea in 1964 and since then she dedicated her life for the handicapped persons and their rehabilitation at Maryknoll Hospital in Busan and served as volunteer in Inchon and Seoul. In 1983 she opened Jisan Rehabilitation Center in Busan for the poor handicapped persons who cannot afford the medical treatment.
She has worked at the Joseph Clinic from 1995 as volunteer physical therapist. She returned for good to the United States to assist elderly Sister at Maryknoll Sisters' Mother House in New York on December 17.