1371 KOR Mamma Margaret Association attracts parents of Salesians
austraLasia 1371
Korea's 'Mamma Margaret Association' draws in parents
of Salesians
SEOUL: 30th December 2005 -- A few days before Christmas,
40 parents of Salesians from
all around Korea gathered in Seoul for a Winter Recollection, despite
the heavy snow that has been impeding movement in the country.
The
Provincial and a number of Salesians were present, as also the official
chaplain to the group, Fr Gregory Park.
Somewhere around the Year 2000, not just in Korea
but in several provinces around the world, a natural grouping sprang up
within the Salesian Family (though it is not quite at the SF full
recognition stage as yet) called the Mamma Margaret Association.
In Korea, the group had began to come together naturally long before,
starting with parents of aspirants, then in the late '90s, with a group
of post novitiate parents meeting together; the idea of a more frequent
exchange soon developed. In the Jubilee Year 2000, the group was
given an official status in the Korean Province with a gathering of
about 100 parents on that occasion, some semblance of organisational
structure - president, secretary, treasurer, that sort of thing - and
some simple regulations.
Meanwhile in other parts of the world a similar
grouping is in existence. In 2000, parents of confreres from
Italy and Spain met at the Pisana and in fact, Fr Martinelli,
Councillor in charge of the Salesian Family at that point, drafted a
letter which went out to Provincials around the world pointing out some
simple possibilities to give this grouping life wherever it might be
able to come into existence.
The Korean association gives a good example of what
might exist: the group comes together for a recollection
annually, but also meets on another occasion, formally, for an exchange
of experience tied in more closely with the Salesian Family. They
come together for professions, ordination, Salesian Feast days and
receive a newsletter from their spiritual assistant, in this case from
Fr Park. Naturally, they receive the Salesian Bulletin, and they
are also invited to join the Salesian Cooperators. They are
involved in the Salesian formation benefactors network.
In the context of the Korean experience, the
association has been found to be valuable especially for parents of
aspirants. They find it helpful in understanding the vocational
growth of their children through contact with parents of priests and
older Salesians.
Within the next 24 hours, the Rector Major will be
speaking to the Salesian Family (he begins traditionally with the
Salesian Sisters) on the role of family and the special place Mamma
Margaret has in the Salesian tradition in this regard.
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