What is the story of your vocation as a Salesian Cooperator?
Since 2002 I worked with the Salesian Bulletin and the publications related to Don Bosco. I was attracted to this saint! In the spring of 2008, interviewing two young Salesian Cooperators, I was so impressed by their vocational history that I decided to become a Cooperator myself. Six months later I started as an aspirant, doing my formation in the Center of Seoul – Daerimdong.
How was your work on the ASC formation manual?
From the early days of my formation in the Daerimdong center, when we were reading the old version of the 1998 formation manual, I started thinking about a new version. The reason for this venture was simple: the text was not easy to read. Even before my promise I started to collect some stories suitable for the possible update of the formation manual. Between June 2016 and March 2017, the entire project was completed and approved by Fr Stefano Yang, SDB, Provincial of the Province of Korea.
What keeps you on the path in your vocational journey as a Salesian Cooperator?
To try, always, to follow the example of Don Bosco! We Cooperators try to follow Don Bosco, even putting ourselves in communion with other groups of the Salesian Family.
What are the main challenges faced in the monthly meetings of the local ASC centers?
I believe that our identity as Salesian Cooperators should be strengthened and, for me, we need a greater balance between apostolate and formation. Another challenge is that of non-active Cooperators. We pray for them, but we also need more concrete actions so that they become more involved.
What is your dream for a quality formation of the Salesian Cooperators in Korea?
I think that at the moment we should deal with the ongoing formation of the Salesian Cooperators. That's it, I think the latter should become a priority. I would like there to be even more collaboration with the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. It must be said that our situation in South Korea is very particular. We need to worry more about the apostolate, for the many North Korean refugees who are present in the south of the country.
