ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - The Church encourages the Small Christian communities to strengthen their faith and to proclaim the Gospel

Monday, 3 November 2014

Daejeon (Agenzia Fides) - The Church in Korea encourages parishes to rediscover the "Small Christian Communities" as a tool to strengthen their faith and to proclaim the Gospel in the territory: is what emerged from the recent seminar organized by the Institute of Pastoral Catholic Care, chaired by the Bishop of Cheju, His Exc. Mgr. Peter Kang U-il, which was held in the Diocese of Daejeon.
As reported to Agenzia Fides by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, the meeting was attended by representatives of the parishes of seven dioceses, some diocesan directors of Pastoral care and priests that promote and see to the Small Communities. The "Small Christian Communities", SCC are a form of aggregation and spiritual experience destined to lay people and families. These are small communities of lay people in a given area or neighborhood, they promote a spirituality centered on the sharing of the Gospel and the Eucharist.
By sharing information about the structure and development of the SCC, those present at the seminar had a fruitful exchange of pastoral experiences. They offered a few suggestions to help promote the SCC in the Catholic Church in Korea, trying to spread the benefits and encouraging a confrontation at a diocesan and national level.
Fr. Bartholomew Jun Won, of the Pastoral Institute, said: "If a parish intends to renew its structure in accordance with the Word of God, the Small Christian Communities may be the path of a real renewal. If lay people, priests and religious are all involved in pastoral care, this becomes a real strength of the Church". According to Fr. Won, the meeting was very useful for priests. Revitalizing the Small Christian Communities "is fundamental to the life of faith and the renewal of the Church in Korea", he added, in the spirit and in the direction indicated by Pope Francis. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 03/11/2014)


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