DAEGU PRIORY NEWSLETTER DPN 432 Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, Daegu Priory, South KOREA September-October 2019 “Out of his fullness, We have all received grace In place of grace already given”. - John 1:16 - 1 SISTERS IN HARMONY CELEBRATION! Golden Jubilee – October 9: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you.” -John 15:16- With the grace of God, the seven Sisters lived faithfully their religious vows and they consecrated themselves again to God during the seven o’clock Eucharistic Mass praying that they live their rest of lives with love of the Lord. Father Thomas Timpte, OSB of Waegwan Abbey guided the golden jubilee retreat; and in the midst of 200 Sisters, Father Thomas presided the Eucharistic Mass and Father Yunil Lee, OSB concelebrated the Mass. After the Mass, all the Sisters joined the celebration breakfast followed by congratulatory events: 5-6 group of Sisters sang beautiful songs, Junior Sisters wearing all kinds of costumes danced merrily with the music “What’s wrong with my age”, novices sang songs and danced joyfully, and postulants danced excitingly and read congratulatory address with their whole hearts. Then, each one shared her thoughts of Golden Jubilee. In each Sister’s brief expression, we felt the long years of religious life with patience and fullness of God’s grace and blessing; and we all gave thanks to God! The day of Golden Jubilee is the day to give gratitude to God for all His grace. The Scripture said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you.” (John 15:16) These words means that He made us our companions, the great gift of God that we can go this way. “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.” (Luke 10:2) This prayer of Jesus must be our prayer: for before God, we are not wise and learned but little children. Since God gave us good share, we should try to move forward to God the rest of our lives. As you get older, you get less work. Through personal prayer and holy readings, you must get closer to God. - Part of the Homily by Father Thomas Timpte, OSB - 2 From Left: Sub-Prioress Sr. Vianney Park; Father Yunil Lee, OSB; Sr. Avila Kim; Sr. Maria Theresa Kim; Sr. Veronica Lee; Sr. Inviolata Kim; Sr. Caecilia Kang; Prioress Sr. Christina Moon; Sr. Sebastiana Im; Sr. Modest Kim, Father Thomas Timpte, OSB Entrance Ceremony for Religious Life – October 3: At 3:00 PM, the entrance ceremony for religious life for Elisabeth Jeonga Sung, Daehyeon Parish and Theresa Jaeyoon Jeong, St. Paul parish of Archdiocese of Daegu held in the chapel of Daegu Priory. The chapel filled with five parish priests and sisters, families and relatives, friends and parishioners, and the Sisters of Daegu Priory. The ceremony closed with the blessing of five parish priests for new candidates. After dinner, the two candidates came to greet to the community of the Sisters in the chapter room; and they expressed their impressions and feelings. The community was very grateful to God for the gifts of vocation! “Blessed is the one who is strengthened by the Lord when he is on the way of pilgrimage”. - Ps. 84:5 - 3 Chuseok: Korean Thanksgiving Day – September 13: The community celebrated the Korean Thanksgiving Day, one of the biggest and most important holidays in South Korea, and a very important aspect of Korean culture. On the day before Chuseok, the community made the moon-shaped Korean rice cakes that is essential for the day. After the Thanksgiving Eucharistic Mass, the community invited the Sisters of the Benedict Spirituality Center to breakfast sharing the fullness of God given harvests. At 9:00 AM, the community visited the Sisters’ cemetery and prayed for them. In the evening, the Sisters enjoyed the bright full moon! The Korean MIVA, Busan Branch Supports the Angola Convent – September 20: The Korean MIVA (Missionary Vehicle Association), Busan Branch had the Support Eucharistic Mass in Moonhyun Cathedral; and during the Mass, Sr. Christina Moon, Prioress of Daegu Priory received the support fund for Hilux pickup truck for Menongue, Angola Community from Father Juhyun Kim; and Sr. Christina gave a short address to “thank you” to the supporters. Angola community affiliated to the Torres Novas Priory, Portugal; and Sr. Lugarda Pak is a Superior of the Menongue Convent living with seven Sisters. Among seven Sisters, two work as nurses in the State Hospital, three are teaching in elementary and middle schools, and the rests are teaching catechism in nearby parish and the secondary station of the parish as well as teaching sewing and various skills to women to help their lives. The Angola community is going to use the pickup truck to visit the long way to the secondary station of the parish. ※ MIVA’s fundamental aim is “to provide mobility for outreach programs which have been planned in collaboration and consultation with local communities in response to their needs and priorities. Such work must be aimed at bringing about advances in the human and spiritual development of the people our beneficiaries live among and serve.” 4 Inauguration of Superiors of the Local Stations: Date Name of Superior Local Station September 2 Sr. Maria Samuel Kim, OSB Bokhyeondong September 2 Sr. Josepha Kim, OSB Daemyeongdong September 3 Sr. Serva Chung, OSB Morundae September 5 Sr. Agnella Lee, OSB Hannamdong September 11 Sr. Zacchaeo Shin, OSB Sangju September 11 Sr. Lioba Lee, OSB Hamchang The Echoes of the Message of the 29th Daegu Priory Chapter: The Echoes of the Message of the 29th Daegu Priory Chapter started in delivering the keynote speech in the theme of “The Crisis of the Church and the Choice of Benedictine” given by Father Useon Kim, SJ; and followed by delivery of the messages and notices. The dates and the participants of the Echoes of the Message are as follow: Date Place Attendants September 15 (Sunday) Daegu Fatima Hospital 102 September 16 (Monday) Daegu Priory House 128 September 21 (Saturday) Changwon Fatima Hospital 34 September 23 (Monday) Tanbangdong Local Station 42 Total Number of Attended Sisters 306 Pilgrimage of Junior Sisters to Batty Sacred Place – October 28: It was a little chilly, but God provided a sunny weather to the junior sisters to have a good pilgrimage to Batty Sacred Place. Batty located in a deep mountain valley served as a hub for inland traffic during the era of persecution. There were 15 villages in the region and since 1830, Yang-up Choi had been pastoring all over the country based on this region. The junior sisters visited the first seminary built with a straw-thatched cottage and they all went into the cottage and prayed together. Then, guided by a sister, they looked around the First Seminary Building in Korea tombs of the martyrs. Going through the secret narrow passage, the junior sisters felt the scent and breath of the ancestors of the time when they were not hesitant to escape from persecution; and the time came, they gave their lives for God. 5 LECTURES, SEMINARS AND RETREATS Concert: “St. Hildegard Embrace Korea” – September 6: At 7:30 PM, as a part of the Hildegard Retreat program in the Benedict Spirituality Center, a concert “St. Hildegard Embrace Korea” performed in chapel of the Priory House in the midst of retreatants, guests, and the community of the Sisters. The members of the concert were Soprano Yoonju Lee, tenor Gisoo Choi, Viola Jinmi Choi, accompaniment Sister Hugo Kim and music director Sister Emmanuela Sye. The concert lasted about an hour, but the “holy” impression lasted hours and hours! The 5th Annual Retreat – September 30-October 9: Guided by Father Thomas Timpte, OSB, Waegwan Benedictine Monastery, 53 Sisters including 3 junior sisters from Jinja, Uganda and 7 Sisters to celebrate their golden jubilee started their annual retreat. The retreat closed with the Golden Jubilee Eucharistic Mass. The Monday Lecture – October 15: At 7:20 PM, Father Abraham Oh, OSB from Waegwan Benedictine Monastery gave lecture on the topic: “The Meaning of the Posture and Correct Behavior in Daily Life and Liturgy”. As described in the Holy Rule and the Roman Mass Text, what our attitude should be? Father Abraham talked about the inner state is revealed through physical expressions. Introducing the Benedictine Sisters in the Mount of Olives Monastery – October 21: Sr. Simon Lee introduced the Contemplative Benedictine Sisters in the Mount of Olives Monastery, Jerusalem to the community. She helped the monastery for one year and six months. Since the Windhoek Priory elected her to the Prioress, she returned to Daegu Priory to prepare to leave for Windhoek Priory, Namibia at the end of November. 6 The “Noeulbich = Twilight” Second Half of the Year Meeting – October 14 and 21: The purpose of the “Twilight” Meeting is to support and help the spirituality of elderly Sisters and to provide happy and meaningful “Twilight” lives for them. The meeting held twice of the year. In the first half of the year, the meeting to participate lectures on the spirituality; and the second half of the year, the elderly Sisters have tour and/or visit places to have relaxing hours. This year, two groups of “Twilight” meetings held on the 14th and 21st of October. The first group of 18 Sisters had the tour of Bomun Complex and Anapji Pond in Gyeongju City. The second group of 16 Sisters went to visit the Taehwa River and walked along the beautiful bamboo grove in Ulsan City; and on the way back, they had tour of the Bulguksa Buddahist Temple.