CBCK News
2009-08-25 10:26
2009-08-25 10:27
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Communication on Aug. 8



* Original Copy of Bishop Demange's Diary Made Public in Korea

The original copy of the diary of the Most Rev. Florian Demange, the first Bishop of Taegu from 1911 to 1938 and a member of Paris Foreign Missions Society, was brought into Korea and made public. The four volumes of diary written from 1911 to 1932 will be kept in Korea until October.
Rev. Theophilus Choi Seung-ryong, vice-director of the Research Foundation of Korean Church History, borrowed the copy from Paris Foreign Missions Society when he visited Paris in last June for the erection ceremony of a monument to commemorate French martyrs who gave their lives for the evangelization of Korean people two centuries ago. Rev. Choi disclosed them on Pyeonghwa Weekly on August 1.
Rev. Choi said, "The Society has kept the original copy of five volumes of journal (from 1911 to 1937) and two photo albums, so I borrowed four volumes to reproduce them in color, in same size. We will keep the reproduction in our archives and also give it to the Archdiocese of Taegu and other institutes of Church history in Kwangju and Pusan. And when we return the original copy in October, we plan to borrow the other volume and two photo albums too."

*  Messages for Solemnity of Assumption of Mary

The Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, Archbishop of Seoul and Apostolic Administrator of Pyongyang, and the Most Rev. John Chrisostom Kwon Hyuk-ju, Bishop of Andong, respectively issued Messages for Solemnity of Assumption of Mary on August 15 and asked the faithful to pray and make positive efforts for the peace in the Korean Peninsula in varied domain.
The Most Rev. Cheong, in the Message entitled "Blessed are the peacemakers!(Matt. 5,9)" said, "Since the nuke crisis by North Korea gets intense these days, settlement of peace in the Korean Peninsula becomes crucial for the world peace," and continued, "the Church in Korea should be convinced that the issues between South and North Korea can be peacefully resolved through dialogue and compromise." In this regard, he also emphasized, "We should have mutual patience and love, rather than emotional and selfish attitudes."
Expressing concerns over the prevailing materialism and disregard of life in society, he stressed, "We should make efforts to replace the culture of death with the culture of life."
He also asked those responsible for politics, economy, social life and other spheres to recognize their moral obligation and show exemplary life accordingly, and called for the Catholics to recite the rosary during "The Year of the Rosary" for the reconciliation and unity of Korean people.
The Most Rev. Kwon also issued a Message entitled "Contemplating Christ with Mary" and asked the faithful to recite the rosary, saying, "As we come closer to Mary, we become intimate with Christ as much."
"As the Solemnity of Assumption of Mary is also the Independence Day of Korea when we celebrate the national liberation, let us pray with Mary, the patron of the Catholic Church in Korea, that genuine peace comes to the Korean Peninsula," he said.

* "Russian Catholics Need Help of the Catholic Church in Korea" - say Korean Missionary Priests in East Siberia

"We want to give the hope of Christ to Russians who have difficulty in adjusting themselves into the social change after the collapse of communism and contribute to the evangelization of the Koreans there," said two priests who were sent to the Apostolic  Administration of East Siberia as missionaries in March 2001.
Rev. Timothy Lee Eun-hyeong and Rev. Feliex Lee Seung-cheol of the Archdiocese of Seoul who came back to Korea temporarily said, "Russian Catholics are very grateful for the restored freedom of religion. Though they still use the prayer texts published in early 1900s, they deeply appreciate that they can celebrate Mass. They have great respect for priests."
In the Apostolic Administration of East Siberia there are 42 priests, mostly from foreign countries. As Korean missionaries, there are three more priests, a man religious and two women religious.
They revealed that the primary task of Nakhodka parish where they were appointed as pastors in last June is to set up church building. "Russians, who are accustomed to the external splendidness of Orthodox, tend to think the church building important. Since we cannot expect assistance from the Apostolic Administration of East Siberia, concern and help from the Catholic Church in Korea is necessary," they said.
In addition to the pastoral ministry for Russian Catholics, they expect to contribute to the unity and evangelization of Korean community.
"The present maturity of the Catholic Church in Korea attributes to the assistance, help and sacrifice of many foreign missionaries. Now it is our turn to share what we have with other Churches in need of help," they stressed.

* Priests Oppose Nuclear Waste Dump Construction

As the Korean government chose Wido, an islet 15km off the coast of Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, to construct nation's permanent nuclear waste disposal facility, the priests of the Diocese of Chonju have taken initiative to oppose to the government's plan and to protect local people's human rights and their right to live.
83 priests from 11 parishes of Buan region including Gochang and Gimje gathered on August 1 in Buan Parish and concelebrated Mass during which they issued a joint statement entitled, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life"(Jn. 14,5).
In the statement the priests urged the government to scrap the irrational plan to build a radioactive waste disposal plant in Wido and to make official apology for undemocratic process of decision making, and violent and immoral way of suppressing residents' protest by exercising public power.
"We the priests decided to act together to solve the situation in humanitarian way and look for ways for common good," said Rev. Antony Kim Jin-ryong, priest in charge of the clergy in Buan region, pointing out that the "opinions of local residents of Buan have been misinformed," and made clear his plan to carry out anti-nuclear campaign in solidarity with civic and religion organizations, and in sympathy with all priests and the faithful of the country.
After Mass the priests, Catholics and over 400 local residents marched to the local government office and the residence of county governor, and held candlelight protest.
Prior to the Mass and street protest, the priests formed 'Countermeasure Committee of Jeolla Inhabitants' to oppose government's project of construction of nuclear waste dump and to prevent it in solidarity with anti-nuke civic and religion organizations of Jeolla region including 'Citizens' Action against Nuclear Materials.'
The Priests Association for Justice (Representative: Rev. Augustine Kim Bong-sul) of the Diocese of Chonju will publish material collection on critical effects of nuclear development and the real situation of the residents of Buan area.
Some 10,000 people, including local residents and anti-nuclear activists from the country held a massive candlelight street protest on July 27, and some 500 fishermen and environmental activists staged a naval protest aboard 200 boats on August 1. To suppress the situation as many as 5,000 riot police were dispatched and clashed with the protesters. Many people were injured and taken to the hospitals for treatment. Several tens of the faithful of Buan Parish including Rev. Paul Moon Kyu-hyun, Pastor, were injured as well.        
Anti-nuclear protests have taken place almost daily since the government chose Wido as the site of the nation's first nuclear waste disposal facility.

* Night Retreat of the Youth in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Held

'The Youth of St. Mary Under the Cross'(President: Lee Yu-gyeong, Director: Rev. Patrick Kim Seok-won), a youth association seeking real meaning of life and faith in the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, had a night retreat on August 2 at Dongseong High School located in Hyewha-dong, Seoul.
Some 700 youth participated in the retreat showing great interest in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
The retreat program included the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Rosary, lecture of Rev. Chang In-san, professor at the Catholic University of Daejeon, and performance of hymns.  
'The Youth of St. Mary Under the Cross' holds the night of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament once a month from 10:00 pm of last Saturday of the month to 5:00 am of the next day at St. Francis' Education Center, Seoul and a weekly prayer meeting at 7:30 pm every Wednesday to provide opportunity to the youth to search ways for life in the light of the faith and deepen their personal relationship with God.