The Society of Jesus in Korea celebrates five new Jesuit priests. Fathers Andrew Sung-gyoon Lee, Simon Mon-hoi Kim, Benedict On-dohk Kang, Thomas Min Han and Igwan Su-yun Park were ordained to the priesthood on July 2 at Myeong-dong Cathedral in Seoul, South Korea. More than 1,500 people participated in the ordination mass concelebrated by Most Rev Peter Chung Soon-taek OCD, Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul, and 80 priests.
Fr Andrew Lee SJ, 45, joined the Society in 2001, after obtaining a degree in Agriculture from Korea University and working for a few years. After taking his first vows in 2003, he did his philosophy studies and received MPhil in 2006 at the Graduate School of Theology (GST), Sogang University. Fr Lee did his two-year regency at Yiutsari, the Jesuit-run centre for migrant workers. He was sent to Manila, the Philippines to study theology at Loyola School of Theology (LST), and upon his return to Korea in 2013, he resumed working with migrant workers.
Fr Simon Kim SJ, 40, entered the Society in 2003, a year after receiving his bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering at Korea University. He took first vows in 2005, after two years in the novitiate. He did his philosophy studies in Sogang University, completing his MPhil at GST in 2008. During his regency, Fr Kim served students for two years as Vice-director of Sogang University Bellarmino Dormitory. He did his theology studies in Paris, France at Centre Svres, Facultés jésuites de Paris.
Fr Benedict Kang SJ, 37, entered the Society in 2004, after finishing his studies in Creative Writing at Hanshin University. He took first vows in 2006 and completed his regency in 2010. He was then sent to Melbourne, Australia for his theological studies at Jesuit Theological College (JTC).
Fr Thomas Han SJ, 37, also entered the Society in 2004, a year after receiving his bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication at Sogang University. He also studied philosophy at GST after his first vows in 2006. During his regency, he worked at the Province Vocation Promotion Office as Assistant to the Director. In 2011, he began his theology studies at JTC.
Fr Igwan Park SJ, 35, joined the Society in 2004, after obtaining a degree in Electronic Engineering at Choong-ju University. He completed his philosophy studies at GST in 2009 and was sent to Jesuit Mission in Cambodia for his regency from 2009 to 2011. He went to Manila for theological studies at LST. He returned to Korea this year.
In September, Fathers Lee, Kim and Park will be assigned for their pastoral experience as priest in different parishes for six months to a year, while Fathers Kang and Han will return to Australia to finish their studies.
At the end of the ordination mass, Bishop Chung praised God for allowing the Society to enjoy this abundant blessing in vocations and asked the Jesuits to continue to serve the Church and the People of God. Fr John Sin SJ, Provincial of the Korea Jesuit Province, asked the whole congregation to keep the new priests in their prayers.
Main photo: The newly ordained Jesuit priests concelebrate with the bishop. From left to right: Fr Thomas Min Han, Fr Simon Mon-hoi Kim, Auxiliary Bishop Peter Chung Soon-taek, Fr Andrew Sung-gyoon Lee, Fr Benedict On-dohk Kang, and Fr Igwan Su-yun Park.