austraLasia #1830

Korean FMA commence Golden Jubilee celebrations

SEOUL: 25th April 2007 -- The arrival of the first five missionary Sisters of three different nationalities at Yoido airport, Seoul, on April 24, 1957, was marked yesterday in five cities of the nation by the strongest presence of the FMA in east Asia (250 Sisters, 12 novices and the majority of the Sisters quite young). After three years of preparations the 2007 year of celebration began with the presence of FMA mission councillor, Sr Ciri Hernandez, who has been in Korea since 19th April and leaves on 25th. The last surviving two missionary pioneers of that era have been a part of these celebrations.  The presence of Korean Sisters has grown well beyond Korea by now. Korean FMA missionaries are working in 7 African countries and one community in Mongolia. Also the president of the Auxilium in Rome since last year has been a Korean, Sr Auxilia Chang. 

    There are 28 presences of the Salesian Sisters in Korea, a number of them marking new frontiers such as foreign migrant workers, socially disadvantaged young women, north Korean refugee children's home and centres. According to Sr Ciri the development has been "semplice ma molto sentito", simple but much appreciated. Her presence expresses the evangelisation feel to the golden jubilee celebrations.   

   On the 24th itself there was a procession from the provincial house in Shin Kil Dong Seoul to the nearby parish church of St. John Bosco in Do Rim Dong, where the first five missionary Sisters were assigned in 1957 (at that time a Salesian parish, later on taken over by the archdiocese of Seoul).  Accompanied by a police cordon the Sisters and some close Salesian family members (200 of them!) walked the two and a half kms in the warm  Spring weather to arrive for the afternoon Mass in Do Rim Dong parish as the final station, with a simple dramatic presentation by the parishioners recalling memories of the arrival of the five missionaries. 

    In Kwangju, where the Sisters arrived a year later - in the Salesian Girls High School chapel, some 60 Sisters  from all seven Kwangju communities, with seven Salesian priests (the EAO Regional presided) celebrated the evening Mass followed by a simple academy and recreation prepared by the 12 novices.
    The celebrations will continue throughout the year: May-June:  a special "Jerusalem" program offered in seven places around the province; September 8: national Salesian Youth Festival; September 30, Salesian Education Symposium and Salesian Family spirituality day; October 1: Salesian Elementary schools drama competition (Kwangju) and Historical exhibition (Seoul); October 6: Bazaar for the Mongolian mission (th first FMA community in Mongolia was launched last September); November 18: Conclusion of the celebrations in Seoul - Bishop Luc Van Looy will preside over the Autumn celebration.
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