Korea's summer seminar for Salesians in initial formation
NERI - 9th July 2007 -- Forty one Salesians in initial
formation have taken part in a seminar on youth ministry organised by
the Korean YM Delegate, Fr Marcello Baek. The seminar, which
included men from the pre-novitiate stage until diaconate, was partly
in response to the 'new frontiers' theme of GC26.
The Youth Ministry Commission of the province,
working with Fr Marcello to put together the input for the seminar,
offered six different items of input: one of these was a theoretical
basis to introduce new models of youth ministry. An input
specific to the 'new frontiers' theme of GC26 was offered by Fr Baek
himself. Fr Benjamin Kim shared material and ideas from the Kochi
(India) seminar earlier in 2007 on missionary animation and voluntary
service. The final report from the Kochi meeting has been translated
into Korean. Bro. Bosco Park added to this with input dealing with the
Korean Salesian International Volunteer Service, providing a brief
history of the Service, but also outlining two upcoming events - a
visit by the International Volunteer Service to Papua New Guinea from
21 July to 5 August. A total of 56 volunteers will take part, 37
students, 16 nurses and doctors, 3 Salesians, 2 teachers, and one
Catholic journalist from the Pyonghwa newspaper. The group will
also include two Japanese and 6 US-based Koreans. The second
volunteer event will be to Negros Occidental in the southern
Philippines - to Mambucal parish near Bacolod City (from 6-18
August). This will involve 42 participants, 32 of whom are
students, 4 nurses and doctors, 4 Salesains. The aim will be to
construct a clinic and provide for a residential nurse.
Two additional items of input for the Youth Ministry
seminar were by Bro Benedict Baek and Fr Paul Chang. The former looked
at youth at risk and counselling programs. Bro. Baek is director
of the Chuncheon Kangwon counselling support centre. One area
they have focused on is internet addiction. Fr Chang dealt with
issues to help adolescents gain a right sexual culture and
life-supporting culture.
The provincial, Fr Paul Hwang, was present for the
seminar. It was not all hard work - the young Salesians profited
from the seaside location at Neri Youth Camp (South of Seoul on the
west coast of the peninsula) for a swim and some beach games. _________________ AustraLasia is an
email
service
for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions
as an
agency for ANS based in
Rome.
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