3806_Welcome to the Salesian Cooperators!

By Mr. Celestino Yoon, SSCC
Provincial Coordinator ASC-Korea

Seoul, Korea, November 14, 2015 - Korean province of the Salesian Cooperators is probably the most numerous among the EAO provinces (537 members with the Promise), but in the same time is facing an overall challenge of the ageing membership. Majority of those Salesian Cooperators who join our 24 Centers in past 20 year period are already 50-70 years ‘young’ generation!

Our provincial address book (edition 2015) with all personal photographs of all members and aspirants is a very helpful tool for keeping our busy members in touch. Indeed in many of the ‘old’ Centers (started in the 70’ or 90’) we have 3 or 4 teams that are making together one larger Center. Each of these teams has its own SDB or FMA delegate. However we should also recognize about 100+ long term non-active members.

Our provincial council does meet regularly every month in the SDB provincial house in Seoul, we have also our office there. The 12 members of the provincial council are very committed to their task and grateful for a passionate accompaniment of our SDB provincial delegate (Fr. John Chong) and FMA delegate (Sr. Agnes Yoon), backed by the strong support of the SDB Provincial Fr. Stefano Yang. Indeed Fr. Stefano got his MA degree in UPS-Rome with the thesis about ‘Lay spirituality of the Salesian Cooperators in Korea’ (2000).

If you like to visit our renewed website, you are most welcome: www.cooperator.co.kr. So far all information and sharing is only in Korean language. Thanks to the consistent social communication team we have all our presentation, newsletters, formation and recollection materials available online, including recorded talks on Youtube.

Moving towards the rejuvenating of our Association we have started two recent initiatives. Last September 20 was launched the First Salesian Cooperators Vocation Day. We have asked each Salesian Cooperator to invite one new possible candidate. It’s an old practice from our Korean method used for the invitation of the new catechumens in the local parishes. Without any major campaign about 50 newcomers were welcomed in the SDB Provincial house in Seoul and experienced in an interactive way our Vocation and the Salesian Family thanks to the newly opened ‘Korea Salesian History Hall’. After this successful event we decided to held the Vocation Day as an annual event.

Another new vocation initiative is the launching of one new Center for the young people – children of the Salesian Cooperators (20-30 years old). The ‘Salesis Center’ is accompanied directly by the Provincial ASC Delegates SDB and FMA, together with some ASC Provincial formation councilor.

Salesian Cooperators of Korea are open and eager to share and to learn some similar experiences of rejuvenating our Association from the other East Asia – Oceania provinces!