DPN 377 Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, Daegu Priory, KOREA August 2014

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1 DAEGU PRIORY NEWSLETTER DPN 377 Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, Daegu Priory, KOREA August 2014 From Homily of Pope Francis Holy Mass for the Beatification of Paul Yun Ji-Chung and 123 Martyr Companions Gwanghwamum Gate, Seoul Saturday, 16 August

2 Sisters in Harmony Thursday - Monday, Aug : Despise the prediction of rain, which usually occurs during the months of July and August, God blessed the 5-day pastoral visit of Pope Francis to Korea with good weather. Hundreds of thousands people were able to attend the celebration of the Beatification of 124 Korean Martyrs in the heart of Seoul, Gwanghwamum streets on Saturday morning, August 16 followed by a visit to Kkottongnae, the largest Catholic Center for the poor and abandonede. Missionary Benedictine Sisters involved in Pastoral and Youth ministries were also very busy and excited to organize and receive the Pope. While Sisters of Daegu Priory House applied for the meeting with Pope in Kkottongnae which required 2 full buses, Sisters involved with Youth Pastoral Ministries worked together with priests of Daegu Archdiocese and Daejeon Diocese for the 6th Asian Youth Day held on Sunday, August 17 at Haemi Sanctuary in Seosan, 151 kilometers south of Seoul - where about 1,000 Korean Christians were executed for their faith from 1866 to

3 Among 6,000 youths was a group of 20 Austrian youth from Salburg Archdiocese who lodged at the Benedict Spirituality Center on Saturday, August 16. On the following day, they participated in the morning prayer at Priory House, met Sr. Bertwina Caesar at Parlor and had a delicious western style breakfast. In fact, Daegu and Salburg Archdioceses have held ties for 50 years. Thursday, Aug. 7: The newly ordained priest Rev. Thomas Han from PyoengHwadong Parish, Gimcheon celebrated his first thanksgiving Mass at Daegu Priory House on Thursday, Aug. 7. He is a Jesuit priest and was ordained at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul, on July 2. Friday, Aug. 8: The book The gift for my soul - REST - Schenk deiner Seele Zeit - of Anselm Grün is now available in Korean language to all those interested in spirituality in general thanks to Sr. Anna Maria Cheong, OSB who translated from German into Korean. The book is an easy reader pocket book of 80 pages; dimensions: 15 cm x 10 cm; part of the series Small Gifts of Father Anselm Grün published by Catholic Publishing House. One can purchased the whole series of 10 books for only 35,000 through Internet by going to 3

4 Tuesday Thursday, Aug. 5-14: The 5 th and the last session of 8-day retreat in 2014 was held from Aug. 5 to 14 at the Benedict Spirituality Center under the direction of Rev. Raphael Lee, professor of Philosophy at Daegu Catholic University. 67 Sisters attended this retreat including novice Martha, junior Sisters Chris Gu, Marie Munmo Kim, Yuil Hwangbo in preparation for their second renewal vows as well as Maria Goretti Jeong and Lumina Kim for their first renewal vows. Thursday, Aug. 14: 3 Postulants Christina Kim, ChanMi Kim and Maria Lee were officially admitted to the Novitiate by Prioress Lumen Choi in the presence of the whole community of Daegu Priory House at the chapter room, on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 14. Congratulations to the new novices!! Friday, Aug. 15: Novice Martha Ko made her first profession during the Solemnity Mass of on Aug. 15. As a new born Sister, she will be called Sister Marie Martha Ko, OSB Friday, Aug. 15: In rendering the good of obedience to our superiors and to one another in faith, and serving each other in love, we build up and support the community. Obedience places us at the service of the Church through the mission of our Congregation. By accepting our assignments willingly we can trust in the help of God. (Constitutions, Chapter II: Profession, paragraph 13) The announcement of new assignments of the Sisters of Daegu Priory was held at the Chapter room after breakfast on August 15. Under spirit of obedience 55 Sisters accepted new assignments from Mother Prioress Lumen Choi. Among them sent overseas were Sr. Marie Tae-gon Kim and Sr. Roger Lee to 2 Korean parishes in California State, U.S.A., Sr. Arsen Kim to Kim Degun Korean Parish, Sao Paulo, Brazil; Sr. Rosaria Yoon to Pontifico Istituto di Musica Sacra, Rome and Sr. Cecil Jo to Casa Generale in Rome, Italy. May our Lord bless the new assignments so that the Lord may work wonders in each Sister through the power of the Holy Spirit. Apostolate News August: Back to the Daegu Priory House after serving 8 years as chairperson of the Nutrition Department of Changwon Fatima Hospital, Sr. Rose Marie shares her professional experience during her recreation time: It was such an amazing experience to witness the changes in the hearts of our staff members of the Nutrition Department over the past 8 years. Everything began with the participation of the 4

5 movement Become an angel! promoted by Rev. Michael Gang, who initiated this movement in parishes, institutes and hospitals as a way to put into practice the great commandment of Christ, Love one another (John 15:13). Our Nutrition Department was not an exception. All of our 40 members registered in this movement, whereby every time one receives an amount of 4,000, he or she finds someone in need and uses the money to help that person. In some cases, the small acts of love happened to be giving cookies to an elderly neighbor, or a rose to a housewife, or a gift to a hospital patient. The stories were shared monthly and a great joy flourished in the hearts of each member. You could feel the new environment of love at our Department and also a great impact in the effectiveness of our production. Our food became more nutritious, tasteful and attractive, which was good for the healing process of our patients. The stories were collected and joined in one book to be shared with everyone. Saturday, Aug. 23: Sr. Emmanuela Suh and Sr. Im-I Theresa Cheong of Benedict Spirituality Center hosted a Cello and Organ Concert entitled The music of St. Hildegard in Cello at the main chapel of Waegwan Abbey on Saturday afternoon, August 23. The program consisted of 10 liturgical songs composed by St. Hildegard during her life in the Monastery of Rupertsberg and Eigingen, Germany. Before each performance, the poem was introduced in Latin by Rev. Thomas Timpte followed by a translation into Korean by Sr. Im-I Theresa Cheong. The Cellist was Prof. Park GyeongSuk of Keimyung University and the organist was Miss Kim YunHye. The attendees were able to listen and appreciate to the mystical music inspired by this saint who was canonized as a Doctor of the Church in She is also well known for her theological, botanical and medicinal texts. Aug. 28 Sept. 25: Changwon Fatima Hospital has strengthened responsible activities to improve the quality of life of all patients, providing compassionate health care through the utilization of the best preventive and rehabilitation program, in the spirit of the Catholic Church healing ministry tradition. In order to keep this spirit ever alive, a 2-day seminar entitled Being Worthy of the Name will be scheduled in 8 sessions to all senior employees over 3 years of work, beginning from Aug. 28 to Sept. 25 at Benedict Spirituality Center. On the first day, a lecture will delivered by Mrs. Cho HyeonSun, C.E.O of Female Institute 5

6 Center about the love of God through healing and the mission philosophy of the Hospital. Sr. Beda Kim will be the second speaker, who will discuss our congregation roots, and also how to put into practice the ideal hospital treatment. Other staff members will discuss people and the ecosystem. Friday, Aug. 29: Daegu Fatima Hospital has a new C.E.O., Sr. Anita Park. She was appointed by Mother Prioress Lumen Choi to take over the position of Sr. Jean Marie Chang, who served the Hospital for the past 6 years. Sr. Anita Park will be the 8 th C.E.O. The transition ceremony took place at Link Hall on Friday evening, Aug. 29. On behalf of the entire Daegu Priory House community, Mother Lumen Choi expressed great gratitude to the former Sister who struggled and worked tremendously in developing a high-quality Hospital, and asked Sr. Anita Park to keep the ministry of healing ever anew as the new leadership. In her remarks, Sr. Anita Park unveiled plans to intensify the healthcare of patients with a strong hospice system design and an advanced treatment process, with a new vision focusing on patient service. Monday, Aug. 25: Aware of the importance of promoting environmentally conscious activities, Daegu Fatima Hospital scheduled two conferences on Practical methods of consumption for ecological preservation addressed by Mr. Lee Dong- Uk, chairperson of Korean Environmental Industry and Technology Institute at Link Hall on Monday, Aug. 25 at 4 p.m. and 5:40 p.m. Around 400 participants including doctors, nurses and employees of the Hospital attended the conference. He talked about eco-system benefits through energy saving, recycling and waste reduction. No better way than to start with small things at home and at work. The safeguarding of the planet will be possible only if each one of us takes the matter seriously. said Mr. Lee. Comings & Goings Saturday, Aug. 2: Arrival of Sr. Chris Gu, Sr. Paulo Seo and Sr. Marie Luca Kim from Philippines after 6 months of mission exposure. Monday - Friday, Aug. 4-8: Departure and arrival of Sr. Mary Daniel Park to Manila, Philippines for the BEAO Meeting. Thursday, Aug. 7: Arrival of Sr. Columba Kim from Tanzania for health check-up and vacation. Sunday - Wednesday, Aug : Departure and arrival of Mother Prioress Lumen Choi to Los Angeles for superior installation of Sr. Marie Song-mun Lee and community official visitation. 6

7 Wednesday, Aug. 20: Arrival of Sr. Marie Rose Xavier from India for a 2 year of Juniorate. Wednesday, Aug. 20: Arrival of Sr. Helena Kim from India for a 2 year of Juniorate. Friday, Aug. 22: Departure of Sr. Yuil Hwangbo and Sr. Matteo Cho to Manila Priory, Philippines for junior mission exposure. Friday, Aug. 22: Departure of Sr. Roger Lee to St. Raphael Catholic Center, Los Angeles, U.S.A. A little bit of knowledge from one of our pioneers (continued from DPN 376) While she was doing her true missionary activities as a Missionary Benedictine Sister, the world got changed after the World War II. Korea was divided and the North Korea was occupied by the Soviets. The communistic North Korean regime didn t like what the Sisters were doing and so, on May 10, 1949, the Convent property was confiscated and the foreign Sisters were imprisoned and the Korean Sisters were chased out into the Streets. Later, the foreign Sisters and the foreign Fathers/Brothers were sent to Oksaduk hard labor camp. Sr. Fructuosa left her Clinic of 23 years and her beloved patients and people. Even then, she dedicated lovingly all the hardships to God who makes sense out of nonsense. When in PyungYang Prison, Sr. Fructuosa suffered diarrhea and edema but survived. Then, she successfully endured the Death March. In Oksaduk, she was sickly all the time but she volunteered to be the helper in kitchen and tried to be carefree and to share joyful moments with them. Then, she fell suffering a stroke (cerebral apoplexy) and received the Last Sacrament for the sick. She got recovered a little. She lay in the sewing room and tried to help some sewing. Till late in the evening she darned others clothes, socks, gloves, etc. There were lots to darn. While overdoing her work, she got weaker and weaker. And then, with another stroke, she quietly passed away on September 16, The community Sisters/Fathers/Brothers who were always grateful for the carefully darned gloves and socks were sure that she was admitted into heaven directly and prayed to her to help them in their hard situation. Sure enough, after Sr. Fructuosa s death, they got somewhat better treatment from the guards. Sr. Fructuosa willingly accepted all the hardships, pains, and sicknesses, all for the love of God. Her bloodless martyrdom and the fruits of her virtuous life were offered to God as light and salt for her beloved mission people. North Korean land is still holding her blessed body in some deep mountain named Oksaduk. -Sr. Veronica Lee- Responsible for the Chroniches of Daegu Priory (Translated by Sr. Maria Paul Sung) that in all things God may be glorified (Pt 4,11) Newsletter: osb_news@hanmail.net Homepage: 7