3216 Korea Provincial Chapter
austraLasia #3216
 

SOUTH KOREAN PROVINCIAL CHAPTER - KOR


TAEAN (South Korea) 12 April 2013 --  The 14th Provincial Chapter in Korea took place from April 7 to 11, five days with 32 members. The Chapter took place at the beach-side Novitiate House and Salesian Retreat Centre in Taean.

The Provincial Chapter followed, naturally, the GC27 theme: 'Witnesses to the radical approach of the Gospel'. Fr Marcello Baek was termed 'Regulator' and Bro. Hilario Seo Moderator. Members worked in three commissions, mystic, prophet and servant.

Topics specific to the province were also addressed: Salesian Family Guidelines, Poverty Guidelines were deliberated on as well as a Manual of Pastoral Ethics for the province. They also offered an in-depth review and had lengthy discussion on the commemorative activities pertaining to the life and spirituality of the late Fr. John Lee. The results of the review and discussion were given to the Provincial and his Council to decide and act on.

Fr Stefano Yang, vice provincial, was elected as Delegate for GC27, an appointment he accepted humbly this time (on at least three earlier occasions he had just as humbly refused!).

The final evening was an 'open' session which simply allowed people to freely exchange ideas to make a better provincial community - invoking the grace and blessing of the Holy Spirit. It was an honest and fraternal conversation about our life in the provincial community, and seems to have been a factor in helping people to appreciate the stability and beauty of the Salesian life and demonstrating well how the Holy Spirit works in the confreres.

"The PC minutes will be made available to all confreres; it's not just homework completed for GC27. On the contrary, we have to become a compass needle for ourselves and others. When we put our deliberations into practice and live it more deeply in our lives, we will be authentic witnesses to the radical approach of the Gospel” said the provincial, Fr Stefano Nam, during the concluding Mass.