austraLasia 1206
Korean 'special school' camps. Korea's entire delinquent cohort knows Don Bosco!
SEOUL: 21 July 2005 -- In various cultures 'special' has special meanings. In Korea it simply means 'reformatory'. In the late 1970's, under the military rule of the late General Park, Fr Francis Kim SDB, then a deacon, was imprisoned for 24 months. After his release and subsequent ordination, as a mark of gratitude, he took up a prison ministry, now fully absorbed by the Salesian provincial community. Fr Kim continues his work within that framework.
In the first fortnight of August, the Salesians will hold five 'Summer Catholic School of Faith' camps in five different reformatories throughout Korea: Kwangju (Aug 1-4), Daejon Shin Cheon (8-12), Seoul (9-12, Daejon Won Cheon (9-12), Chuncheon (8-12). Between 30-40 participants will take part in each location. These summer faith camps, much anticipated by the young inmates, are oragnised by Fr Stefano Yan SDB, provincial delegate for the reformatory ministry.
This year's theme is Together Around One Shared Table (The Eucharist). Clearly the reformatory situation does not allow general freedom to head for the mountains or the seaside, so camps are in situ, though for those who recall the famous 'Generala' picnic conducted by Don Bosco for an almost identical situation, it is good to know that in Korea too, there are some 'off-campus' activities permitted if the Salesians are running them.
It's a team effort. Fr Yang, seven prenovices (the 2006 novitiate hopefuls), local SDB teams. South Korea has five reformatories and three so-called 'discernment centres' (where young offenders are held prior to Family Court proceedings). Each of these places has a Salesian team assigned - one Salesians, some aspirants, novices or prenovices, lay volunteers drawn from University students (about 100 of them) plus some 'mothers', women Cooperators. The team visits each place each week for a 2 hour programme made up, rather typically, of games, catechesis and often first evangelisation activities. Bascially, there isn't a delinquent youth in South Korea who does not know Don Bosco!
It really is a heart-warming ministry. The camps are just the icing on the cake. The real work is done week by week, and there is follow-up for 'past pupils'. In the Seoul discernment centre there is a fifteen year-old tradition now where the mums from Chong Dam Parish prepare a monthly meal for the kids without parents or from broken homes.
VOCABULARY
cohort: group
in situ: in the place
Generala: go to SELECT and look up 'Generala' in the Italian index, for description plus Don Bosco's own comments on how to apply the Preventive System in this situation.
_______________
Korean 'special school' camps. Korea's entire delinquent cohort knows Don Bosco!
SEOUL: 21 July 2005 -- In various cultures 'special' has special meanings. In Korea it simply means 'reformatory'. In the late 1970's, under the military rule of the late General Park, Fr Francis Kim SDB, then a deacon, was imprisoned for 24 months. After his release and subsequent ordination, as a mark of gratitude, he took up a prison ministry, now fully absorbed by the Salesian provincial community. Fr Kim continues his work within that framework.
In the first fortnight of August, the Salesians will hold five 'Summer Catholic School of Faith' camps in five different reformatories throughout Korea: Kwangju (Aug 1-4), Daejon Shin Cheon (8-12), Seoul (9-12, Daejon Won Cheon (9-12), Chuncheon (8-12). Between 30-40 participants will take part in each location. These summer faith camps, much anticipated by the young inmates, are oragnised by Fr Stefano Yan SDB, provincial delegate for the reformatory ministry.
This year's theme is Together Around One Shared Table (The Eucharist). Clearly the reformatory situation does not allow general freedom to head for the mountains or the seaside, so camps are in situ, though for those who recall the famous 'Generala' picnic conducted by Don Bosco for an almost identical situation, it is good to know that in Korea too, there are some 'off-campus' activities permitted if the Salesians are running them.
It's a team effort. Fr Yang, seven prenovices (the 2006 novitiate hopefuls), local SDB teams. South Korea has five reformatories and three so-called 'discernment centres' (where young offenders are held prior to Family Court proceedings). Each of these places has a Salesian team assigned - one Salesians, some aspirants, novices or prenovices, lay volunteers drawn from University students (about 100 of them) plus some 'mothers', women Cooperators. The team visits each place each week for a 2 hour programme made up, rather typically, of games, catechesis and often first evangelisation activities. Bascially, there isn't a delinquent youth in South Korea who does not know Don Bosco!
It really is a heart-warming ministry. The camps are just the icing on the cake. The real work is done week by week, and there is follow-up for 'past pupils'. In the Seoul discernment centre there is a fifteen year-old tradition now where the mums from Chong Dam Parish prepare a monthly meal for the kids without parents or from broken homes.
VOCABULARY
cohort: group
in situ: in the place
Generala: go to SELECT and look up 'Generala' in the Italian index, for description plus Don Bosco's own comments on how to apply the Preventive System in this situation.
_______________
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