By Fr Benedict Kim, SDB
Photo by Fr Joseph Shin, SDB
Seoul, Korea, April 17, 2016 - 5th CYD (Catholic Youth Day) in the archdiocese of Seoul was held on Vocation Sunday, 4th Sunday of Easter, in the seminary of the diocese where postgraduate Saleisan seminarians study. On the joyful and meaningful day, total 43 booths were open for the event, and 13 religious orders and various Catholic groups take parts of the event. The event consisted of two major parts; one is of various activities of making souvenirs, taking photos, mini games, and so on; another is of performances of professional musicians and youth groups. The event is ended with final mass celebrated by Cardinal Andrew Yeom, Archbishop of Seoul.
14 SDBs and 9 FMAs, both including pre-novices, in cooperation ran 4 booths to introduce the Salesians and share Salesian joy with the young in various activities. About 10 young men seeking Salesian vocation joined the Salesian booths to help the activities for the young who visit the booths. More than 8,000 young people from many parishes in Seoul archdiocese joined the event.
The Overal Director of the event, Fr Gabriel Cho, in charge of the vocational ministry in Seoul Archdiocese, spoke that the purpose of the event is to provide a stage for the young to express their desire for the Lord and passion to love; and to give an opportunity for them to become young missionaries proclaiming the Good News to the world by their language in the Church in imitation of Jesus Christ. Particularly, as the Church has celebrated the Extraordinary Jubulee Year of Mercy, through this event young people are expected and encouraged to become true Christians in experiencing God's calling, and it hopes that the young can experience the mercy of God.
As Jesus invites people who would like to follow him, “come and see” (Jn 1:39), CYD on Vocation Sunday was truly a joyful festival for the young and showed them the diversity of vocations which the Catholic Church has. It would be a fruitful day of seeding and harvesting vocations in the Church for the future.
Meanwhile, the Salesian Family formation houses based in Kwangju archdiocese, did participate in the traditional Vocation Sunday event in the campus of the Catholic University of Kwangju were gathered about 2000 children, youth from different parts of the archdiocese.
For the SDB prenovices and postnovices, for the FMA novices and for the 'Caritas of Jesus' congregation aspirants and postulants it was a wonderful occasion of sharing their joy and vocation stories. Each participating religious congregation prepared some special item in their special stand, like games or rosary-making activity.
As in every developed country with few children and many distractions in the vocation journey, also in Korea the Salesian Family faces the diminishing vocations challenge. The joyful message of this Vocation Sunday 2016 of the Salesian Family candidates for consecrated life was clear - following Jesus fills our life with a deepest Joy!
