Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Fides Service) - A sort of all Korean World Youth Day, the dream of thousands of young Catholics in the peninsula of Korea is coming true. The Catholic Bishops’ Commission for Youth Pastoral is organising the First Korean Youth Day this year 18 to 21 August in the diocese of Cheju, following the pattern of World Youth Days organised at the international level by the Holy See.
The ecumenical event will bring together young Catholics from parishes and associations and church movements all over the country, young Christians of various denominations and will also be an opportunity to make Christ known to non Christian Korean youth. The theme chosen is “I pray That they may be one” (Jn 17,21).
For some time educators, priests and bishops had been considering the idea of holding a national Youth Day. Many young Koreans have been enthusiastic participants at World Youth Days, held once every two years, and also at a more recent 1st Asian Youth Day. Remembering those events the educators decided to organise a National Catholic Youth rally to keep alive the enthusiasm and to encourage young Christians to share the faith, hope and love with their peers at school and college.
The pattern will be that of the traditional World Youth Days started in 1986 by Pope John Paul II: the hosting dioceses will organise daily conferences, discussion and prayers, Mass and the sacrament of Reconciliation. The young people will stay with local families or be accommodated in schools or sports centres
In view of the Korean Youth Day this year the World Youth Day Cross will arrive in the country on 18 February and be taken on a pilgrimage to Catholic parishes in the dioceses of Cheju, Uijeongbu and Seoul. This event will also serve to spread the news of the Summer Meeting and encourage young people to take part . (PA)(Agenzia Fides 9/2/2007 righe 27 parole 274)
