4143(III)_Joyful Feast of Nanum House 30th anniversary
A moment for challenge to find a new periphery
September 26, 2016
Seoul, Korea, 25 September 2016 -- At Shinwoldong Salesian Education Center in Seoul, the Nanum House (Nanum is a korean word which means sharing) 30th anniversary celebration was opened in a joyful atmosphere with 300 people (Salesian Family members, benefactors, youngsters of Nanum Houses, collaborators, and volunteers). The event of the day was comprised of the Holy Mass and the performance academia of the children of Nanum House and an abundant lunch. “It is a happy and joyful day that we have been able to share God’s love through providing of the home and protection for the last 30 years.” Fr. Peter Kim, rector of Nanum House, said in his homily. As he mentioned, the 30 years history of Nanum House is a great witness of how the Mercy of God has cared for us.
Nanum House was created in the 1980s when the nuclear family phenomenon were rapidly forming and dismantling the large family system and aimed to provide children who are in risk with family nurturing environment. In January 1988, Salesians in Korea were concerned that the Nanum House system should have an initiative with an effective solution to help youth in need due to broken families and designated a full time confrere to develop this new service. In the Nanum House, one or two adult leaders (salesian or lay collaborator) become the head of the household, and under them 4-5 youngsters who have lost their families come together to create a new family. It was a very new type of youth care system in the society.
“I’ve started to see my future image here. I found my dream of becoming a chef, and this place, the Nanum House, has nurtured me to achieve that dream. I am very sad that it is time to leave now. I thank everyone that has been part of my upbringing and I promise that I will be an earnest, kind, and be a help to children like me that need help.” As if a young bird leaves its nest and flies in the sky with poor flapping wings, Park Jihoon’s words of thanks as he left the Shinwoldong Nanum House gave a very deep touch to everyone at the 30th anniversary celebration. He lived six years in the Nanum House and graduated high school here and is now employed to the food service team of a large corporation.
We have started this Nanum House 30 years ago as result of an accurate discernment on the youth and family situation in that era and on what was the most effective solution for the children who are the most poor and in needed situations. In order to respond to these situations, the Nanum House was built and developed in comprehensive caring for the lives of many children. “The 30 years of the Salesian Nanum House is not only a youth care facility but is a true oratory in which the preventive system of Don Bosco is alive. The 30 years is a good enough term for growing a generation and are creating the next generation. When we think of the meaning of Nanum House and its 30 years, the answer comes out by itself when you ask, ‘What is the real mean of the experience and practice of Mercy of God that Pope Francesco always urged to us?’ ” Fr. Marcello Baek, Vice Provincial of Korea in his speech, not only thanked and congratulated the 30 years of Nanum House but also showed what the determination of the Korea Salesian is as it approaches the new periphery.
