Seoul (Fides Service) - Life does not end at 60, the age when many men and women retire from active working life: senior citizens have a lot to offer the Church and society with their experience, patience, wisdom and abilities. This is the conviction of a lay movement Life Ascending International of which is a branch has just been opened in Korea Life Ascending Korea, with the goal of helping the elderly live a full and rewarding life and to give them a new mission for the coming of the Kingdom of God.
The movement consists of small groups of ten people over 60 who have common interests and professional capacities. The members develop various joint activities building spiritual communion based first of all on prayer and good inter-personal relations and then they put their energies and abilities at the disposal of the Church for various pastoral needs.
During a Life Ascending meeting in Seoul on 21 March, it was agreed that given the rapid increase of the population of senior citizens in Korea the movement is of great importance for this country. Old people in Korea are a social force which can be very useful for the mission of the Church.
Many of Korea’s elderly Catholics already take an active part in the life of parishes and communities preparing liturgical celebrations, in catechesis, evangelisation and especially in works of charity caring for the lonely and the sick and the bedridden.
Life Ascending International was started in France 40 years ago and it was approved by the Holy See. Today it has about 300.000 members in more than 60 different countries.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 30/3/2004 lines 24 word 273)