Communication on Sep. 26
| * The Episcopal Commission for Clergy & Religious of the CBCK Issues Exhortation for Clergy On September 20, the Episcopal Commission for Clergy & Religious of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea (ECCR) issued Exhortaion titled "The Church draws her life from the Eucharist" and exhorted the priests to celebrate daily Mass saying, "The fundamental reason for being priest consists in the Eucharist." The ECCR said in the Exhortation, issued with approval of the Permanent Council of the CBCK(President: Archbishop Andreas Choi Chang-mou), "The Eucharist is the starting and the end of the ministry of the clergy and the celebration of the Eucharist is the principal office of the clergy," and stressed that "the clergy has to celebrate Mass everyday with the community." The Exhortation reminded the clergy that "Apart from the provision of the clergy the daily celebration of the Eucharist is their utmost important office as the servant of Christ contributing to the redemption of humanity." and recommended "the pastors of parish to make the celebration of the Eucharist the center of the parochial life. Along with the Exhortation the ECCR plans to publish a booklet titled "Should a priest celebrate daily Mass?" (tentataive title). * The Church in America Celebrates First 'Korean-American Catholics' Day' "The Korean-American Catholics' Day" proclaimed by the USCCB(United States of Conference of Catholic Bishops) on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Korean Immigrants in America was celebrated at the National Shrine of Immaculate Conception, located in Washingron D.C., on September 21, with the celebration of Mass for St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon and St. Paul Chong Ha-sang, and Martyr Companion Saints. Mass was concelebrated with His Eminence Theodore Cardinal E. McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., presiding with the Most Rev. Thomas G. Wenski, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, the Most Rev. Andreas Choi Chang-mou, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea(CBCK), the Most Rev. Peter Kang U-il, President of the Committee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants of the CBCK, and some 60 priests. Over 5,000 Korean Catholics from various parts of America attended the Mass. Following the declaration of the Korean Catholics' Day by bishop Wenski, cardinal McCarrick said in his homily, "Korean Catholics in America have shown the vitality of Korean Catholic communities with their beautiful language and liturgical music, and fervent faith," and noted "the Catholic Church in Korea introduced by the laity in 18th century has grown strong by the lay martyrs." "We want you share this power of the faith with American Catholics and contribute to animate the Church in America." cardinal said. The President of the CBCK, Archbishop Anreas Choi, thanked the Church in America in the name of the Church in Korea and said "Our faith Fathers including the 103 Korean martyr saints and the 124 Korean martyr candidates for the beatification have taught us how we have to live as Christians," and added "you have to contribute to for the common good of this country as Korean Catholics and American citizens." On the same day the Ordinaries of the Diocese of New York, New Nersey and Chicago celebrated Mass for "103 Korean martyr saints". |