Communitation 0n Nov. 7
* 25th Anniversary of Pontificate of Pope John Paul II Celebrated
The Italian Cultural Institute of Seoul celebrated the 25 years of pontificate of Pope John Paul II on October 31, 2003 at Ae Kyung Hall of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in the presence of the Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, Archbishop of Seoul, the Most Rev. Giovanni Battista Morandini, Apostolic Nuncio in Korea, many diplomatic officials and representatives from all walks of society and various religious faiths. The participants paid a tribute to the Holy Father and wished him to continue his noble mission for peace and charity around the world for long.
Rev. Ciro Benedettini, deputy director of the Vatican Press Office, gave a talk titled \\"Pope John Paul II: 25 Years of Passion for Humanity,\\" which was delivered in Italian with simultaneous translation in Korean.
In the talk Rev. Ciro said that Pope John Paul II changed the image of the pontiff by approaching to ordinary people and noted that his contribution for humanity goes beyond the simple domain of human right.
The Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong praised the Holy Father in his congratulatory address saying \\"People who met the Pope say they had impression that \\'He is man of God\\', and added \\"that is why he is called \\'man of peace\\', \\'consciousness of humanity,\\' and \\'mirror of justice.\\"
Representatives of diverse faiths paid a tribute to the Pope and asked his prayer for peace in the Korean peninsula.
A special concert in honor of the Pope was offered by soprano Cecilia Kim and Maestro Stelvio Cipriani, a renowned Italian composer and pianist.
In addition, the Italian Cultural Institute presented \\"Dona nobis pacem\\" produced by the Vatican Central Television.
* CWO Members Pledge Positive Participation in Renewal of the Church
On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of foundation, the Catholic Women\\'s Organization (CWO, President: Ms. Teresa Oh Deok-ju) held Catholic women\\'s congress with theme \\"Women, Transforming Power of the World\\" on October 28, 2003 at the Cost Hall in Myeongdong and pledged positive participation in renewal of the Catholic Church and promotion of women\\'s status in the Church.
In the symposium, the identity and role of women in the Church and their leadership were highlighted among many items.
Proposals of women\\'s participation in evangelization and renewal of the Catholic Church were presented including concrete ways to live out Christian faith in the world and where one is placed.
The Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, President of the Committee for the Lay Apostolate of the Catholic Bishops\\' Conference of Korea, in his homily, thanked the CWO and members for their significant role and contribution to the development of the Catholic Church in Korea.
Ms. Teresa Oh Deok-ju, President of the CWO and member of board of directors of the International Catholic Women\\'s Organization, reminded CWO\\'s role in the synod of the Archdiocese of Seoul which was finished last September, and stressed that the proposals of the Women\\'s Sub-Committee will produce effective results only when clergy, religious and laity change their mind and work together.
Proposals of the Women\\'s Sub-Committee to the synod included; promotion of pastoral concern for women; change of mind of men and women; establishment of policy department on women; establishment of women\\'s office in individual parishes; education for women; training for women leaders; equalizing educational opportunity for men and women; women\\'s participation in decision making process of the diocese and parishes; women\\'s participation in the diocesan and parish structure; support for activity to improve women\\'s human rights etc.
\\"In order to cope with challenges we faced, men and women, bishops and priests and religious should be united, especially women, majority of the members of the Catholic Church, should be conscious of their identify and role,\\" Ms. Oh noted.
The CWO that was founded in Seoul in 1963 formed national union of Catholic women in 1975 and started activities at the diocesan level. From the 1980s the CWO expanded its activities to overseas and began international exchanges on diverse issues related to women.
Works of the CWO during past four decades focused on women\\'s promotion inside and outside of the Church; women\\'s education; training women leaders in diverse field of social justice including environment; organizing sponsors\\' association such as Sponsors\\' Association to Promote Vocations; promoting volunteership, especially helping alienated women in the society.
Recently the CWO added its strong voice to women\\'s rights and civic groups demanding to abolish the family registry low that banned to allow women to become legal heads of family.
* Priests Organize Bazar for Elderly
An unique bazar was held at Dapdong Cathedral of Inchon on October 30.
The bazar was organized with initiative of the diocesan priests of Inchon to help the elderly who have no family.
all the diocese priests participated in the \\'bazar of priests\\', an unheard-of event in the history of the Catholic Church in Korea.
Priests offered all sorts of their treasured items including clothes, living items, objects of craftwork, religious objects, books and so on.
The Most Rev. Choi thanked the priests who organized the event and showed great generosity and wished that the event serves for the priests\\' sanctification and raising concerns of the faithful in the sharing and caring for the elderly.
The Italian Cultural Institute of Seoul celebrated the 25 years of pontificate of Pope John Paul II on October 31, 2003 at Ae Kyung Hall of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in the presence of the Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, Archbishop of Seoul, the Most Rev. Giovanni Battista Morandini, Apostolic Nuncio in Korea, many diplomatic officials and representatives from all walks of society and various religious faiths. The participants paid a tribute to the Holy Father and wished him to continue his noble mission for peace and charity around the world for long.
Rev. Ciro Benedettini, deputy director of the Vatican Press Office, gave a talk titled \\"Pope John Paul II: 25 Years of Passion for Humanity,\\" which was delivered in Italian with simultaneous translation in Korean.
In the talk Rev. Ciro said that Pope John Paul II changed the image of the pontiff by approaching to ordinary people and noted that his contribution for humanity goes beyond the simple domain of human right.
The Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong praised the Holy Father in his congratulatory address saying \\"People who met the Pope say they had impression that \\'He is man of God\\', and added \\"that is why he is called \\'man of peace\\', \\'consciousness of humanity,\\' and \\'mirror of justice.\\"
Representatives of diverse faiths paid a tribute to the Pope and asked his prayer for peace in the Korean peninsula.
A special concert in honor of the Pope was offered by soprano Cecilia Kim and Maestro Stelvio Cipriani, a renowned Italian composer and pianist.
In addition, the Italian Cultural Institute presented \\"Dona nobis pacem\\" produced by the Vatican Central Television.
* CWO Members Pledge Positive Participation in Renewal of the Church
On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of foundation, the Catholic Women\\'s Organization (CWO, President: Ms. Teresa Oh Deok-ju) held Catholic women\\'s congress with theme \\"Women, Transforming Power of the World\\" on October 28, 2003 at the Cost Hall in Myeongdong and pledged positive participation in renewal of the Catholic Church and promotion of women\\'s status in the Church.
In the symposium, the identity and role of women in the Church and their leadership were highlighted among many items.
Proposals of women\\'s participation in evangelization and renewal of the Catholic Church were presented including concrete ways to live out Christian faith in the world and where one is placed.
The Most Rev. Andrew Yeom Soo-jung, President of the Committee for the Lay Apostolate of the Catholic Bishops\\' Conference of Korea, in his homily, thanked the CWO and members for their significant role and contribution to the development of the Catholic Church in Korea.
Ms. Teresa Oh Deok-ju, President of the CWO and member of board of directors of the International Catholic Women\\'s Organization, reminded CWO\\'s role in the synod of the Archdiocese of Seoul which was finished last September, and stressed that the proposals of the Women\\'s Sub-Committee will produce effective results only when clergy, religious and laity change their mind and work together.
Proposals of the Women\\'s Sub-Committee to the synod included; promotion of pastoral concern for women; change of mind of men and women; establishment of policy department on women; establishment of women\\'s office in individual parishes; education for women; training for women leaders; equalizing educational opportunity for men and women; women\\'s participation in decision making process of the diocese and parishes; women\\'s participation in the diocesan and parish structure; support for activity to improve women\\'s human rights etc.
\\"In order to cope with challenges we faced, men and women, bishops and priests and religious should be united, especially women, majority of the members of the Catholic Church, should be conscious of their identify and role,\\" Ms. Oh noted.
The CWO that was founded in Seoul in 1963 formed national union of Catholic women in 1975 and started activities at the diocesan level. From the 1980s the CWO expanded its activities to overseas and began international exchanges on diverse issues related to women.
Works of the CWO during past four decades focused on women\\'s promotion inside and outside of the Church; women\\'s education; training women leaders in diverse field of social justice including environment; organizing sponsors\\' association such as Sponsors\\' Association to Promote Vocations; promoting volunteership, especially helping alienated women in the society.
Recently the CWO added its strong voice to women\\'s rights and civic groups demanding to abolish the family registry low that banned to allow women to become legal heads of family.
* Priests Organize Bazar for Elderly
An unique bazar was held at Dapdong Cathedral of Inchon on October 30.
The bazar was organized with initiative of the diocesan priests of Inchon to help the elderly who have no family.
all the diocese priests participated in the \\'bazar of priests\\', an unheard-of event in the history of the Catholic Church in Korea.
Priests offered all sorts of their treasured items including clothes, living items, objects of craftwork, religious objects, books and so on.
The Most Rev. Choi thanked the priests who organized the event and showed great generosity and wished that the event serves for the priests\\' sanctification and raising concerns of the faithful in the sharing and caring for the elderly.