2743 KOR Casket preparations, Don Rua celebrations
austraLasia #2743
 

Korea Province preparations: Don Bosco, Don Rua

Seoul: 22 October 2010 -- Korea Province has been very busy these past months and will be even busier within the next few days. They have launched and concluded a major Art Festival featuring Fr Michael Rua, published a Korean translation of 'The Wine in the Chalice' by Fr Peter Lappin, and are by now fully prepared for the arrival of the Casket containing relics of Don Bosco on 1st November ...
    ART FESTIVAL
    The book was published in August and distributed to members of the Salesian Family and young people in Salesian schools, oratories and the like; with it went a leaflet explaining an upcoming Don Rua Arts Festival, inviting drawings or paintings, skits, poetry, hymns, songs, recitals - in fact any kind of artistic presentation. Fr Stefano Yang, vice provincial, and his team were behind the organisation for all this.
    The event drew many entries and was judged by a competent team of teachers and artists working within the Salesian ambit, and prizes were distributed on Sunday 17th October at the conclusion of a Mass celebrated with the Salesian family by the ninth successor of Don Bosco, Fr Pascual Chávez. All told there were 8 hymns about Don Rua, 12 poems, 21 recitals, 3 literary compositions, 5 musical compositions, one skit or theatre item, 35 paintings. 83 people submitted entries covering a total of 87 items.
    The judges' criteria for the event were: an understanding of Don Rua's life and spirituality, and the display of creativity and significance. Final results were: First prize, Sr Stella Lee FMA for her 'Living in God and beside Don Bosco' pencil drawing of Don Rua's' eyes, the eyes mirroring Don Bosco and the Holy Spirit. A Gold Medal went to Joseph Lee, Cooperator. These two major prize winners have also won a flight to Piedmont to visit the historical places of both Don Bosco and Don Rua.
    Additionally there were three Silver Medallists and six Bronze Medallists covering a range of artistic endeavours such as painting, music, theatrical presentation, recital and a letter.  All 83 entrants were given a statue of Don Bosco to keep as a memento.
    The Art Festival has contributed to a deeper knowledge and appreciation of Don Rua's life and spirituality.  The Rector Major, by his distribution of prizes and adding his own words to the event gave it due honour, prestige and solemnity, and in the words of one of the organisers: "We felt honoured and encouraged by the Rector Major's words and felt ready to zealously and happily carry out Don Bosco's mission in his spirit".
    Readers who would like to see some of the major prize winner's efforts can visit the Rua pages now available on www.sdb.org.
    DB CASKET VISIT
    All is now in preparation. Bro Hilario Seo, long time webmaster, major figure behind the graphic preparation of 'Salesians 2011' soon to be released, is now returning to his Province of origin, in no better company than Don Bosco himself! It will be a longer journey with the Founder than any Don Rua ever made with him! They are due to arrive in Seoul in good time for the 'official' visit's commencement some days later. We take this opportunity to wish Hilario well and offer a profound thanks for his work.

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