ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Seoul opens School for the Religious Formation of the Laity

Seoul(Agenzia Fides) - A School for the Laity, specialised in formation of lay Catholics in theology, Catholic Social Doctrine, catechesis, and a course on the Second Vatican Councilm is the latest project launched by the Seoul Archdiocesan Lay Apostolate Council to coordinate, reconnect and rationalise various existing initiatives of this kind, courses, meetings formation days etc in the diocese at various levels organised by parishes and church associations and movements.
The new initiative was announced by Cardinal Nicholas Cheong archbishop of Seoul after a recent Council meeting at Myeongdong Catholic Centre: “A parish should be a community of communion where the Catholic faithful encounter God if the Catholic Church wants to achieve deeper spirituality not just outward expansion. The joint pastoral care which the archdiocese of Seoul is about to set in motion is a practical option to realise the image of the Church as a communion” said the Cardinal who has frequently underlined the importance of communion in the Church and has been adopted as a priority in Seoul’s 2007pastoral plan.
The initiative was welcomed by clergy, religious and laity. Prof. Thomas Han Hong-soon, president of the Seoul Archdiocesan Lay Apostolate Council said: “Last year with the help of all of you we accomplished many activities and we hope to continue and do even better”. Praising the local laity for their commitment he asked them to continue to support the efforts of the Council.
Pastoral programmes of the Lay Apostolate in Seoul include giving new impulse to family pastoral with special emphasis on promotion of a culture of life with many appropriate programmes. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 26/1/2007 righe 26 parole 269)