Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - Trinity leadership Programme to train lay Catholics to be leaders of Basic Church Communities aBCC and agents of new evangelisation, is a new undertaking with which Seoul archdiocese intends to harness the potential of the laity and promote capillary evangelisation all over the territory by means of lay Catholics.
The course is organised in three parts to focus on God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. According to Fr Bartolomeo Chon Won, director of Seoul’s Pastoral research centre with more lay leaders it will be possible to form more Basic Church Communities in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council: a Church in which priests and religious are assisted by responsible lay people offering a determinant contribution to pastoral work in parishes.
Lay people are called to be witnesses first of all in the family, the cradle of the faith and evangelisation. Recently the Korean Bishops’ Conference underlined the need to help lay people grow in spirituality to enable them to face the threats of hedonism and secularisation. The laity are not only the object of pastoral care they must become subjects of pastoral care and evangelisation
“We feel the importance and the need to announce the Gospel to all people”, some of the Programme participants said. “But as Evangelii Nuntiandi, says only authentic Christians who live the Gospel can be witnesses in society”.
In 1994 the Church in Korea set up a special Lay Apostolate Commission. It also celebrates an annual Laity Day with special informative material and initiatives all over the country. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/11/2005 Righe: 26 Parole: 260)
