Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - A message issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea CBCK in view of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity encourages Catholics to have a ‘passion for proclaiming the Gospel and responsibility in solidarity”. The message is signed by the president of the CBCK Committee for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue Bishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong who writes “Jesus, who promised that He will always be with us until the end of time, wants all Christians to serve him together through his Holy Spirit poured upon us and to ‘make disciples of all nations’ to the ends of the earth”. The Message is based on the theme chosen for this year by the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches Commission on Faith and Order: “He makes the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak ” (Mk 7,37).
The Message encourages Catholics to intensify dialogue and prayer with Christians of all denominations, in order to offer witness of love and unity. Bishop Kim stresses the need for Christians to work together to alleviate the suffering of the poor and those on the margins of society. He urges Catholics to “pray for Christian unity and to pray that the Lord may open the eyes and ears of all Christians to see and hear the needs of others. These two responsibilities are intertwined both relate to healing the body of Christ, hence the principal text chosen for this year’s week of prayer is Jesus’ mission to heal”.
On 23 January the CBCK committee for Promoting Christian Unity and Interreligious Dailogue has organised a common prayer meeting with the National Council of Churches in Korea in Sudong Church (Anglican) in the city of Cheongju. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 15/1/2007 righe 26 parole 269)
