ASIA /SOUTH KOREA - “To be a church community which is respected”: Cheongju diocese announces diocesan Synod to mark 50th anniversary of its institution

Cheongju (Agenzia Fides) - The Diocese of Cheongju, which will have the 50th anniversary of its institution in 2008, plans to hold a diocesan synod and promote three projects to celebrate its 50 years of history. In this regard, the Most Rev. Gabriel Chang Bong-hun, Bishop of Cheongju, promulgated a special letter on June 26, titled "To Be an Ecclesial Community Being Respected."
Explaining the biblical meaning of the 50th anniversary, he said, "The year 2008, the 50th anniversary of the institution of diocese, is the first holy year we will have," and emphasized, "The year, as the 'jubilee', the 'thanksgiving day', and a new 'Pentecost,' will offer us the opportunity for renewal of diocese and become the starting point of new evangelization," He, in particular, suggested the aim of raising "the rate of evangelization to 15% and the numbers of faithful up to 200,000" and asked the diocesan faithful to make the diocese "a community of faith centered on the Eucharist," "a community of learning centered on the Word," and "a community of sharing centered on the communion."
At the Mass offered on the same day with some 700 participating, Bishop Chang said, "I sincerely wish that the 50th anniversary can become the year of grace with the concern and prayer of all the faithful. Therefore, I ask you to invoke the help of the Holy Spirit, resorting to the commitment of the martyr ancestors and foreign missionaries and the example of many good lay faithful."
The laity, religious and priests in the diocese pronounced a resolution during the Mass, which said, "We resolve to faithfully practice the four basic duties, namely, attending every Sunday Mass, praying daily prayer, participating in the basic ecclesial community, offering the monthly contribution to the Church, and to participate in the diocesan synod, to be dedicated to the mission, to read and transcribe the Scriptures in whole and memorize at least 50 phrases, and to strive to make the community be respected through the life of sharing.".
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 7/7/2004 lines 22 words 246)