4481_Good chance to grow in communion in the worldwide Salesian community

Korea province extraordinary visitation commenced

August 28, 2017

By SC Team KOR

Tae An, Korea, 27 August 2017 -- Five years after the previous Extraordinary visitation in 2012 (Fr. Andrew Wong), the Korean province has a good opportunity to strengthen the communion within the world wide Salesian community and assess the growth of Salesian Charism. This the sixth extraordinary visitation after the establishment of Korea Viceprovince in 1984.

First three days of the visitation were dedicated to the Leadership seminar for the Rectors and Provincial council member, animated by the Vice-provincial Fr. Marcelo Baek. After the welcome given by the Provincial Fr. Stefano Yang, the visitor takes part in all ordinary activities of the province during the month of September and October. Since the visitor can speak and understand well the Korean language, the dynamics and interaction of the personal talk and group encounters are deeper than on the previous occasions of the Visitation.

During next two month the Visitor - EAO regional councilor Fr. Klement, will listen to the 119 confreres living and working in 14 local communities, to more than 300 lay mission partners and numerous members of the Salesian Family. Most of the Salesian works in Korea are directed towards the youth at risk and youth in need with a variety of social services like counselling center, group home, boarding house for young workers, vocation training center and migrants from multi-cultural families.

The confreres in the young and dynamic province of Korea have average age of 44 years, 119 professed Salesians (83 Priests and18 Salesian Brothers perpetually professed) with 18 temporary professed, 3 novices and 17 prenovices (10 in military service and 7 students). In the same time are 17 missionary ad gentes working in 10 different countries of Africa, Asia and America, some of them with mutual temporary agreement among the two provinces.