DAEGU PRIORY NEWSLETTER DPN 410 Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, Daegu Priory, South, KOREA May 2017 Greetings, y ou who are highly favored! The Lord is with y ou. -Luke 1:28-1
THE NIGHT OF THE HOLY MOTHER The Night of the Holy Mother with Statue of Our Lady of Fatima The 100 th Anniversary Jubilee of Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima The Arrival of the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima - Friday, May 25: The Statue, which was on a pilgrimage around Asia to celebrate the centennial of the apparition at Fatima arrived at the Benedict Spirituality Center of Daegu Priory at 3 PM, May 25, 2017. The group of pilgrims was going to stay at the Benedict Spirituality Center for the schedules of pilgrimage in Archdiocese of Daegu. As the sisters of Priory House welcomed the arrival of the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima. The Night of the Holy Mother with Statue of our Lady of Faimta - Friday, May 26: As the Tour schedule was free in the evening of May 26, we asked the group of pilgrims to celebrate the Night of the Holy Mother with the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, The group of pilgrims cooperated and in happiness we were blessed to celebrate the Night of the Holy Mother with the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima. Sisters from the Benedict Spirituality Center, Scholastica House, Daegu Fatima, and members of oblates and devotees of in the neighborhood gathered in the chapel of the Priory House to celebrate the Night of the Holy Mother. Right before the celebration of the Night of the Holy Mother, our sisters went to the Benedict Spirituality Center and brought the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima to the chapel corridor. The Night was began at 7:30 PM and watched first the video of Pope Francis blessing of six Centennial Pilgrim Statues of Our Lady of Fatima at the Vatican and sending them on tour in six continents for pilgrimage. Then, sisters went to the chapel corridor holding the lighted candles and in procession they followed the Statue of our Lady of Fatima to enter the chapel. After offering flowers, everyone in the chapel offered their lighted candles and all prayed together the Prayer to the Holy Mother. Then the novitiate members offered a special song Maria and Sr. Hyo Seong Chang presented her writing In the Name of the Mother. 2
In the Name of the Mother When Mary was greeted by an angel and when She answered Yes, God gave Her new name that is Mother. She met Jesus in the Spirit. She gave birth of Jesus in a manger. She presented Jesus in the temple. She searched Jesus with Joseph in sorrow. She met Jesus on the Way of the Cross. She looked at Jesus under the Cross. She embraced Jesus in painful bosom. She buried Jesus in Her heart. She met Jesus in the joy of Resurrection. God is given the Name Mother, Now you became our Mother in the whole world. Mother, loving Mother, we are weak, Please help us in the Name of the Mother in Jesus. - By: Sr. Hyo Seong Chang - In paying attention to a special intension in each decade of the Rosary, the assembly prayed the Mystery of the Glory. After praying the Rosary, a member of oblate Domitila Kim played the songs White Rose and Holy Mother, What Shall I Do for I Like You with Kayagum (a twelvestringed Korean harp). Then our sisters played the Ave Maria for Flute Quartet composed by Giulio Cachini. Before closing the Night, the assembly had the self-reflection followed by the Night Prayer. After the Salve Regina a leader priest of the pilgrims clothed the Brown Scapular to each assembly that the Brown Scapular gives a special miraculous grace: Whosoever Dies Clothed in this Scapular shall not Suffer Eternal Fire (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, 1251). The devotees returned home and the sisters praised to God for His blessing and grace in silence until 9:10 PM in the chapel. Especially, sister were very grateful and happy that Daegu Priory was chosen as among the stops of Our Lady of Fatima centennial statue and was able to have the Night with Our Lady of Fatima. It was an occasion for us to pray individually and as a community, and to return to God, pray, and make atonement for our own sins and ask God s mercy to our country as well as the whole world. At the end of the Night, sisters brought the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima to the Benedict Spirituality Center and all the sisters followed in procession. Mother of God, pray for us! 3
The Night of the Holy Mother of the Religious Orders Monday, May 8: The Night of the Holy Mother of the Religious Orders in Archdiocese of Daegu was held in the evening of May 8 at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in the compound of Archdiocese of Daegu. This year the Night was organized and directed by our sisters. In the first part, the assembly of the sisters and the devotees offered the Prayer of Rosary in intention of the confused and disordered our country and the world and the socially under privileged that they may have the peace and the safety of life. In the second part, our rector Father Dionysius Park con-celebrated the Eucharistic Mass with Father John Maria Vianney Yoon, Pastor of the Department of Pastoral Care Service, Daegu Fatima Hospital and two priests from Daegu Diocese. At the end of the Mass our sisters offered the flute concert. The Vocation Sunday Event Sunday, May 7: The Vocation Sunday Event was held at the St. Justino Seminary of the Archdiocese of Daegu. The Seminary was opened to young visitors who are interested in the life of priesthood and sisterhood. For the event the Seminary prepared various programs as well as the religious orders. Our sisters presented the video of Latin Mass and Prayers sung by our priory sisters. We also opened a booth to introduce our congregation, priory and ministries. 4
SISTERS IN HARMONY Harvesting the Chamomile Flowers Monday, May 15: Blanketed with fallen leaves the chamomile flowers spent the winter warmly; and the natural fertilizer helped the chamomile flowers to bloom beautifully! It is the joy to see the growing and blooming of the chamomile, and gives a great joy to harvest and dry and store chamomile to use for teas and to produce medicine products. We are very grateful to the sisters who took care of the chamomile farm and to honey bees and to God for His care through the sun and rain and wind! The Blessing of the Houses Bethania and the Rectory Thursday, May 18: The ceremony of the Blessing of the Houses Bethania and the Rectory was initiated at 3 PM by Abbot Blasio Park, the Abbot of Waegwan Benedictine Monastery. The location of the Houses Bethania and the Rectory is the former location of Houses Maoro and Paul. The Houses were used as office and boarding for the sisters who supervised the construction of the Priory House. Later the Houses were used as vacation house, offices for the ministries and gathering purposes, also youth ministry for small group retreat etc. The lots were bought for various ministries for the region, however, since the lots were exclusively be used for only residential buildings, therefore, the original plans were changed after long discussions. The House Bethania is the House without Doorsill which can be used by anyone who needs a quiet time for soul and body. The other house is two story Rectory, the first story for the rector of the Scholstica House and Nursing Home, the second story for the rector of the priory house. 5
RETREATS The True Encounter Program for the Sisters in Preparation for Final Profession Wednesday-Friday, May 10-12: The True Encounter Program for the Sisters in Preparation for Final Profession was guided by Sr. Regina Park, the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Sisters made discoveries for themselves and in discovering truths straight from the Word, they celebrated the joy of discovery! The 30-Day Retreat for the Sisters in Preparation for Final Profession Monday-Friday, May 29-June 30: The 30-Day Retreat for the Sisters in Preparation for Final Profession initiated at the Benedict Spirituality Center. The retreat is guided by Sr. Lumen Choi, the Directress of the Junior Sisters. The 30-Day Retreat for Ongoing Formation Tuesday-, May 30-June 30: As an ongoing formation program 17 Sisters are having the 30-Day Retreat at the Benedict Spirituality Center. The theme of the retreat is the Endless Prayer and the Sayings of the Desert Fathers. MEETINGS AND EVENTS The Meeting of the Korean Benedictines Wednesday-Thursday, May 10-11: The 39 th Meeting of the Korean Benedictines was held at the Busan Olivetan Monastery and 36 Benedictines of the 7 Communities participated at the meeting. On the first day a lecture was given by Father Jonah Yeonhak Lee of Paju Olivetan Benedictine Monastery on the topic The Call of the Benedictines Living at This Day. On the second day the members visited newly remodeled monastery followed by the meetings of superiors and meetings of general assembly. From Daegu Priory, Prioress Sr. Maoro Sye, Sub-prioress Sr. Bethania Lee, Sr. Luna Park, Sr. Francis Hwang, Sr. Rose Marie Kwon, Sr. Hugo Kim, and Sr. Filia Han participated the meeting. 6
Athletic Competition of the Oblates Sunday, May 21: The Athletic Competition of the Oblates took place in the back hill of the Priory House from 10 AM to 4 PM. Through the get together made the oblates to be one again; and in playing and keeping up for their team brought full of joy and happiness and bursting out of laughter washed away all their stress in life! Concert of Violin and Organ Ensemble Duo Bona Fides Wednesday, May 28: The concert of violin and organ ensemble Duo Bona Fides was performed at 4 PM in the chapel of the Priory House. The Duo Bona Fides is the church music and various classic musics are reinterpreted based on the Catholic faith meek and humble mind, faithful and trustful and care to each other. The ensemble concert was performed the violin by Claudia Kim and organ by Brother Luca from the Waegwan Benedictine Monastery. The 34 th Anniversary of the Gyeongsan Benedict Bible School Wednesday, May 28: The thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration for the 34 th Anniversary of the Gyeongsan Benedict Bible School was held at 10:30 AM in the Ignatius Center of Daegu Catholic Divinity School. In the first part, the students had the Our Time during each class performed play, sing songs, and dancings, etc. In the second part, the students played the Korean classical musics. And in the third part, the assembly participated the thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration officiated by Father Sugeun Kang. The Mass was offered with the Korean classical music. Sr. Bethania Lee, Sub-prioress and Sr. Luna Park attended the celebration. GROUP SPRING PICNICS The Final Professed Sister Group 4 Tuesday, May 9: The Group 4 Sisters went their picnic to the Lake Cheongjangho in the Chilgapsan (Mt. 561m above sea level) noted mountain with big and small peaks, valleys and also natural thick forests. The mountain has distinct characteristics each season. It boasts beautiful figures of wild royal azalea blossoms and cherry blossoms in spring. Its thick natural forest tranquilizes people's bodies and minds in summer. Harmony of various colors in fall, and a snow-covered scenery make us feel as if we were in Paradise. 7
The Novitiate Memebers Monday, May 15: The Novitiate Members enjoyed the day in having their picnic at the Bonghwasan Mountain (920m above the sea level) located in the heart of the southern part of the Baekdudaegan Mountain Range. Around mid-may, the mountain is covered with red azaleas which are in full bloom along the mountain s west ridge. The spectacular silver reeds during autumn also make the mountain a popular destination. COMING AND GOING Sr. Yun-il Park May 18: Sr. Yun-il Park returned to the Priory House after 6 months of sick-leave. Sr. Maoro Sye May 19: Sr. Maoro Sye, Prioress departed to Los Angeles and Sao Paulo. In May 22, Sr. Maoro Sye performed the installation ceremony for Superior Sr. Marie Stella Hwang at the Los Angeles Station. After that she had an Official Visitation of Sao Paulo Station from 27 May to 4 June. Also, she had the Echo Meetings of the 27 th Daegu Priory Chapter and the report of the Prioresses Meeting in Rome. Sr. Agnetta Kim May 20: Sr. Agnetta Kim from Nazareth Community of Yunnan, China visited Daegu Priory on the way to China after one year of English Language Course in Norfolk, Nebraska. While she was visiting Deagu Priory, she had her health check-ups and an annual retreat and departed to China in June 20, 2017 Sr. Rachel Do May 26: Sr. Rachel Do earned her Master of Arts Degree in Justice Ministry-Environmental Justice from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, United States of America. 8
NOVITIATE AND VOCATION MINISTRY Family Day of the Novitiate Members Sunday, May 7: The Family Day of the Novitiate Members is observed every 4 years at the Priory House; and the Family Day falls on the same date as Vocation Day. Since May is a Family Month in South Korea, and in the church May is the Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary, therefore, the Priory House set the first Sunday of May as the Family Day for the novitiate members. We invited all the families of the novitiate members to celebrate the importance of families and family life as well as the religious community life; and the Day gives the families and the novitiate members to have the chance to spend time together. The Day was sunny with cool breeze and beautiful and the novitiate members had lunch with families and opened to talk about their life stories in the community. In the afternoon Sr. Ji-Hye Seo from Yeonhwari Retreat House directed the special recreation programs in the auditorium and the whole assembly took part in the programs and enjoyed the games such as shoulder message to the tune of music, create the cooperation by moving table tennis ball on the pipe line, and dancing, etc. Before closing the Day, the video of our religious life was presented to the families and then the novitiate members sang songs. Both families and the novitiate members were filled with warmth and happiness for the Day; and after Thanksgiving Prayer, the families said goodbye to their loved ones. Vocation Ministry Sunday, May 7: In May, the Vocation Ministry Event was held with the Family Day. The youths received the Happy Virus from the happiness of families and the novitiate members. The youths made the handkerchiefs for the Parents Day gifts to their parents. 9
HEALTH MINISTRY Confirmation of Employees Friday, May 5: God s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5) The Confirmation Ceremony of 101 employees and 2 patients was held at the Link Hall of Daegu Fatima Hospital. It was led by Bishop John Bosco Chang (Shin-Ho), Auxiliary Bishop of Daegu Archdiocese, and assisted by Father Dionysius Park (Dae-Jong), Father Francisco Lee (Tae-U), the Director of the Hospital Pastoral Care Service, Archdiocese of Daegu, Father Ha-Sang Paul Kim (Seong-Rae), and Father Vianney Yoon (Won-Jin), the Director of the Department of Pastoral Care Service, Daegu Fatima Hospital. Those employees and patients confirmed were put off their confirmation from day to day for various reasons and were offered 3 hours of confirmation preparation classes by Father Vianney Yoon. Now they will continue their journey of a deeper spiritual relationship with God through the Sacrament of Confirmation. After the confirmation ceremony, Auxiliary Bishop Chang visited the Hospice Ward and blessed the patients. Bishop Chang and the assisted Fathers were visited to the convent dining hall and served lunch and shared joy and happiness with the sisters. Volunteer Service of One Company to One Village Saturday, May 20: The hospital made the One Company, One Village Sister Relationship with Ganghakri, Wachonmyun, Gyeongsansi, Gyeongbuk Province in the year 2005; and 53 employees gave the volunteer service in peach and plum orchards by thinning out the over bearers. One of the employees commented that he didn t know so much work to be done to produce fruits; and he hoped that the volunteer service given to the farmers be a little help to them. The hospital performs the volunteer service every year for the improvement of village with the city and promotion of mutual exchange movement through implementation of love and volunteer service. 10
Team Leader and Unit Manager Workshops Friday-Saturday, May 19-20 and Friday-Saturday, May 26-27: The hospital held for two day Outcome Leader Course for the Team Leaders (36) from May 19-20 and Unit Managers (76) from May 26-27 at the Hot- Spring Sightseeing Hotel in Palgong Mountain. The workshop began by the lecture on the Mission Statement by CEO of the hospital and continued various lectures: Organizational Culture of the Improvement of Labor and Management, the 4 th Industrial Revolution and Healthcare, Personnel Evaluation According to the New Personnel System, and some other lectures. After lectures the harmony time was given to Team Leaders and Unit Managers; and through the mutual communication and understanding, they received new spirit and energy; and they committed themselves to obtain new goal of management 2017. Employee Retreat 2017 Sunday, May 28: Before starting their retreat 2017, the 42 employees left the hospital at 7:00 AM by bus to visit the Waegwan Benedictine Monastery and attend the Eucharistic Celebration of the Solemnity of the Lord s Ascension. After celebration the employees were guided by a Brother to visit mission activities: Bundo Publishing Company, Sausage Company, Wine Shop, Stained Glass Shop, Goldsmith Shop making chalices and plates, bells and the necessary altar products, and Retreat House. The employees were impressed by the monks Ora et Labora! Right before lunch time the employees arrived at the Bible Education Center of Daegu Priory. They went up to back hill of the convent and enjoyed and emptied their lunch bags. Then, they assembled at the Bible Education Center and Sr. Isaac Bae guided their retreat. First, the employees were invited to watch the movie Kirikou and the Sorceress (1998) ; and they shared their impressions life-affirming animation of love and redemption that made with maturity and care and love for each other. 11
Briefing Session of the Business Structure Strategy Consulting Tuesday, May 23: The hospital offered a Briefing Session of the Business Structure Strategy Consulting presentation to the medical staff for the potential business. This project is carried forward with the CalebABC to respond to the hospital circumstance and changes of the medical polices to design the future aspect of 20 years. Through the presentation, the entire medical staff shared the attractiveness analysis, the internal competence analysis, the customer feedback analysis, and the opinion of experts. After the business evaluation, the hospital is going to plan and establish a vision and strategic task. JPIC NOTES The Prayer for the Peace of the World and Sharing with the Syrian Refugees May: In hoping our concerns and prayers may be helped to find the peace to the Syrian Refugees, the income of $400 US Dollars from selling the Practical Guide Book to practice the Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation, was sent to support the Syrian Refugees. The civil war in Syria was started in March 15, 2011 and it continues for 7 years. The UN says at least 250,000 people have been killed in the past five years. However, the organization stopped updating its figures in August 2015. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UKbased monitoring group, puts the death toll at more than 321,000, while a think-tank estimated in February 2016 that the conflict had caused 470,000 deaths, either directly or indirectly. The 1,400 million people are desperately waiting for helping hands. Special Fund Raising for Syrian Refugees Emergency Relief: Contact: 0082-2-2279-9204, www.caritas.or.kr Bank Account: Woori Bank 064-106713-13-432 Account Holder: Caritas International Korea The Ecological Environment Symposium 2017 Monday, May 15: The Ecological Environment Committee of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Korea hosted the 2 nd Ecological Environment Symposium 2017 on the topic The Nuclear Power Plant Problems and the Teachings of the Catholic Church at Insung Education Center of the Catholic University of Daegu in Gyeongju City. Within the topic, the following lectures were given in the 4 sub-topics: 1) Why Enucleation? by Professor Ikjung Kim; 2) The Present State of Wolsung Nuclear Power 12
Plant and the Sufferings of Residents by Hyunju Cheong, the City Councilor; 3) The Safety of Present State of the Nuclear Power Plant and the Task seen in the Light of the Laudato Si Encyclical by Jungyoon Lee, the Representative of the Safety and Future Atomic Energy; and 4) The Teachings of Catholic Church Regarding the Nuclear Power Plant by Father Junhan Kim. The symposium was held in Gyeongju City because in the vicinity there is an outworn nuclear power plant, the construction of new nuclear power plant is planned, the natural disasters of earthquake was occurred in the year 2016, the problem of radioactive waste, etc. All these have very close relationship with the region. At the symposium Bishop Peter Kang U- il, the Director of the Ecological Environment Committee and nearly 100 people including our sisters, Sr. Philippa Kwak, the Secretary of Daegu Priory and the Member of the Ecological Environment Committee of Daegu Diocese, Sr. Electa Lim, and Sr. Jonathan Kim attended the symposium. Why Enucleation? The nuclear power plant is introduced as cheap and clean energy, therefore, it was highly highlighted in the world. In the year seventies after the oil sock South Korea imported the nuclear power for the independence of energy and it brought a great deal of economic benefits to the country. However, the nuclear accidents in Three Mile Island, USA and Chernobyl, Russia and Fukushima, Japan raised an awareness and warning. Therefore, the world trend of enucleation was settled and the gathering of wisdom for the development of sustainable energy is continued. 1) The Expense of Nuclear Power Plan: The Nuclear Power Plan itself is cheap, however, the construction and first generation of nuclear power plant is so costly to build as well as the decommissioning and waste disposal costs which run into astronomical figures. 2) Is Nuclear Power a Clean Energy Source? At the mining uranium to fuel nuclear power plants leaves mill tailings, the residues from chemical processing of the ore, which lead to radon exposures to air and the radioactive contamination is started. Radioactive contamination by nuclear fuel and fission products may affect a person, a place, an animal, air, soil, plants or an object such as clothing. According to the studies it takes 100,000 years to make the decontamination of radioactive materials. At present technology there is no way to keep the decontamination of radioactive materials for 100,000 years. 3) The Risk of Accident: The common risks of severe accidents occurred in three nuclear power plants are the long history of plants and the construction of too many plants. The Fukushima accident was occurred by the natural disaster, however, the plant was old and it must be stopped to operate, but Japan continued to operate the plan. The radioactive contamination covered about the area of South Korea in Japan. If one of the plants in South Korea occurs the accident, the whole South Korea will be contaminated by radioactive materials. The Fukushima accident gave warning to our country. The plants constructed in 1970s, the safety criteria and standards were very weak compare to the present days. Recently, South Korea is not the safety zone from the earthquake, therefore, our concern about the nuclear power plants are increased. There is a little 13
hope in South Korea for nowadays the issue of Enucleation is talked about and the Kori Plant may be stopped to operate. Fukushima, Japan In the vicinity of Kori and Shin Kori 340 million residents reside and it is the concentration of nuclear power plants is the World s No. 1. (25) (6) (5) 4) Preventing the Radioactive Accidents: - 0% of Radioactive Accident is only the Enucleation - Not to extend the life of nuclear power plant - Stop to construct new nuclear power plant - Save the electricity - Develop new and renewable energy The 6 th Practice Careful for the Hidden Poison Materials! Nowadays at homes use chemicals more than in 100 years of chemical laboratories. Our government does not impose an obligation to manufacturers to display the ingredients unless it does not excess the tolerance standards. For examples, most in of the baby powders the asbestos are in it and in shampoos the agricultural chemicals are in it. Therefore, the following substitutions are suggested: If possible, Use the natural fiber When cleaning sink, spread water in sink and rub off lightly with find steel-wool stained in baking powder For clean air, use spice plant or grape/lemon juice For insects, use Himalayan cedar stems and odor from oil. that in all things God may be glorified (Phil. 4:11) Newsletter: daegupriorynews@daum.net Homepage: www.benedictine.or.kr 14