Night for the our lady of Fatima

Transcription

1 Missionary Benedictine sisters of Tutzing : Seoul priory issue 259 Night for the our lady of Fatima In the evening of the 13th on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, we celebrated the feast dedicating beautiful prayer activities at Our Lady s feet. The ceremony included the wreath offering and candles, and the rosary prayer and the litany of the Virgin Mary during the liturgy of Word. The trio, the organ of S. Tobias, the keyboard of S. Emanuel, the cello of postulant Agnès, and a song by Hilde group were especially prepared and performed to our lady. Our particular petitions of rosary and litany was for calling on the peace on Korean peninsula as recommended by Cardinal Yeom of Seoul archdiocese who announced a Pastoral letter on the 100th anniversary of the virgin Mary of Fatima urging the faithful to pray daily rosary as well as take more frequently the sacrament of reconciliation for the repentance of our people and the peace of the world. Korean Benedictine meeting 2017 Sr. Cellina Kim On May 10 ~ 11, In Busan was held the Korean Benedictine meeting on the theme of 'Invocation of the Korean Benedictine in this Age' at the building named House of Grace of Busan convent. The keynote lecture was given by Fr. Jonah of Goseong Monastery. For more information, please refer to the reminder on the news channel. From Seoul priory, M. Rosemarie Hwang, Sr Gratia Lee and me, Sr Celina Kim had attended. This time Busan Olivetian sisters hosted the meeting and their building had been under the renovation including their main chapel from 2015 until late last year. In newly cleaned up building we were all able to join their beautiful liturgy with Olivetian sisters. On the first day druing the little break we could climb up to the famouse seaport of Busan and watch the beautiful nightview by 3 of ourselves. Then the coinonia party for the session of getting to know had opened and it was very much pleasant meeting our broad family members for the first time though some were familiar from previous meetings. The next morning after breakfast we all were trying to make the best use of time visiting the surrounding sightseeing spots Gwanganri beach park and Igidae park- some remained for looking around inside the remodeled convent enjoying conversation with one another. And then the general meeting had begun and it s time to share about 'what happened in the past year' followed by some

2 announcements. There finished the meeting after a festive lunch. Please refer the details of sharing in the meeting to the documents sent from Pusan Convent. Korean Catholic formator s meeting The initial formators seminar in 2017 organized by the commission of Korean Women's superiors was held at Aaron's house from May 9th to 12th. Sr. Verona, junior mistress and me, Sr. Edith as a vocation inspirer attended the conference. Main speaker Kim Yong-eun, a Saletian sister conducted the seminar giving talks on the topic "mind change: digital primitive people, how can we lead them to the religious life?" About 100 sisters who are responsible for initial formation in their convent gathered in groups and had some serious time sharing about how to deal with young people in terms of religious formation. To summarize the contents of the seminar briefly, 'The modern digitized world has changed the way people exist, How much people are losing in a screen-oriented lifestyle fast and convenient in the overflowing wave of information the ability to think and concentrate, the ability to endure pains and difficulties, the ability to make eye contact and converse to understand others, the ability to listen attentively, the ability to stay in the present right now and so on. For young people living in Digital Age who are nearly addicted to the use of digital devices in ordinary living and were said particularly lacking of such traits in large. In order to restore their lost concentration, self-control, and empathy for others, there were considered posing and distancing, silence and meditation, rest in nature, spiritual reading essential methods regardless of the different charism of orders. Though young people need a lot of patience and time for waiting to adjust themselves to the religious community life, in the end it is then the young people would find the new heart to do it and be transformed by the charm of religious life when they observe the living faith in their formators and seniors by taking their guiding examples and seeing them live their identity joyfully and faithfully. So it needs to be taken into deep consideration how we are pursuing the benefit of the digitized world and how much time we get lost in tons of information and updated news the world never stop ceasing to pour through the computers, smartphones and screens everywhere in public. It was time to recognize seriously that we need the evaluations and discernments of the use of mass media and social media through devices in the community. At the new house of ours in Jeju Sr. Rosemarie Hwang From May 2 to 3, I attended a ceremony of the appointment of Sister Veritas Lee to the first SIC for Pyosun community and Sr. Petro Shin for Jeju station. I was very thankful to the parish priest because he had the convent remodeled so that the community was becoming more stable in favorable way of living to us. parishioners were so happy that each time seeing us they greeted with thankful words expressing how grateful they are to have our sister in their community and they are bringing to the convent some freshly picked delicacies, abalones from the sea, some fresh rare type of oranges and even freshly made kimchi and so on. I was so warm in my heart for the atmosphere our sisters were sharing with the parishioners who were so kind and generous. I asked some believers, "What is so good for you that sisters are with you?" And they answered, "We feel like our mom is back home." In Korean culture Catholic sisters or nuns are never called Mother -,

3 "Haha ~~ It is a such feeling!" The first night we took a little longer time for dinner in relaxed manner and went out for walking around to enjoy the fresh night air. I could smell the special fragrance from the blooming rare Tangerine trees all around the neighborhood. Our hearts were filled with thankfulness to the Lord walking in the moonlight free of downtown pollution. In the morning again we had some time to appreciate the beautiful scenery of the sunlight reflected in the silver waves at the beach praising God together. On May 3 was the first meeting of house of Jeju and the Pyosun community! Thanks to the invitation of Bishop Gang woo-il we could establish our two communities to help people in this beautiful island on the safe ground like this. We invited him for lunch in the convent and took a stroll together to Ara park nearby the bishop s house. Roads were wonderfully decorated with the native flowers found only on Jeju Island, and the park made us feel at home with it s simplicity as the playground we had back in our childhood. I was thankful of their hard work at this initial stage of houses and we pray that our communities would be one that makes God smile at them sharing blessings given abundantly from God. Sr. Angela leaving for Bulgaria On May 12 after a few months of preparation, Sr. Angela left for Bulgaria for her 2nd time mission there. About two years after her return from Bulgaria, she was greeted again leaving for her mission. Looking bright and cheerful she was running inside and came out wearing the mission cross playfully to get the blessings and prayers from the community as if it s her first mission sending. God bless you and your new community and keep you all in His hands. On May 31, Sr. Jeong Ha-Sang returned to Seoul after her 5 years of apostolate work of bible study with Korean immigrant in Mahattan which belongs to the Demarest Station N.J. 41st anniversary of the opening of the Aewha School Sr. Johan Bosco Gu On May 25, there was a mass celebrating the 41st anniversary of the opening of the Aewha School. M. Rosemary, Sr. Mary David, and Sr. Eo-Jin attended from our convent, and as the chief director of the foundation, Sr. Rosemarie gave the plaque of appreciation to the teachers and joined the thanksgiving mass with the students together. Father Jung Soon-oh said the holy mass who has worked for the community of the handy-capped people - The father's parents were all deaf and he grew up learning to speak to the parents in sign language. Once he had come with his parents to meet late Sr. Caritas Heo at the Catholic Deaf Mission in Seoul and afterwards he had become a priest with the help of Sr. Caritas.- He expressed his gratitude to many people and our God in his discourse, "Thank to Sr. Caritas for her love and devotion to the deaf we have been able to live sharing our difficulties and helping one another for last 41 years. I am

4 grateful to the teachers who have worked for 30 years, 20 years and 10 years in the school and specially the retiring teacher after life-time work for the students. The school would continue only with this love-efforts of such teaches and people who students would take as example in their life." he said. And lastly there was a dancing performance by high school students. The elementary ones who were watching them suddenly went up to the stage and danced together and it became more pleasant and joyful making us all give ever bigger smiles. + Notice + Bible retreat Justina Shin(Cha-hyun), the mother of Sr. Theres Kim at the age of 90 on May 23 returned to God. She had been long time laying in sick bed. We pray for her soul that God may embrace and keep her in His eternal happiness. On 28 Sr. Rosalima Kim has finished her 30 days retreat and Sr. Samuel Choi her 40 days on May 31. The community was accompanying with them in communal prayers. Congratulation sisters! Oblates news The 3 rd pimgrim of Seoul oblates group Sr. Timotea Park This time 22 oblates and some of their family members made the pilgrimage to Italy and Israel. In the pilgrimage to Israel, we could feel the dense tensions between Israel and Palestine everywhere and it was a touching experience to know what would be like to follow Jesus in the land where our Lord s footsteps remained. The lake of Galilee, Jordan River, Dead Sea, Jerusalem known to us only in the Bible. Our guide was very competent with his 30 years of experience and explained to us every part of the Holy Land connecting the bible verses wherever we go. Then he helped us put them together as if we were reading the bible through the mind and five senses of our bodies. In Italy we visited first four major cathedrals in Rome and St. Francis of Assisi and appreciated overwhelming church arts and faiths of the people who made them possible. For us it was more gracious to visit Monte Cassino, Sabiaco in sense of experiencing the life of St. Benedict which our oblates groups have been learning, studying and discussing every now and then back in our home country. So even the names of each group are taken from the spots here like 'Subiaco' and 'Monte Cassino', 'St. Benedict' and sure enough all the sites had impressed us with bigger and happier feeling of belonging. We also bought St. Benedict medals and crucifixes and in the churches saw frescoes of walls and ceilings painted differently every century. In the eternity city of 'Rome' seeing around the four major cathedrals, the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel we had the opportunity of appreciating Michelangelo's The Last Judgment ' and the great arts of many centuries and in Florence

5 named the 'City of Flowers' whose prides were magnificent buildings, paintings and sculptures of the prestigious churches as well. But it was Scala Sancta or Saint Paul's Tre Fontane where we offered deep prayers in tears going up on the knees and experienced deep urge of repentance touching the footsteps of our faith. We also visited our Generalate house and M. Angela and her councilors gave us a hearty welcome and sang a song with other 10 Korean sisters participating in International Meeting Week. I was deeply grateful to our Lord for giving us this opportunity of gracious pilgrimage. And also we thanks to the community that with their blessings we were able to make our pilgrimage wonderful and forgettable. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sharing Emmaus trip ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Group Hilde to lake Goisan in Chungcheong province on April, 24 Attic Emmaus with candidate Group Maria to Manripo beach Sr. Michelle Lee The sea of that day was so calm, peaceful and beautiful. 4 of us from Maria group Sr. Rita, Sr. Antonia, Sr. Martina, Sr. Michele arrived at Manipo beach in 4 hours of riding by our convent helper Mr. Yoon on May 15th. After lunch with a cool view of sea, 3 Sisters went to see around the Manripo Arboretum and I (Sister Michelle) to the beach with Mr. Yoon to the beach. Only a few people were seen on the beach because it was not yet in water season. I could see farther on the horizon some islands floating and the waves seemed like pouring like blessings towards me. At this moment this beautiful sea is all for me I was so absorbed in the scenery. I sat at the Deck and enjoyed the sea quietly by Jesus for about an hour. Then it's time to leave and Mr. Yoon was trying to get the car parked on the side to the road but the ground was sandy and it s wheels were getting to dig into the ground to the point that the car had stopped moving anymore. Mr. Yoon worked hard for a long time but the car was stuck down deeply and wouldn t move anyhow. I was fearful to make the sign of the cross toward the car and prayed quietly, "In the name of Jesus, come out from the sand. Then we looked back and found that a white car behind ours was moving and three robust young men were taking down a thick rope from their car trunk. They did not speak anything to us but looked like they were preparing to pull our car out of the sand. After fastening the ropes to our car bump they drove their car lightly, then our car got out of the sand

6 hole and came out on the road. I was so surprised, delighted and excited that I asked the young men "Where did you come from and where did you get the rope?" They were saying, "We carry the rope all the time." I thought these young people were Archangels - Michael, Gabriel, Rafael from Jesus responding to my prayer. I stayed with Jesus in the beautiful sea, and I met angels. Thank you, Lord! that I could see you and realize in all I had met. Group Joseph to Eco park in mountain peacork on May 27.