1291 Bro. Moses Kim: Korean Ambassador to Holy See hosts 'month's mind'
austraLasia 1291

Bro. Moses Kim: Korean Ambassador to Holy See hosts 'month's mind'

ROME: 18th October 2005 --  It is almost a month since the passing of the first Korean Coadjutor Salesian Brother, Kim Seong Cheon.  Moses Kim, as he would also be known, died at Dae Rim Dong formation community in Korea on 23rd September, but yesterday, with former Korean provincial, now Bishop Luc Van Looy as main celebrant, Mass was celebrated at the Korean Embassy to the Holy See in Rome.  The Ambassador, Mr Bosco Seon, is an ex-Salesian and past pupil of Don Bosco Kwangju.
   Kim Seong Cheon's story merits re-telling especially since, as the very first Brother in Salesian Korea, he was a founder of a kind.  Born on 25th October 1928 in Sariwon, now part of North Korea, he was a member of a large Catholic family and became an active Catechist in the home parish.  During the Japanese occupation of Korea, up until 1945, he learned Japanese.  When the Korean war broke (1950-53) out he was forced to join the North Korean communist army.  He eventually escaped to the South and was captured.  He spent some years in a concentration camp in the far south, near Busan - from 1952-55, in fact. These were terrible years.
    It was during his time in concentration camp that he got news of the recently arrived Salesian Congregation in Korea.  He came in contact with the first Salesian school in Kwangju, some 300 kms from Busan, in 1956, after his release.  After 5 years of aspirantate he made his novitiate in Japan where he had the good fortune to spend an entire year with Mons. Vincent Cimatti in Tokyo-Chofu.  He made his first profession on 25th March 1962 in company with one other Korean Salesian who became the first Salesian priest from that country, Fr Tadeo Park.  Fr Park is still active in the Kwangju postnovitiate community.
    As a Salesian, Bro Moses Kim continued his work as catechist, especially amongst students, catechumens.  He became famous for his interest in and ability at story telling.  He became active as a formator, being socius to the then novice master Fr Falk.  He also became the first Brother on the Delegation (as it was) Council, with Fr Falk, then Fr Van Looy as Provincial Delegates.  Due to his various war experiences he spoke Japanese, Russian and some English as well as his native Korean.  In later years he became well-known in the province also for his ability to give effective - and cute - messages to homilists who went a little over time...with a dry cough.
    Thanks to this shining example and witness of down-to-earth religious life, the figure of the Coadjutor Brother developed well in Korean Salesian culture.  Today there are 26 Brothers amongst 113 confreres.
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