CBCK News
2009-08-25 13:47
2009-08-25 13:47
7,433
Communication on May 21
* Bishops Send Congratulatory Messages to Buddhists for 2004 Feast of Vesakh

On the occasion of the Feast of Vesakh (Buddha's birthday) on May 26, 2004, the Most Rev. Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, Archbishop of Seoul, and the Most Rev. Boniface Choi Ki-san, Bishop of Incheon and President of the CBCK Committee for Promoting Christian Unity & Interreligious Dialogue, sent congratulatory messages to Buddhists and called on believers of all religions to understand and love each other.

Archbishop Cheong said in his message, "Buddha came to this world to present the life of inner peace and liberation to those who are in suffering and distress. Therefore, for the liberation of all people, believers of all religions in Korea should faithfully practice the teachings of their own religion."

In conclusion, he wished people the great grace of the Merciful Buddha, saying that, "If we believers understand and love each other, the world will become brighter and it can give hope and consolation to all people."

Bishop Choi also issued a message to Buddhists and hoped that all Buddhists and Catholics in Korea would cooperate with each other for the sake of common good.

"It is natural for us living together in this land to strive for the development and prosperity of all Korean people with mutual understanding and respect," he said and asked Korean Buddhists who are also concerned about the eternal "to lead people to eternal values and to open the bright future of Korean people together."

* 'Agreement on Fidei Donum Priests' Agreed between Korea and U.S.A.

The CBCK Committee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants (President: Most Rev. Peter Kang U-il, Bishop of Cheju) and its counterpart of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) agreed on the 'Agreement on Fidei Donum Priests' on May 4, 2004.

The agreement was made between Bishop Kang and the Most Rev. Thomas G. Wenski, President of the USCCB Committee on Migration, at San Petro Retreat Center in Orlando, Florida.

If the agreed formula of the agreement is approved by the 2004 Autumn General Assembly of the CBCK, each diocese and religious institute in Korea should conclude the Agreement with the local ordinary of the receiving diocese in the States before sending Fidei Donum priests.

The agreement clarifies that the "receiving diocese" should provide entrance expenses and documents necessary for issuing visa to the Korean Fidei Donum priest and that the receiving Bishop should grant the canonical status as a Catholic priest to the Fidei Donum priest, who, in his turn, should be obedient to the Bishop and follow the norms and provisions of the receiving Diocese.

In addition, regarding the cases of the nullity of marriage of overseas Korean faithful who married in the States, the two Committees confirmed that the competence cannot be delegated to the episcopal conference in Korea and consented that the USCCB would assign Korean priests as 'procurators for marriage cases' to give pastoral help to the Korean respondents considering the difficulties caused by different cultures and languages.

* Catholic Early Childhood Educators Make Commitment to Education Faithful to the Gospel Spirit

The Department of Early Childhood Education (Chairperson: Sr. Silvia Park Myeong-suk) of the Korean Association of Major Superiors of Religious Women held the National Congress of Catholic Early Childhood Educators on May 15, 2004 at Olympic Stadium in Seoul.

Held with the theme "Walking Along with Them"(Lk 24,15), it was the first Congress since Catholic early childhood education started in Korea 150 years ago. Some 2,000 religious and lay instructors working for more than 300 nationwide Catholic-run nursery schools or preschools participated in the Congress and made commitment to early childhood education faithful to the Gospel spirit.

The participants recalled the 150-year history of Catholic early childhood education in Korea, offered Mass presided by the Most Rev. Lucas Kim Won-hoe, Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul, and congratulated themselves with various performances. Besides, 19 teachers were awarded the prizes for their longtime and exemplary commitment.

Sr. Teresa Kim Jeong-rye, Provincial Superior of the Congregatio Jesu, said in a congratulatory address to Catholic teachers, "Your commitment and service to children, the least in the society, can be praised as act of salt and light of the world," and hoped that this Congress will open a new century of hope to the Catholic early childhood education in Korea.