May Advent be an engine of “a new evangelisation”, Korean bishops say
Seoul (AsiaNews) – May Advent be the engine of a “new evangelisation in a new era” to face the challenges it brings, was the main thrust of a number of pastoral letters issued by the bishops of South Korea to their respective dioceses on the occasion of the first Sunday of Advent. Together, the prelates call on the faithful to “go beyond an inner evangelisation” and through their action “renew instead the Church and the community’s spirituality”.
Card Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, archbishop of Seoul, said that the Church and Catholics must remember and nourish their faith in action. He noted that 2031 will mark the bicentennial of the Apostolic Vicariate of Korea, and for this, “we must work for global renewal”.
“The Church’s presence is justified and renewed through evangelisation, which must be upgraded to fit the times,” said Mgr Thaddeus Cho Hwan-gil, archbishop of Daegu. “The faithful must understand this mission and never forget the importance and urgency to realise their divine vocation.”
For Mgr Hyginus Kim Hee-joong, revitalising the liturgy, “essence of life and of the Church’s mission”, must be the goal.
In his letter, titled “Communities of Evangelisation Focusing on Eucharist”, the archbishop of Kwangju said he hoped that “2011 could be the year of the new evangelisation as the faithful fully understand the importance of the liturgy.”
Finally, in his first pastoral letter, Mgr Lucas Kim Woon-hoe, archbishop of Chunchon, calls on Catholics to do their best to revitalise missionary activities, promote priestly formation and especially “engage in pastoral work on behalf of youth, a sure way to strengthen one’s own spirituality.”
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