1975 Death of Korean prenovice
austraLasia #1975

Death of Korean prenovice

SEOUL: 3rd November 2007 -- The Salesian Family in Korea is mourning the death of Michael Kim (Dong Uk) on 1st November, 26 year old prenovice for the Salesians of Don Bosco, and younger brother of Salesian Brother Stephen Kim (Seung Uk). Michael died from an attack of epidemic haemorrhagic fever contracted while completing his compulsory military service. There was little doctors could do to save him from this virulent disease. He was buried today.
    Michael belonged to the community at Shin An Dong. It was only the need to finish his military service that had prevented him from entering the novitiate.  He had already spent four years with the community and was regarded as an exemplary candidate. During his military service he had not wavered in his desire to join the ranks of Don Bosco as a Salesian SDB. His express desire was to continue as a candidate for the priesthood.
    While it may or may not be possible to list Michael's name in the Salesian Necrology, the Lord has clearly chosen to list his name amongst the 'great white band' of the saints on an auspicious day. Let austraLasia's announcement of his passing also be a way to encourage the Salesian Family throughout East Asia Oceania to pray for Michael, to pray with his brother and family, and to pray for the Korean Province.  As we believe so firmly that out of death comes life, we believe that there is also a blessing for the Province in this death. And the Lord has similarly tried and blessed other Provinces likewise in the past twelve months - Australia lost a prenovice through a fatal illness, and the Slovak Province a novice in an alpine incident.

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