Fr Matthias Joon-ho Chae SJ died suddenly, aged 57, on April 1 in his hometown, Daegu, in Korea. Fr Matthias oversaw the rapid expansion of the Society in Korea during the last 20 years. On completing his PhD in counseling in the USA, he was appointed Formation Delegate for the Korean Region. He was later Superior of the Korean Region and then the first Provincial of the Korean Province in 2005. Since 2009, Fr Matthias served as the first Formation Delegate for the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific.

Fr Matthias is remembered with great affection by those privileged to know him.  He had a great heart, ready humour and was easy to be with. He accepted so many of the younger generation of Jesuits into the Society, directed them in their studies and continued to accompany and encourage them over the years.  

On joining the Conference, he put in place many procedures for the formation of young Jesuits, taking special care of the scholastics of Timor Leste and Myanmar. His last project was to oversee the preparation of the Profile of a Formed Jesuit for Asia Pacific. 

His funeral mass was held in the Jesuit Apostolic Centre in Seoul on April 3 with two bishops, fellow Jesuits, other priests, and hundreds of religious and lay people present. He was buried in the Jesuit section of Catholic Cemetery near Seoul the same day.

May he rest in peace!