Five Korean Jesuits were ordained as priests at Myung-dong Cathedral of Seoul Archdiocese on June 30. Frs Shin-jae Youh, Jin-hyon Lee and Jin-hyuk Park studied theology at Jesuit Theology Center (JTC) in Melbourne, Australia. Bishop Greg O’Kelly (ASL) of the Diocese of Port Pirie, Australia, who ordained the three as deacons on December 3 2009, Fr. Brendan Byrne (ASL), professor at JTC and Fr Michael Smith (ASL), Rector of JTC were not intimidated by the long flight in order to witness their students’ new and blissful beginning. Fr Chong-hwan Alex Park (KOR), who studied at Fu Jen University in Taipei, and Fr Young-hoon Stefano Kim (KOR), who finished theology at Jesuit School of Theology (JST) at Berkeley, were also there. Fr Elías Perezo (CHN), professor and Deacon James Boey (MAS), both from Fu Jen University and Fr John Mitchell (CFN), minister of JST and Fr John Paul (WIS), formation delegate of Wisconsin province were among those who celebrated this jubilant moment with the new priests’ families and friends. The new priests will begin to sow the seeds of Jesus in Korea, the United States, Cambodia and Taiwan with diverse apostolic commitments.

(Contributor: Fr John Chong, KOR Socius)