ISIDORE RANCH, South Korea (UCAN) -- The first national gathering of young Catholics in South Korea has boosted their confidence to become more active in Church life and society.

Approximately 3,400 young adults from all 15 dioceses and the Military Ordinariate joined the Korea Youth Day (KYD) 2007 celebration on the picturesque island of Jeju (Cheju), off the southern tip of the Korean peninsula.

The Aug. 18-21 event began with a Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Basil Cho Kyu-man of Seoul, president of the Committee for Youth Ministry, Bishop Peter Kang U-il of Cheju and about 60 priests. The Mass was held at Isidore Ranch, 450 kilometers south of Seoul.

Bishop Cho's committee sponsored the celebration, for which Cheju diocese served as the local organizer. "I Pray That They May All Be One" was the KYD theme. An official of the Korean bishops' Committee for Youth Ministry confirmed to UCA News that the event was the first national gathering of South Korean Catholic youth.

"Youth are a special gift from God. Young people distinguish good from evil and have the energy and passion to correct wrongs," Bishop Kang said, speaking at the opening ceremony after Mass. "In a society full of deceit, young people should work for justice and peace and for renewal of society, like Jesus Christ and his Apostles."

Agnes Park Jin-ju, 22, a university student from Seoul archdiocese, told UCA News on Aug. 18 that she had looked forward to meeting Catholic youth from all over the country with great anticipation. "I'm thrilled to see so many young people who profess the same faith as me," Park exclaimed. "As Bishop Kang said, I'll try my level best to further justice and peace in the country. United with Christ, we can do everything."

After the opening ceremony, participants went off to 960 homes in 24 parishes for a two-day home stay with local Catholics. They gathered again at Isidore Ranch for the KYD festival and closing Mass.

On Aug. 19, they attended Sunday Mass in the parishes where they were staying, spending time with parishioners and taking part in parish activities. Some also went sightseeing on the volcanic island popular for its scenic beaches, waterfalls, cliffs and caves. Some 260 young Catholics of Cheju diocese volunteered to guide participants to the various tourist spots.

That evening, participants joined prayer services that nuns had prepared at four locations on the island.

Rosa Kang Chung-hee, a 21-year-old university student from Suwon diocese, remarked: "I feel like I am in paradise. I didn't know Jeju was so beautiful." Kang, who stayed with an elderly lady told UCA News, "The grandmother treated me like her own grandchild." She considered herself "lucky" to stay in a traditional Jeju house with whinstone walls and a wide courtyard with a view of the sea.

Father Mark Ko Seung-heon, parish priest at Joongmoon Church, said Aug. 19 that it was "a happy day today with lots of young people." About 80 participants stayed in 30 homes in his parish.

"I hope they had a comfortable stay and saw lots of things on Jeju," Father Ko said, expressing hope that the home-stay experience and sharing with other youth, would empower participants "to be salt and light in the world."

An organizer told UCA News that besides helping participants understand the culture and life of people on Jeju, the home-stay program "promoted the active participation of Cheju Catholics in the KYD."

Father Immanuel Hur Chan-ran of the KYD organizing committee expressed his hope that participants would "unite as one in Jesus Christ to spread his teachings in society."

An official of the bishops' Committee for Youth Ministry told UCA News that KYD would be held every three years, or when there is neither a major World Youth Day nor Asian Youth Day celebration.

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(Accompanying photos available at here)