Salesian Brothers Encounter in Korea: Towards 2018 EAO Congress

By Bro. Benedict Baek, SDB

Seoul, Korea, 31 October 2017 -- At the end of the extraordinary visitation in Korea all 16 Salesian Brothers present in the country met with the visitor for one half day encounter. Four hour long meeting was concluded with incoming EAO Salesian Brothers Congress concrete preparation according the convocation letter (link - AustraLasia). True family encounter was animated by Fr. Klement and attended also by the Formation Delegate Fr. Marcello Baek and the Vocation director Fr. Benedict Kim.

Main content of our encounter: (1)Personal spirituality sharing: What does sustain my vocation?, (2) Presentation of Venerable Simaan Srugi spiritual profile and life-story; (3) EAO Salesian Brother Congress 2018 (convocation letter). With short inputs from the animator, most of the time was spent in small groups and Assembly sharing. The only temporary professed Brother Stefan Yang was the secretary of the meeting, Br. Benedict Baek was the facilitator.

Among the higlights of the sharing the participants recognized the value of Vocation story-telling (Br. Oh Tadeus remembered as their model), stressed the need of deepening the new paradigm of 'One Salesian vocation living in complementariety of Brothers and Priests' (We need each other to live our vocation!). Two most senior Salesians - Br. Marino Bois and Br. Ro Pedro pointed at the beauty of Salesian vocation in the province in spite of all daily small problems.

As the most important experiences for daily vocation growth were shared: energy coming from daily committed educative life among the youth at risk, daily Gospel meditation, living with a thankful heart to all people around, more openess to the Grace of God, facing challenges with faith and community fraternal support.

Fr. Benedict Kim (vocation director) shares after the encounter:

"Joining the Salesian Brothers’ gathering in the Korean Province, held on the last day of extraordinary visit of Fr Vaclav, as a vocation animator I am reminded of ‘diversity in unity’ in the Salesian Society. We are happy in our Salesian vocation, distinguished by the dual form of the Priest-Salesian and the Brother-Salesian. This is our unique vocation form. I feel how blessed we are, who belong to the Salesian congregation, because of the diversity in one Salesian vocation. However, As Jesus said “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Lk 10:2), we need to think of the uniqueness of the vocation and nurture two forms in the sole vocation in balance. We should keep our eyes open and stretch our hands out to the young to invite them our Salesian life with us."

The best news was accounced during the encounter: All Salesian Brothers in the province are invited by their provincial to attend the K'Long 2018 EAO Congress.

At present the province of Korea has 122 professed Salesians with 83 Salesian priest, 2 deacons, 19 Salesian Brothers, 15 temporary professed scholastics and 3 novices. Beside that 25 Aspirants are spread in three different phases - before, during and after their military service duty of 24 months.

Related article:

• AustraLasia 4529 (II) EAO Salesian Brothers Congress convocation letter

Resource:

• EAO 2013 Congress Acts published

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