On May 21, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., the 57th World Day of Social Communications, the Archdiocese of Seoul, South Korea conducted the “2023 Religious Feast,” a day-long event to promote religious communities and develop religious vocations. The Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in South Korea also participated. The event took place at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul.
Thirty-four religious communities from the Archdiocese of Seoul participated, with each community hosting an exhibition booth outside the cathedral, where they sold goods, offered hands-on activities, recruited sponsors, and offered vocations counseling.
From 1:00- 4:00 p.m., the religious gave busking performances on an outdoor stage with singing, music, theater, and folk games. There was a morning and an afternoon lecture presented in Sosungdang Hall, on the second floor of Myeongdong University Cathedral Culture Center. A video about religious communities was shown on the second floor of the Culture Center as well.
This event was created to publicize the various charisms of the religious communities that work in the Archdiocese and to give the religious communities and the faithful a chance to meet one another and share fellowship. The event was organized and planned by Myeongdong Cathedral at the suggestion of the Most Reverend Peter (Soon-Taick) CHUNG, O.C.D., Archbishop of Seoul, South Korea, for the purpose of promoting religious Orders and educating the people about religious vocations.
Because religious communities rarely gather to present their charism, spirituality, and activities, the event served as an opportunity for the faithful to learn about the existence of various religious communities and to share in their lives.
Archbishop CHUNG presided over Mass at noon. During his homily, he expressed his expectations for the event, saying, “I hope this will be an opportunity to let people know that there are religious communities in the Church and that they perform a variety of ministries in addition to parish ministry.”
The Conventual Franciscan Province of South Korea had a meaningful experience presenting the Order and Conventual Franciscan spirituality.
Friar Bonaventura Kyuhee HAN
Provincial Secretary
