austraLasia #2790 KOR: 5 new priests and 5 deacons ordained by Bishop
Luc van Looy
SEOUL: 24 January 2011 -- On the feast day of St.
Francis of Sales, KOT Province has celebrated in a most
solemn way with a number of ordinations, in fact the largest
single group to be ordained in the history of this Province.
Five confreres were ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Luc
Van Looy, bishop of Ghent in Belgium, formally Vicar of the
Rector Major and long before that, Superior of the then
Korean Delegation (27 years ago).
The ordination took place in the
provincial house, on the 7th Floor, which holds a very large
chapel, at 2 pm at a Mass celebrated by Bishop Luc with the
retired archbishop of Kwangju, Archbishop Andrew Choi. The
retired archbishop is a very close friend of Bosco Seong,
formally the Korean Ambassador to the Holy See, who also
happens to be the father of Savio Seong, one of the new
priests! Also present were some 80 priests (Salesian and
others), the ordinands parents, Salesian family groups as
well as youth from various works. It was estimated that a
total of 2,000 people attended the ordination (so really,
the 7th floor chapel is quite large as indicated above!).
The newly ordained are Frs Peter Lim,
Joseph Cho, Bosco Lee, Felix We, and Savio Seong. They
completed their theology at Kwangju and Seoul, also spending
some time in addition for pastoral training, including a
year in the Philippines to lean English. Most of them come
from a Salesian work or family belonging to the Salesian
movement such as Cooperators or Past Pupils.
"Being ordained as a Salesian priest
means becoming a minister of the Church, willing to dedicate
and sacrifice his whole life for youth, especially those
most in need, following Don Bosco's model: 'for you I study,
live, work and spend my life'. Bishop Luc added: Don't be
satisfied with 'Da mihi animas' but also regard
'cetera tolle' as your life's motto.
Fr Stephen Nam Stephan, provincial, gave
thanks for the abundant grace of these ordinations, urging
his listeners, the Salesian Family, to "put into practice
this year's Strenna, 'Come and see' to help more and more
young people with generous hearts to respond to God's call."
He also reminded the newly ordained to remember Mamma
Margaret's word when Don Bosco was ordained, telling him in
words to this effect: "John, now that you are finally closer
to God, always remember that you must remain poor".
Newly ordained Fr Svaio's mother
expressed her joy: "I am really so happy today that my son
has become a Salesian priest, a priest of Don Bosco, my
favourite saint. I hope that my son, Fr Savio, will always
be happy loving the young as well being loved by them, and I
will continue to pray for him for the rest of my life".
Margaret, as she is, only became a Catholic last May,
received into the Church by archbishop Choi in preparation
for her son's priestly ordination.
Meanwhile, during the same celebration
there were also five confreres ordained deacon; Emmanuel
Parkl, John Park, Samuel Ryu, Benedict Kang and Andrew
Chang.
Bishop Luc arrived in Korea on 15 January
and preached the annual retreat for confreres last week with
the title of 'Salesian life, the way of love'. He returns to
Belgium immediately after the ordinations. _________________ AustraLasia
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