Titolo notiziario
Nome società
Newsletter for Salesian Missionary Animation
The Don Bosco of Tonj
Dear Salesian missionaries and friends of the
Salesian Missions!
On June 24, 2011 a conference entitled 'Don Bosco
Tonj, life and spirituality of Don Lee Taeseok' was held
in the Provincial house in Seoul, South Korea. It's been a
year and a half after the death of an
amiable missionary. John Lee was sent
to Sudan in the community of Tonj soon
after his ordination to the priesthood
on June 24, 2001. He was a doctor, mu-
sician, teacher, Salesian. He lived a
dedicated and simple life as a son of
Don Bosco. He died at the age of 47, in
Seoul on January 14, 2010 after a 13-
month battle with cancer.
John was a very gifted young Salesian.
When he was a practical trainee in the
community of Dae Rim Dong he was the
assistant of eighty boys at risk. He used
his musical talents with so much crea-
tivity in the playground and in the
classroom. Imagine 80 difficult young-
sters who are just learning to write the
Korean alphabet at 18 years of age.
Yet, every Sunday evening they sang
the Tantum Ergo in Latin with a pop
rhythm composed by John! After his
practical trainee he was sent to UPS in
Rome for theology in 1997. As a Deacon
he asked to go for the summer in Af-
rica, to see if there is 'a place' for him. Thanks to Provi-
dence and Fr. James Pulickal during that month he was
able to reach South Sudan, which was, then, at war.
The few days he spent in the community of Tonj and
the encounter with the lepers who live near the com-
munity were enough to capture his heart. He returned
to Tonj after ordination to live a full life as a doctor, a
Salesian and a priest in order to 'treat the lepers as he
would treat Jesus'.
He became part of the Salesian community of Tonj
which was composed of many nationalities, whose mis-
sion, after the war, was to rebuild the Christian com-
munity, the Oratory, schools, and mission stations in
many villages. They called him 'Father Jolly', for his
good humour and friendship with the young people with
whom he had shared his whole heart.
With the help of many, he founded a small clinic and a
brass band. After his death the Don Bosco Radio 91 FM
was opened. At the moment a secondary school is under
construction.
During his eight years of work in
Tonj, besides the two books
about his Tonj experience (The
Rays of the Sun in Africa are still
sad and Will You Be My Friend?),
the Korean television KBS also
came to Tonj to make a docu-
mentary. Bishop Paul Choi, Bishop
of Suwon (Korea) also came to
see the reality of Tonj and his
medical missionary. These past
twelve months thousands have
seen the film 'Do not Cry For Me
Sudan' based on Korean televi-
sion’s documentary. It is now cir-
culated in several languages the
world over. The figure of Fr. John
has attracted nearly 30,000 to
the "John Lee Foundation," which
helps the Salesian work in Sudan.
I was his Rector, and later also
his Provincial in Korea. The first
African country I visited was just
Sudan. I had the last meeting
with Fr. John a week before his
death, when he received the Sacrament of the Sick in
Seoul in the winter of 2010. He lived this vocation with
joy, optimism, consistency, passion and deep spirit of
family.
We need to tell stories of the missionary vocations.
Their example is more attractive which serves as the
best invitation to see Don Bosco alive today in many
communities on frontier situation such as Tonj, South
Sudan. In this way many young people could understand
how a mission vocation is born! I hope that, this year,
every Salesian missionary vocation would narrate once
more, at least once, the call of the Lord who has guided
him on the way of life of the Gospel.
Fr. Václav Klement, SDB
Councillor for the Missions
