Seoul (Fides Service) - “Pray and work that one day your love may reach also North Korea, in a united country” Archbishop Nicholas Cheong of Seoul told the Salesian Fathers who recently celebrated 50 years of service in Korea.
Rector General of the Congregation of the Salesian Fathers of Don Bosco Father Pascual Chavez was present in Seoul for the anniversary celebrations which included meetings, conferences and above all Masses of thanksgiving.
Today most members of the Salesian Korean Province are local men and women who carry on the traditional service of educating and forming youth with the active collaboration of lay Catholics always widely involved in church life in Korea. During celebrations for the 50th anniversary, local Superior Father Paul Hwang Myeong-deok said “on the occasion of the anniversary of the arrival of the first Salesian Fathers in Korea in September 1954, we confirm our commitment to live in the spirit of Don Bosco to fulfil the will of God and to continue to show God’s love for all mankind”.
Addressing some 400 members of the Salesian family in Korea, priests, Sisters and lay people, Rector General Father Chavez, said that the Salesian “dream” in Korea is to be faithful to the charisma of Don Bosco and help re-unite the country. On September 19 , Sunday dedicated to Korea’s Martyrs, he recalled the 4 Salesians beatified in 2004, examples of zeal in the apostolate.
The first Salesians came to Korea in 1954 at the end of the Korean war to take care of poor and abandoned boys and youths. True to the Don Bosco charisma besides evangelisation, their service consists of education, professional training, including media training and social assistance.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 28/9/2004 lines 28 words 289)