Pastoral
work, if it is to be effective, often demands the 'moving of feet' and
'having the smell of sheep.' The priests of the Seoul diocese have heard
these phrases and have decided to make them a part of their lives. This
new approach to pastoral work by the Seoul diocese was written up in
both Catholic papers; the Peace Weekly devoted an editorial to the new
approach.
The
diocese made some changes after their synod in 2000-2003. And before
that, changes were made in the operation of the deaneries, with the goal
of making them the center of diocesan pastoral work. The Seoul diocese
has close to a million and half Catholics, and 775 priests in 229
parishes. One-third of the country's Catholics and one-fourth of the
priests are in the Seoul diocese, which is a continuing incentive for
the diocese to simplify the ministry and to make it more efficient. They
will be an example on how to move closer to the people.
The
reason for the reorganization is the archbishop's desire for more open
communication with his priests, and the priests with their
congregations. Communication is "what it's all about," the archbishop
has stressed on many occasions. The central administration has also been
reorganized to be simpler and more efficient.
One
of the more noteworthy changes proposed is to make the position of the
dean a full time responsibility, with no parish obligations but working
together with the priests in the deanery in efforts to be closer to the
people, and help them in their pastoral work. He will be living
in the deanery, and be given the authority to function as a bridge with
the Ordinary and to make changes in the personnel of the deanery.
The
deans will meet once a month to talk about the progress being made, and
the results of this interchange will be shared with the members of each
deanery. This decentralizing of the work of the diocese should help the
deaneries bring the message of Jesus to more people and in a deeper
way.
The
efforts to improve the pastoral structures have been going on for many
years, and with these recent changes the place of the deaneries in the
pastoral work of the Church has now entered another stage. The rest of
the country will be watching to see the results. The Korean Church has
been blessed with many vocations to the priesthood, which allows a
country like Korea to dream big and attempt changes other local churches
have no possibility of imitating because of a lack of clergy. That the
Church is wise enough to take advantage of the blessings they have
received to be creative and more pastoral is something that should be
applauded.
