1

DAEGU PRIORY NEWSLETTER

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

DPN 383 Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, Daegu Priory, S. KOREA February 2015

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,

“return to me with all your heart,

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”

Rend your hearts

and not your garments.

Return to the LORD your God,

for he is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;

and he relents from over disaster.

- Joel 2:12-13 –

2

Tuesday, February 10:

Celebration of Final Profession

Religious profession is the most significant act of the meeting

between God and the Sister

who offers herself to Him and His people.

On the Feast of St. Scholastica the Eucharistic Celebration for the Final Profession of Sr.

Macrina Oh, Sr. Marie Enoch Kim, Sr. Deborah Yu, and Sr. Marie Sohwa Yoon was held at 11

AM Tuesday, February 10th

in the chapel of Daegu Priory House. The Mass was officiated by

the Reverend Abbot Blasio Park, OSB and 17 priests co-celebrated the Mass. The Sisters from

all parts of the country and over 650 families, relatives, friends, and guests of four Sisters of

Final Profession were present at the Mass. The participants were moved by a solemn and

stirring moment to make their vows to follow Jesus their whole life.

It was most joyful and memorable to see the affirmation and warmth radiating from the Final

Professed Sisters as Abbot Blasio, the Concelebrants, Sisters, family members and friends

congratulated them.

3

Monday, February 9:

Celebration of First Profession

The Eucharistic Celebration of the First Profession of Novice Juliana Ki was held at 7 AM

Monday, February 9th in the chapel of Daegu Priory House. The Reverend Father Dionysius

Park, OSB officiated at the Mass. After making her First Profession, Juliana was given the

religious name as Sr. Jehoshua.

Sunday, February 8:

Initiation Ceremony to the Novitiate

The ceremony for the initiation

of the two-year novitiate for

two postulants Sohwa Theresa

(Hyejeong) Lee and Cecilia

(Minkyung) Choi was held at

5:05 PM Sunday, February 8th

in the community room. In the

happy mood of two new novices, the Sisters of the community stood to express our gratitude

to God for the vocation of new novices and deep sense of gratitude to God for our own

vocation.

Monday, February 2:

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

4

Jesus is the Son of God who created the world and He was the Temple Himself and yet His

parents brought Him to the temple to observe the rule of the time. We the Sisters all

consecrated again to follow Jesus Christ the true Light in a radical way, in poverty, chastity

and obedience and met Him through the Candlemas holding each sister the lighted candles.

Wednesday, February 18:

Ash Wednesday

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

– Genesis 3:19 –

Ash Wednesday at the beginning of lent, ashes was blessed

during the Holy Mass, after the homily, and the blessed ashes

was then "imposed" on the forehead of the sisters. After the Eucharistic celebration the community assembled

in the community room and each sister received a book with

the paper written by each sister to do loving practices during

the Lenten Season.

This Ash Wednesday was a lot different than other years

since 11 sisters from St. Scholastica Local House and the

sisters who were in the annual retreat joined the Ash

Wednesday ceremony.

Thursday, February 19:

Celebration of the Lunar New Year – Seollal Seollal, the Lunar New Year (January 1 of the lunar calendar) is one of the most celebrated

national holidays in Korea. This year, Seollal falls on February 19 of the Gregorian calendar

right after the Ash Wednesday and in the beginning of the Lent. However, since the Seollal is

more than just a holiday to mark the beginning of a new year, Seollal is truly a special

occasion for Korean people. Not only is it a time for paying respect to ancestors, but it is also

an opportunity to catch up with distant family members who travel home to get together for

this special occasion. During Seollal, Koreans traditionally wear hanbok, the traditional

clothes, perform ancestral rites, play folk games, eat traditional foods, listen to stories, and

catch up with one another.

5

Thursday, February 19:

Reverend Father Alois Seuferling, OSB was called to Heaven In February 19

th at 4:00 AM, Reverend Father Alois Seuferling, OSB (83 years old), a member

of the St. Benedict Monastery in Waegwan was called to heaven. He was one of the confessors

for many years at the Priory House. Father Alois was entered the Munsterschwarzach Abbey.

After his final profession and ordination, he was sent for the Korean mission in 1958.

In February 16th

he was discharged from the hospital. On the way to his monastery, he

stopped at the Priory House and gave confession to the sisters. He loved to come to the Priory

House every month to give confession to the sisters; and he always gave penance to pray for

priests. After confession we served him two pieces of cheese cakes with hot tea and he loved

them. He used say that it is the only occasion he could enjoy the cheese cakes every month. We

will miss him very much! May he rest in the arms of our Lord!

Tuesday-Saturday, February 24-28:

Baking the Easter Cookies

It was a bit early to bake the Easter Cookies starting from February 24th

to 28th

. However,

since the community has to go through the three sessions of the discernment process for the

nomination of the Prioress starting March 9th

to 18th

, we had to bake the cookies early. Sisters

including Sisters of Scholastica Local House and the novitiate members helped each other and

enjoyed in tasting the “Easter” beforehand.

Wednesday, February 4:

Visit of Daegu Fatima Hospital New Employees In Wednesday, February 4

th, new employees – interns, nurses, and paramedical workers

visited the Priory House. They were welcomed by Prioress Sr. Lumen Choi, OSB who gave

a welcome address. Then, they watched the Priory History video followed by delicious snacks.

6

After snacks Sr. Madeleine Yu guided them to the

chapel, surrounding old and new buildings and garden.

We wish and pray that the healing mission of Jesus were

engraved in the minds of new employees.

They were really impressed by newly constructed

buildings, especially the Haeseung Kindergarten and its

interior designs and furnishings.

Sunday, February 8:

Visit of Kindergarten Teachers

The 54 members of the preschool education committee of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters

of Tutzing Daegu Priory were participated the Montessori Education Seminar held in the

Haeseung Kindergarten. They attended the morning Eucharistic Mass at the chapel of the

Priory House.

Sunday, February 15:

Visit of Chojeon Parish Catechumens

The 7 catechumens of Chojeon Parish Church led by Sr. Marie Fiat Park visited the Priory

House and joined the noon prayer. Since it was the first time they were visiting the monastery,

they were impressed by the praying sisters.

Thursday, February 26:

Visit of Military Parish Priest The Daejeon Military Parish Priest Reverend Father Chunghyun Simeon Yu and Sr. Marie

Jonah Kim stopped at the Priory House on the way back to Daejeon from the Naval Academy

in Jinhae. They visited Prioress Sr. Lumen Choi and Sub-prioress Sr. Christina Moon.

Saturday, February 28:

Visit of Daegu Fatima Hospital New Nurses

The 60 new nurses of Daegu Fatima Hospital held 1 day retreat in Saturday, February 28th

at

the Benedict Spirituality Center. Most of them had no faith; however, after joining the noon

prayer, they started to think about the meaning of faith.

Comings & Goings

Sunday, February 15: Sr. Cecil Jo departed for the Casa, Rome after one month of retreat.

Sunday, February 15: Postulant Caritas Park returned from 8 months of sick leave.

Friday, February 20: Sr. Lumina Kim, Junior Sister departed for Manila Priory to have

the Mission Experience.

7

Monday, February 16:

Graduation Ceremony of Haeseung Kindergarten

Haeseung Kindergarten celebrated at 10AM on Monday, February 16th

in the new hall of

Haeseung Kindergarten building. The principal of the Kindergarten Sr. Editha Lee presented

each with a certificate. The program was followed with cake and punch being served in the

hall. Parents, relatives, teachers, and sisters were so proud of the graduates.

Wednesday-Friday, February 18-27:

Group B Novices 8-Day Bible Retreat

As ending the Canonical Novice Year for Group B Novices Agnes Ahn and Julia Lee, they had

the Lectio Divina 8-Day Bible Retreat from Wednesday, February 18th

to Friday, February

27th

. They will start their second Novice Year from March 1st and they will start to learn the

theology at the Catholic Theological Institute.

February:

Installation Ceremony for New Superiors

The blessing and installation of seven Sisters were held as local superiors in seven different

communities during the month of February. They are as follow:

Date of Installation Name of Superior Name of Local House

Sunday, February 22 Sr. Laeta Bae Changwon Fatima

Monday, February 23 Sr. Marcella Ha Benedict Spirituality Center

Sr. Im-I Theresa Cheong Weolpyeongdong

Tuesday, February 24 Sr. Timothea Jeong Heungdeok

Wednesday, February 25 Sr. Marie Ephrem Kim Beommuldong

Thursday, February 26 Sr. Aquinata Lee Sinpyeongdong

Sr. Amica Kim Hyeonggokdong

Many Sisters accompanied Prioress Sr. Lumen Choi for the installation ceremonies in seven

different communities and witnessed the official promise to foster community spirit and

promote the sisters’ well-being and missionary service.

8

Monday-Wednesday, February 23-March 4:

Postulant Group B New Testament Through Reading Retreat

The Postulant Group B, Catherina Choi and Vincentia Kim had the Through Reading New

Testament Retreat from Monday, February 23rd

to Wednesday, March 4th

. After their retreat

they said they had deeper insight in the New Testament!

Saturday, February 28:

Moving Into the Scholastica Building (New Elderly House)

The newly constructed buildings are beautifully located behind

the Priory House and right front of the mountains. Our 12

starting member Sisters were moved into the Scholastica Local

House (New Elderly House) on Saturday, February 28th

. They

were appointed in February 10th

; however, they had to stay at

the Benedict Spirituality Center to prepare to move in.

The Sisters are assigned for various missions. Among the 12, 2

for Kindergarten, 5 for Nursing Home, 1 for Education Center, 1

for Oblates Office, 1 for Liturgy and garden, 1 for Bible School

of the Episcopal Vicariate-4 of Daegu Archdiocese, and Superior.

All of them are very busy to furnish necessary furniture,

equipment, and office materials, etc. for the Nursing Home

called Fatima Home and the Elderly Sisters House called

Scholastica Home. Fatima Home is expected to accept the

residence in May as well as the elderly Sisters in Scholastica

Home.

Saturday-Tuesday, February 7-10:

The Retreat for the Spring Entrants

The retreat for the Spring Entrants Maria Hwang, Rosaria

Seung, and Stephania Kim were held from Saturday, February

7th

to Tuesday, February 10th

at the Priory House. We sincerely

wish and pray for their vocation and hope to meet them in

March in the community.

9

Vocation Ministry Programs in March

Wednesday, March 4: Ceremony for the Spring Entrants

Every Tuesday 7 PM: Youth Lectio Divina Assembly

(Starting in March) “Melete Practice” with New Testament

Place: Benedict Convent in Gongpyeongdong “Bene-In”

Saturday, March 14-15: Retreat for Seoul Area

Place: St. Joseph Monastery

Wednesday, February 11:

The 23rd World Day of the Sick

With the theme of this year taken by the Pope Francis from

Job 29:15 “I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame”,

Daegu Fatima Hospital celebrated the twenty-third World

Day of the Sick on Wednesday, February 11th

with various

events for inpatients as well as outpatients. Dakjongie doll

(Korean paper crafts) exhibition, wild flower and scenery

photo exhibition by Dr. Sangyun Kim, Department of

Surgery, a classic concert, and the CEO and the Director of Medicine delivered a souvenir

engraved hospital logo to each patient and prayed for their quick recovery.

Thursday-Wednesday, February 5-11:

The PR Briefing for Korean Medical Tourism

Daegu Fatima Hospital held the PR Briefing of the Medical

Tourism from Thursday-Wednesday, February 5th

to 11th

in the

areas of new capital Astana and old capital Almaty of Kazakhstan.

Dr. Youngho Jo, OS and Dr. Haechang Jo, GS held a brilliant

Masterclass in which they demonstrated the excellent medical

skills. The hospitals in Astana and Almaty and Daegu Fatima

Hospital agreed to construct the telemedicine in order to provide

clinical health care at remote and distance areas.

10

Thursday, February 26–Sunday, March 1:

The Joint PR Briefing for Korean Medical Tourism

Daegu Fatima Hospital held the Joint PR Briefing of the Medical Tourism with the City of

Daegu from Thursday, February 26th

to Sunday, March 1st in the areas of the Vladivostok,

Russia. The PR Briefing Team went through the field marketing and had B2B meeting with

the local agent. At the local hospital (NEVRON) Dr. Naeyun Park, GYN proceeded medical

care and gave consulting to patients.

Tuesday, February 17:

The First Graduation of Fatima Children’s House

The Fatima Children’s House was opened in March 2012.

The First Graduation Ceremony for Kiryel Im and

Sungwon Shin was held on Tuesday, February 17th

at the

Hospital Chapel. They marched in holding lighted candle

and in the touching and happy mood the First Graduation

Ceremony was started with the Liturgy of Word by the

Chaplain of the Pastoral Care Service, Reverend Father

Haewon Im. After the

Liturgy of Word, the principal of the Children’s House Sr.

Candida Kim presented each with the graduation and

honor certificates. The program was followed with

Graduation Song by the children; and parents, relatives,

teachers, and sisters gave big and warm applause in praying

and blessing for their new start.

Sunday, February 8:

The Assembly of Third Group of Oblates

The Third Group of Oblates assembled on 1:30 PM Sunday, February 8th

at the auditorium of

Priory House to prepare their First Oblation Profession in March 21-22. The Assistant

Director of Oblates Sr. Anna Maria Cheong gave lectures on the Meaning of Oblation and

taught how to use the Daily Prayer Book.

11

Sunday, February 22:

The Assembly of First and Second Group of Oblates

The Second Group of Oblates assembled on 1:30 PM Sunday, February 22nd at the

auditorium of Priory House for the monthly lecture given by the Director of Oblates Sr.

Agatha Kim. The title of lecture was the “Consecrated Life and the Psalm 132”. Sr. Agatha

brought attention that the Benedictine Oblates seek God in association with a monastic

community and grow in love of God, neighbor, and self.

“…that in all things God may be glorified” (Pt 4:11) Newsletter: osb_news@hanmail.net

Homepage: www.benedictine.or.kr