austraLasia #3161
JEJU (Korea): 18 November 2012 -- A meeting of Salesian Brothers from KOR Province was held from November 15 to 18 in Jeju Island, the largest island in Korea in the southern part of the country, at the Isidor Youth Centre run by the FMA.
'Empty bowl' was the poetic main theme of this year's meeting at which all 15 Brothers in the province attended. The theme was divided into sub-topics, one for each day: collecting the bowl for the first day, emptying the bowl the second day, refilling the empty bowl the third day, and the fourth day's topic was never a dry bowl!
The main purpose of these Brothers meetings is to strengthen the identity of the Salesian Brother and promote the Brother's vocation. From the 2006 onwards the feast of Bro. Zatti has been celebrated as Brother's week in Korea. Each community prays for the Brother's vocation during evening prayer and has a chance to meet the Brothers in the province.
Late evening they arrived at the Youth Centre located in the middle of Jeju Island, the most popular place for tourism in the country. On the second day they were inspired by and shared the tender breath of God in the beauty of nature. Each could do this in his own style, choosing whatever he wanted to see around Jeju island. The majority of them spent their time enjoying the stunning views of the blue ocean, watching fishermen in their boats and thinking of the the absolute command of the Lord to his disciples asking them to be fishers of men.
Serious and intense reflection was the order of the third day, from morning until late at night. Peter Choi, the principal of the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center, spoke at length on the theme of 'Salesian Brothers and the vision of Don Bosco'. He presented the model of the Salesian Brother who carrying out the ideals of Don Bosco in the vocational training field. As a consequence of his long period of dedication to this field in fidelity to Don Bosco's charism for the salvation of youth, the lecturer testified how our society and government has come to recognise the value of the preventive system, and shows it is willing to collaborate with us in vocational education of the young, specially for the poorer ones. This recognition and changing attitude is a small miracle that is helping society to change.
Then followed the presentation of what the Salesian Brother's spirituality is, by Bro. Mark Choi who returned last August from the Salesian University in Rome after 3 years study in Salesian spirituality. The Brother's spirituality, the second lecturer argued, is nothing else than joy of work in carrying out DB's mission in the community and with the community. He said that it is a most appropriate testimony of the kingdom of God and one not always currently understood by others in the Brother's life.
here was also time to look back at the EAO Brothers meeting in Cambodia in 2006, material from which has been translated into Korean. Bro. Benedict Baek resented and guided discussion on this and how much it had influenced the provincial plan. There was discussion on the coming Thailand meeting, August 2013, who will participate and what contribution they will bring. Finally there was a very fruitful and meaningful gathering late into the evening in a fraternal atmosphere focused on the desire to share the pastoral life and rediscover the value of the Brother's vocation in today's difficult times.
The last day of the meeting, November 18, saw a homily at Mass by Fr. Stephen Nam the provincial, who had followed the meeting from the beginning. He expressed his admiration at the sincere and enthusiastic participation in and contribution to the meeting. As layman in the religious community, the Provincial said, with strong faith and human maturity the Brother has to testify to the value of the kingdom of God in and beyond the community. As a true protagonist in realising Don Bosco's mission, the salvation of the youth, he has to be close to the young first in order to lead them to be 'good Christians and upright citizens'.
KOR Brothers meet over a 'bowl'
'Empty bowl' was the poetic main theme of this year's meeting at which all 15 Brothers in the province attended. The theme was divided into sub-topics, one for each day: collecting the bowl for the first day, emptying the bowl the second day, refilling the empty bowl the third day, and the fourth day's topic was never a dry bowl!
The main purpose of these Brothers meetings is to strengthen the identity of the Salesian Brother and promote the Brother's vocation. From the 2006 onwards the feast of Bro. Zatti has been celebrated as Brother's week in Korea. Each community prays for the Brother's vocation during evening prayer and has a chance to meet the Brothers in the province.
Late evening they arrived at the Youth Centre located in the middle of Jeju Island, the most popular place for tourism in the country. On the second day they were inspired by and shared the tender breath of God in the beauty of nature. Each could do this in his own style, choosing whatever he wanted to see around Jeju island. The majority of them spent their time enjoying the stunning views of the blue ocean, watching fishermen in their boats and thinking of the the absolute command of the Lord to his disciples asking them to be fishers of men.
Serious and intense reflection was the order of the third day, from morning until late at night. Peter Choi, the principal of the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center, spoke at length on the theme of 'Salesian Brothers and the vision of Don Bosco'. He presented the model of the Salesian Brother who carrying out the ideals of Don Bosco in the vocational training field. As a consequence of his long period of dedication to this field in fidelity to Don Bosco's charism for the salvation of youth, the lecturer testified how our society and government has come to recognise the value of the preventive system, and shows it is willing to collaborate with us in vocational education of the young, specially for the poorer ones. This recognition and changing attitude is a small miracle that is helping society to change.
Then followed the presentation of what the Salesian Brother's spirituality is, by Bro. Mark Choi who returned last August from the Salesian University in Rome after 3 years study in Salesian spirituality. The Brother's spirituality, the second lecturer argued, is nothing else than joy of work in carrying out DB's mission in the community and with the community. He said that it is a most appropriate testimony of the kingdom of God and one not always currently understood by others in the Brother's life.
here was also time to look back at the EAO Brothers meeting in Cambodia in 2006, material from which has been translated into Korean. Bro. Benedict Baek resented and guided discussion on this and how much it had influenced the provincial plan. There was discussion on the coming Thailand meeting, August 2013, who will participate and what contribution they will bring. Finally there was a very fruitful and meaningful gathering late into the evening in a fraternal atmosphere focused on the desire to share the pastoral life and rediscover the value of the Brother's vocation in today's difficult times.
The last day of the meeting, November 18, saw a homily at Mass by Fr. Stephen Nam the provincial, who had followed the meeting from the beginning. He expressed his admiration at the sincere and enthusiastic participation in and contribution to the meeting. As layman in the religious community, the Provincial said, with strong faith and human maturity the Brother has to testify to the value of the kingdom of God in and beyond the community. As a true protagonist in realising Don Bosco's mission, the salvation of the youth, he has to be close to the young first in order to lead them to be 'good Christians and upright citizens'.
