Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Agenzia Fides) – The time of Advent is a time of grace, a favorable time for conversion, for placing one's life in God's hands, spending time in prayer, looking over one's life, performing works of charity...these are some of the main common points in the Pastoral Letters from several Korean Bishops who have written and distributed them in their own dioceses, encouraging the faithful to live this month of preparation for Christmas 2008 with intense fervor.
The Bishops point out the importance and centrality of the Christian family, the birthplace of the faith, in which there should be prayer, listening, and lecture on the Word of God, along with experiences of forgiveness and reconciliation. The family thus becomes “a training ground for the faith,” which prepares Christians to bear witness to the Gospel in society.
Another topic proposed by the Bishops is that of the relationship of Advent with the Year of Saint Paul. In this year dedicated to the figure of Saint Paul, the faithful are encouraged to become protagonists in the evangelization effort, following in the footsteps of the Apostle to the Gentiles.
In particular, the letter written by Cardinal Nicholas Cheong, Archbishop of Seoul, entitled “The family, the basis of the faith,” encourages the faithful to live out “the spirit of martyrdom” in the family, explaining that “loving one's own family, as their neighbor, is the authentic manner of participating in martyrdom, which means Christian witness.”
Archbishop Andrew Choi Chang-Mou of Kwanju, in reflecting on the three-year pastoral plan of the Archdiocese, defines the liturgical year as “the Year of the Apostolate,” encouraging priests, religious, and the laity to bear fruit and be active apostles.
2011 marks the 100th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Daegu and its Archbishop John Choi Young-soo has told the faithful, in his letter, to prepare for this historic event beginning this year.
Other Bishops have also written messages encouraging the Ecclesial Base Communities to renew their gift of faith and re-evangelize the area. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 28/11/2008)
