(ANS – Seoul) – April 26, on the 7th floors of the provincial house at Seoul, there was a big celebration of ths Salesian Family Spirituality Day 2014 with the title of “Let us draw upon the spiritual experience of Don Bosco”, the Strenna 2014.

It was started in understated atmosphere caused by ferry ship, Sewol’s disaster, happened 10 days before, which killed more than 300 peoples, almost of victims are young students who were going to go the educational travel.

But this year, there were many special guests. Fr Václav Klement who elected for the General Councillor for the EAO Region was present from the Cooperator’s meeting in Manila. Also the Caritas Sisters of Jesus’s General Mother, Apollinaris Shimura Yuriko with Vice-General and two more General Council members, who are doing the canonical visitation to the three provinces in Korea attended to the celebration of SFSD. About 600 people attended from the salesian family groups as SDB, FMA, SCG, SSCC, VDB, SYM including co-workers and good numbers of the benefactors for the various works.

Started with a prayer accompanied by the beautiful presentation of the DB’s life prepared Seoul province of CSJ. Following the greeting of the provincial, Fr Stephan Nam. “With the last event of my job as provincial, today I invite all of you to search and share well DB’s spirituality. We are preparing to the 200th anniversary of the birth of Don Bosco, his story and his pedagogy in the last two years, now for the his spirituality. Even though the sunken ferry disaster clearly tells us that we live in a society where we are not able to effectively protect young people who are in danger, we have to imitate the DB’s good shepherd life which dedicated and sacrificed totally to the young.”

Followed by a short story on the DB’s spiritual experience played by SYM members, and a conference of Fr John Jeong, the novices master with the theme of ‘Don Bosco’s spiritual experience’.

According to the original program for this day, after lunch there, with several delightful family entertainment, are enjoying game programs to strengthen salesian family spirit, but synchronizing the atmosphere of the society that is passing a deep pain by the fact that had to abandon their young people with sunken boat, all game programs removed. Instead they watched the RM’s video message took just after his election to the Salesian Family. After that there was a second conference by Fr Marcelo Baek, just nominated as a vice provincial, with the title ‘Pope Francesco ans FS’.

During the Holy Mass, the core of the family spirituality, there was a special event that count on the six years future life of the whole Salesian family in Korea, the installation of the new provincial, Fr Stefano Yang. Confessed the ‘Credo’ in front of the General Councillor, Fr Klement who wished and encouraged new provincial with the word "The whole your experience of participation in the GC27 will help you for your best service in the government of the provinces. Also we have great encouragement from the Pope who reiterated three times to go to the periphery sending there the best people." Also he gave a special gift from Rome to new provincial, a wristwatch carved DB’s face, as a symbol of ‘work and temperance’, in 24 hours working for the salvation of the youth, he explained.

“In the mission for the young, specially most in need and in the benefit for the confreres and Salesian Family, at any time with the grace of the God, I will not give up, never escape! To the realizing the DB’s charism in our society, salvation of the youth, please join with me and help me as the member of SF.” the first word of new Provincial after confession.

Published 30/04/2014