Score: Minus one in EAO, plus one in
Africa
The winner is God's love
SEOUL: 10 March 2014 -- "I think the missionary is a second vocation,
starting a new life. When I was a high school student
joining in the summer camp I was very much attracted by the
Salesians, so my vocation blossomed. While studying theology
I saw several heroic missionaries who bravely left all. I
heard them recount their adventures in their mission land
and this stirred the thought of the in my heart. I still
wanted very much to go to the missions. Finally today,
having to leave for a new land, I am really moved. I would
like to ask you to pray for me so that I can bring the
Gospel, witness to it and bring the spirit of Don Bosco
through my second vocation."
These were Fr Lupicinus Kim's words as he was sent to the
missions at a formal Eucharistic send off in Seoul on Sunday
9 March 2014. Fr Kim is heading for Zambia. The main celebrant at the Mass was Fr Isidor Hong, the
provincial delegate for the missions. He encouraged people to
imitate the courage of the new missionary who is willing to
give his whole life for people far away, starting a new life.
The homily, instead, was by the new missionary, telling of his
vocation story and the aspiration which was to attract him to
become a missionary 'ad gentes'. There were about five hundred
faithful at the Mass including the various groups of the
Salesian Family and young people, especially those boys whom
he had cared for - there were about 40 of them who had lost a
good friend and were finding it painful as he left for the
missions.
Lupicinus Kim, after ordination to the priesthood a
year ago, worked in a kind of group home for disadvantaged
boys until he was assigned to the missions last December.
Since last January he has been attending a preparatory course
for new missionaries held by the Columbans, on the
recommendation of the General Councillor for the Missions, Fr
Vaclav Klement. At the Mass was also one of his colleagues
from the missionary course, a priest of the Suwon Diocese who
is heading for Chile shortly. A couple of lay missionaries
from 2008, Francis Jin and Sofia Lee were also at the Mass.
They work in Malawi, a mission territory belonging to ZMB, and
for the moment are on furlough in Korea. Currently they are
under the umbrella of Fr Alex Kim, also a Salesian missionary
from Korea for many years, in the Liongwe community.
Instead of the provincial, who is in Rome for GC27, Fr
Michael Chang, head of the Mission Office as well being
provincial economer, invited those present to pray for the new
missionary so he can bring the spirit of Don Bosco to his
place of mission, and have the bodily and spiritual good
health to be a mystic in his activity. He also expressed the
hope that the missionary spirit flourish among Salesian Family
members and that there be a strong wave of support for
missionaries and the education of young people who are in
mission territories.
The parents of Lupicinus, who could not hide their
great pain at sending their dear son away, said a word of
blessing and encouraged him to be a faithful servant of the
Lord and do everything possible to share the love of the
Father. Lupicinus' older brother, also a Salesian priest
ordained just a month and a half ago, Fr Benedict Kim, is in
Australia to completing a Masters in Moral Theology,
Lupicinus takes his flight to Zambia on Monday evening from
Korea.
Blessed be the journey of the new missionary for the young in
ZMB.
