Focolare Movement

South Korea: families and young people in solidarity

Dec 11, 2015

These are the sectors which the Focolare groups have been committed to since 1967. It confirms the creativity of a hardworking, determined people, lovers of harmony. A panorama of the last months’ activities.

20151211-01In 2015, in conjunction with the Synod on the Family, the activities certainly could not have gone by without some exclusive event organised by the Focolare families that are very active in South Korea. In this time of crisis in family relationships, in the Chong Hasang Education Center of Seoul, and simultaneously in Pohang, the 2-4 October weekend was dedicated to a ”School of forgiveness for couples” held for 120 couples. In the end, the couples all agreed on the need for true dialogue between spouses. “Instead of burying pettiness and hurt feelings – a couple said – we have to face the situation with courage, discuss it, and ask and receive pardon.” It was a dialogue we experimented on and which they now believe to be essential to renew, and be able to communicate to each other, the things they are unable to say. 20151211-02Also the people involved in the parish – 119 of them from all the dioceses of South Korea – had their moment of growth. Accompanied by 18 priests and five religious, on 26 October they reflected on the ”Parish, home of friendship, school of communion.” It was a day lived in the spirituality of unity to contribute to the quality of service to the parish, in full communion of the laity amongst themselves and with the priests, beyond all differences in roles, age, and viewpoints. The testimonials confirmed that misunderstanding and conflicts can be overcome through mutual charity, and unity be reached through reconciliation. All of this was to the benefit of the parish community. “A day at the cafe for Nepal.” Objective: to raise funds for Ramjung where there had been that terrible earthquake last April. This was the invitation launched by the Youth for a united world on Saturday, 5 September, in a bar in Seoul. The key moment was the video-connection with three other Asian cities, Katmandu, Mumbai and precisely India, from which came the story of those who managed to send aid to Nepal: doing part-time jobs, and organizing dinners and concerts. One of them was Natasha who despite being jobless donated 5,000 rupees, and after that experienced the gospel’s hundredfold: three days later she was hired by a company. It has now become a tradition. In a dining hall reserved for the deputies of the Korean parliament, the Focolare held, for those who wished to attend, the monthly Social Forum for unity that reached its 32nd edition on 17 September. In that session they presented the “Rainbow Dream Project,” an educational, recreational program for schools that started out from an integral vision of the person (white, as the colour of light) intercepting the seven main educational aspects (corresponding to the seven colours of the rainbow). Each colour was matched with a behavioural attitude which in turn embraced multifaceted dimensions, while keeping a unitary focus that adjusts to the specific situations the student has to face. The project also provided a community reading session of a phrase from the Gospel at the start of each month, which alternated with the sharing of concrete experiences on this phrase, broadcasted on radio. This project has been ongoing in the Maegoe High School of Chungbuk since 2009. At that time, someone who was worried about the new assignment as Dean, had suggested to Fr. Matteo Park to introduce the spirituality of unity in the school syllabus. Saturday, 28 November saw the launch of the “Bring carbon” Project of the Youth for a united world. Carbon and fuel were donated to the elderly abandoned people living alone, to heat up their homes. But it is just an excuse to touch base, and to arouse awareness in the youth. “Open the taps – one of them surprisingly wrote – and there is abundant hot water running; press a button and the heater warms up the whole house, and you can stretch out under a comforter and watch TV. This was what I used to consider as an ordinary winter day. And I thought that it was but natural for everyone … but now I know that there is someone next to me who needs my love…..”

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