Ten new Jesuit priests in Korea

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The Korea Jesuit Province celebrated the ordination of 10 new priests on July 1. More than 2,000 people participated in the ordination mass concelebrated by Most Rev Gyoung-chon Timothy Yu, Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul, and 160 priests, at Myung-dong Cathedral in Seoul, South Korea. During his homily, Bishop Yu reminded the newly ordained Jesuits of the Jesuit charism to be contemplatives in action that makes Jesuit priesthood possible.

Below is some information on each new priest, in the order they appear in this photograph.From L to R: The new Jesuit priests Fr Hun-june Peter Lee, Fr Se-jin Paulus Ahn, Fr Do-hyun Paul Kim, Fr Jae-sang Bonaventura Lee, Fr Sung-jae Josef Cho, Fr Hyung-sik Francis Cho, Fr Min John Kim, Fr Hyung-wook Dominic Savio Kim, Fr Seok-bae Andrew An, Fr Jae-wook Anselmus Lee. On the far right is Korea Jesuit Provincial Fr Che-chon John Chong

Fr Hun-june Peter Lee SJ, 39, entered the Society of Jesus in 2007. After taking his first vows in 2009, he combined philosophy-theology studies at Sogang University’s Graduate School of Theology from 2009 to 2011. Fr Lee served students for two years as Assistant for Campus ministry at Sogang University from 2011 to 2013. He was then sent to Dublin, Ireland to do his Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) and to complete his priesthood theological preparation at Milltown Institute.  In September, Fr Lee will be assigned to a parish for six months to a year for priestly pastoral experience.

Fr Se-jin Paulus Ahn SJ, 37, entered the Society in 2005. After taking his first vows in 2007, he did his philosophy studies and received his MPhil in 2010 at Sogang’s Graduate School of Theology. Fr Ahn served students for two years as Vice Director of Sogang University Gonzaga Dormitory. He was then sent to Berkeley, USA for his theological studies at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University.  He will return to school to complete his studies.

Fr Do-hyun Paul Kim SJ, 41, joined the Society in 2005 and took first vows in 2007. He completed his philosophy studies at Sogang’s Graduate School of Theology in 2010. Then during his Regency, he worked in the Information Center for Bio-pharmacological Network in Seoul National University as a senior researcher. After further theology studies at Sogang University, he went to Manila, Philippines in 2014 to complete his theological studies at the Loyola School of Theology. Fr Kim will continue teaching physics in Sogang University.

Fr Jae-sang Bonaventura Lee SJ, 43, entered the Society in 2005 and took first vows in 2007. After first vows and philosophy studies at Sogang University, he completed his Regency in 2010. During his Regency, Fr Lee served students for two years as Vice Director of Sogang University Bellarmino Dormitory. He did two more years of theology at Sogang, and was then sent to Manila in 2014 for his final year of theology studies at Loyola School of Theology.  In September, Fr Lee will be assigned to a parish for six months to a year for priestly pastoral experience.

Fr Sung-jae Josef Cho SJ, 34, joined the Society in 2004. After taking his first vows in 2006, he studied philosophy and German language and literature in Sogang University. Then, he was sent to Taipei, Taiwan to do Regency and to study theology at Fu Jen Faculty of Theology of St Robert Bellarmine. In September, Fr Cho will be assigned to a parish for six months to a year for priestly pastoral experience.

Fr Hyung-sik Francis Cho SJ, 45, entered the Society in 2005 and took his first vows in 2007. He did his philosophy studies in Sogang University, completing his MPhil at Sogang’s Graduate School of Theology in 2010 before being sent to Jesuit Mission in Cambodia for his Regency from 2010 to 2012. He did two more years of theology studies at Sogang University and completed his final year of theology in Manila at Loyola School of Theology.  In September, Fr Cho will be assigned to a parish for six months to a year for priestly pastoral experience.

Fr Min John Kim SJ, 42, entered the Society in 2005. After taking his first vows in 2007, he did his philosophy studies and received his MPhil in 2010 at Sogang’s Graduate School of Theology. Fr Kim did his two-year Regency at Yiutsari, the Jesuit-run centre for migrant workers in Korea. He did two more years of theology at Sogang before going to Manila in 2014 for his final year of theology studies at Loyola School of Theology. Fr Kim will serve as an executive secretary in the Province office.

Fr Hyung-wook Dominic Savio Kim SJ, 39, entered the Society in 2005. After taking his first vows in 2007, he did his theology studies at Sogang’s Graduate School of Theology until 2010. Fr Kim did his two-year Regency at Yiutsari before being sent to Tokyo, Japan to finish his theological studies at Sophia University. He will return to school to complete his studies.

Fr Seok-bae Andrew An SJ, 42, entered the Society in 2006 and took first vows in 2008. After philosophy studies at Sogang University, Fr An did his two-year Regency at Hannuri Child Center, the Jesuit-run centre for children. After beginning his master’s degree in Counselling at the Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, he went to Manila in 2014 to complete theological studies at Loyola School of Theology.  He will return to school to complete his studies.

Fr Jae-wook Anselmus Lee SJ, 39, entered the Society in 2008. After taking his first vows in 2010, he completed a combined philosophy-theology studies program at Sogang’s Graduate School of Theology in 2010. During Regency he did special studies in North Korean studies in the University of North Korean Studies, Seoul. He also worked at the Province Vocation Promotion Office as Assistant to the Director. In 2013, he was sent to Dublin, Ireland to do his STL and to complete his priesthood theological preparation at Milltown Institute. Fr Lee has been assigned to work in Jesuit Refugee Service.