4101_One of the great Pioneers of the Salesian Mission in Mongolia turns 60

August 16, 2016

By Fr. Anthony Kishore Minj, SDB

Darkhan, Mongolia, 15 August 2016 -- The Delegate of Mongolia which consists of 11 conferrers celebrated the 60 the birth anniversary of Fr. Simon Lee, SDB the senior most in the mission. On August 14, evening, Salesians from Darkhan and Ulaanbaatar community with salesian cooperators and workers gathered around Fr. Simon Lee SDB to felicitate and greet him on this auspicious occasion.

On August 15, on the solemnity of the Assumption he celebrated the Holy Eucharist with the young people and other faithful in the Church of Mary Help of Christians Darkhan. While expressing his vote of thanks to the community he said, “I want to stay young as i am working for the young if not physically at least at heart and in mind.”

Fr. Simon Lee SDB, was born in South Korea, in 1956, got converted from staunch Buddhism to Catholicism at his later age. He chose to be a Salesian priest against the will of his family because he wanted to dedicate his life for the young people. After finishing his schooling he took his first vows in the Salesian congregation in 1985. He was ordained a priest in June 24, 1993. Then he opted to be a missionary in Mongolia in 2000 and in September 2001 he was sent to Mongolia.

He is known for his simplicity, humility, friendliness and great dedication of his life for the young especially the poor and the marginalized. He is admired and loved by the youth for whom he is working. He has served the mission in Mongolia at various capacities. He has worked with the street children. He has been in charge of the farms and of printing press simultaneously. Many books have been translated from English and Korean language to Mongolian language under his direction. His pamphlets or leaflets are reaching even to Gobi provinces of Mongolia. He travels far and wide to distribute his translated pamphlets in public schools and other institutions of the country. It is one of the greatest means of reaching out to the young and for the evangelization.

We, as delegate of Mongolia express our sincere thanks to Fr. Simon Lee, SDB for his valuable contribution to the mission in Mongolia. At the same time we wish him God’s blessing and many fruitful and prosperous years to come.