austraLasia #3457
The Gospel of Joy
Bishop Toso helps Korean Church prepare for Papal visit
SEOUL June 28, 2014 -- “I was deeply impressed by the Korean Church's interest in and love for the poor and those who suffer. I was particularly impressed with priests who are standing up for the weak and sharing the pain in various social cases and this shows that you are a good example of what the Pope has said, ‘The priest should go to the outskirts and be the shepherd living with the smell of the sheep’” This was said by Bishop Mario Toso SDB during his fraternal sharing in the Provincial House in Seoul.
Bishop Mario Toso, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace at the Vatican is from Veneto, Italy. As a Salesian, he was most recently Rector Magnificus at the UPS (Università Pontificia Salesiana) and in 2009 and was appointed as Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and ordained Bishop on December 12 that year.
His visit to Korea was at the invitation of the Bishop’s conference, Korea, to explain the Apostolic Exhortation, ‘Evangelii Gaudium’ in preparation for the Pope’s upcoming visit in August. Bishop Toso arrived on June 21 and toured the Archdiocese of Gwangju (24th), Archdiocese of Daegu(25th) and Archdiocese of Seoul(26th), giving lectures in all three. He stayed overnight at nearby Salesian Communities and had fraternal sharing in each. He stayed at the Seoul Provincial House and listened to the people who suffer in our society.
“The Church has a mission to proclaim and witness to the Gospel of Christ. Therefore the Church must take a prophetic stance with regard to obstacles of social and political injustice to proclaiming the Good News." As he put it, "The nation cannot stop the Church from saying this and that” where justice and peace are concerned. In particular, he said, all of us make up the church as priests, religious clergy and believers and we must come together for the benefit of the common good.
“I have heard from the disadvantaged during this visit in Korea; they have consistently said that they are deeply impressed with the dedication of priests and religious and their interest in sharing their pain. Through this, they have begun to believe in God." Bishop Toso commented that this shows evidence of a healthy church in Korea. I believe the view of Church in sharing the pain of those citizens of Mirayng who suffer from the building of a Transmission Tower and the residents in Gangjeong Village who are in pain because of the construction of a naval base, is indeed what Jesus has taught us about the practice of the fundamental love of the Good Samaritan. "I think there’s a difference between perception and reality,” he said, in reference to the Church in Korea being seen (by some) as tilted towards the rich and the privileged. "In particular it is not right to define Church people who strive for justice and peace as Communist or Left-wing and persecute them. We must make sure we overcome this challenge. He also said it is unfortunate that in reality even the Pope is often treated this way."
Bishop Toso emphasized that it is necessary to properly establish a system in order to practice the teaching of the Gospel to consolidate justice and peace. The members of the Church must suggest to the State that it enact the right laws and help to ensure they are carried out fairly by citizens. He saw that even in highly developed democratic countries it is common to see a gap between politics and citizens and based on economic understanding where 'the system' is applied unilaterally to benefit the 'haves'. "Therefore," he said, "people of the Church must consciously come together to make an effort to promote the values of kingdom of God on this earth."
Bishop Toso said: “Pope Francis’s visit is intended, as the title of the visit indicates, to make South Korea’s churches rise and shine on the world”. he is coming especially to meet young people whose peace in East Asia is under threat, and to recommend that they be apostles of peace. Bishop Toso requested the Korean Salesian Family to deepen the joy of the Gospel with young people as preparation for greeting the Pope.
The Bishop delivered a keynote address at Myeong-dong Cathedral at 2 pm on June 26, at a gathering of priests, religious and members of the Church. He left for Rome on the 27th.
The Gospel of Joy
Bishop Toso helps Korean Church prepare for Papal visit
Bishop Mario Toso, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace at the Vatican is from Veneto, Italy. As a Salesian, he was most recently Rector Magnificus at the UPS (Università Pontificia Salesiana) and in 2009 and was appointed as Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and ordained Bishop on December 12 that year.
His visit to Korea was at the invitation of the Bishop’s conference, Korea, to explain the Apostolic Exhortation, ‘Evangelii Gaudium’ in preparation for the Pope’s upcoming visit in August. Bishop Toso arrived on June 21 and toured the Archdiocese of Gwangju (24th), Archdiocese of Daegu(25th) and Archdiocese of Seoul(26th), giving lectures in all three. He stayed overnight at nearby Salesian Communities and had fraternal sharing in each. He stayed at the Seoul Provincial House and listened to the people who suffer in our society.
“The Church has a mission to proclaim and witness to the Gospel of Christ. Therefore the Church must take a prophetic stance with regard to obstacles of social and political injustice to proclaiming the Good News." As he put it, "The nation cannot stop the Church from saying this and that” where justice and peace are concerned. In particular, he said, all of us make up the church as priests, religious clergy and believers and we must come together for the benefit of the common good.
“I have heard from the disadvantaged during this visit in Korea; they have consistently said that they are deeply impressed with the dedication of priests and religious and their interest in sharing their pain. Through this, they have begun to believe in God." Bishop Toso commented that this shows evidence of a healthy church in Korea. I believe the view of Church in sharing the pain of those citizens of Mirayng who suffer from the building of a Transmission Tower and the residents in Gangjeong Village who are in pain because of the construction of a naval base, is indeed what Jesus has taught us about the practice of the fundamental love of the Good Samaritan. "I think there’s a difference between perception and reality,” he said, in reference to the Church in Korea being seen (by some) as tilted towards the rich and the privileged. "In particular it is not right to define Church people who strive for justice and peace as Communist or Left-wing and persecute them. We must make sure we overcome this challenge. He also said it is unfortunate that in reality even the Pope is often treated this way."
Bishop Toso emphasized that it is necessary to properly establish a system in order to practice the teaching of the Gospel to consolidate justice and peace. The members of the Church must suggest to the State that it enact the right laws and help to ensure they are carried out fairly by citizens. He saw that even in highly developed democratic countries it is common to see a gap between politics and citizens and based on economic understanding where 'the system' is applied unilaterally to benefit the 'haves'. "Therefore," he said, "people of the Church must consciously come together to make an effort to promote the values of kingdom of God on this earth."
Bishop Toso said: “Pope Francis’s visit is intended, as the title of the visit indicates, to make South Korea’s churches rise and shine on the world”. he is coming especially to meet young people whose peace in East Asia is under threat, and to recommend that they be apostles of peace. Bishop Toso requested the Korean Salesian Family to deepen the joy of the Gospel with young people as preparation for greeting the Pope.
The Bishop delivered a keynote address at Myeong-dong Cathedral at 2 pm on June 26, at a gathering of priests, religious and members of the Church. He left for Rome on the 27th.
