DAEJEON, Korea: Priests in charge of forming seminarians should set an example by fostering companionship among themselves, says a Korean bishop.

Priests training seminarians “should show fellowship in their communities and seminaries,” said Bishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik of Daejeon.

“Priests are the mediators between God and the faithful, and the Church should be the source … of fellowship,” he added.

He said that, Feb. 6 during a workshop for priest formators organized by the Episcopal Commission for Clergy and Religious of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea.

The Feb. 1-6 workshop at St. J. Hasang Education Center in Daejeon was attended by 37 professors from all seven seminaries in the country. This was the first national meeting for seminary formators in South Korea.

“Although most Korean formators are well equipped in terms of theoretical knowledge, there has been no practical and systematic course for them. The workshop is to help them train seminarians according to the demands of the times,” Bishop You said.

Monsignor Andrea Caeli, dean of the Major Seminary of Como diocese in Italy, was the main resource person during the workshop. “Monsignor Caeli is clued to Church affairs and is an expert in the formation of seminarians,” said Bishop You.
A chance for self-reflection

The visitor gave all six lectures on topics such as discernment of seminarians’ vocation, helping them prepare to enter the seminary, and the importance of fellowship among formators themselves.

He pointed out that seminaries should not be merely places to acquire theological knowledge but also places where one experiences the love of Jesus and the love of others.

Workshop participants took part in group activities to help them foster fellowship and also visited a nearby martyrs’ shrine.

“I needed this sort of workshop. It gave me a chance to reflect on myself as a formator and to see the seminary through the eyes of my seminarians,” Father Pius Kwak Seung-ryong said.

The professor at the Catholic University of Daejeon pointed out that local seminaries are known to be strict in implementing rules, and for pointing out seminiarians’ faults. “But seminarians are not perfect, so we need to understand their situation. Our role is to make them feel our trust and love,” he added.

Father Stephen Chang Jae-bong, another participant, said, “This workshop reminded me of the importance of unity among us formators.” The theology professor at the Catholic University of Pusan added, “I’ll try to be a good professor and a good ‘father’ to the seminarians.”

Courtesy: UCAN