The Society of Jesus in Korea celebrates six new Jesuit priests: Fr Park Soo-young Theodore, Fr Choi Jun-yeol Damianus, Fr Lee Chang-hyon Pius, Fr Cho Chang-mo Simon, Fr Jeon Chan-yong John Bosco and Fr Park Kyoung-woong Peter. They were ordained to the priesthood on June 28 at Myung-dong Cathedral in Seoul, South Korea.
More than 1,200 people participated in the Ordination Mass concelebrated by Most Rev Son Hee-song Benedictus STD DD, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Seoul, and about 150 priests. During his homily, Bishop Son called for each of the newly ordained Jesuits to be a “short” person, connoting a modest and humble shepherd.
Four of the new priests, Fr Park Soo-young, Fr Lee Chang-hyon, Fr Cho Chang-mo and Fr Park Kyoung-woong, were in the joint Theology programme of the Graduate School of Theology (GST) at Sogang University in South Korea and the Loyola School of Theology at Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines.
Fr Park Soo-young, 36, has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Diplomacy from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Korea. He entered the Society in 2006 and spent two years in the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang in Cambodia for his Regency. He will be returning to the Cambodia Mission in September for his first assignment as a priest.
Fr Lee Chang-hyon, 39, studied Communication at Sogang University. He entered the Society in 2007 and spent his first year of Regency in Cambodia. He returned to Korea for his second year of Regency as Assistant to the Province Treasurer. He will be missioned to St Agnes Korean Catholic Church in Los Angeles in September for priestly pastoral experience.
Fr Cho Chang-mo Simon, 38, has a degree in Russian Language and Literature from Kyungpook National University in Korea. He entered the Society in 2007 and during his Regency worked at the Province Vocation Promotion Office as Assistant to the Director for two years. He will return to the Loyola School of Theology to finish his studies before being assigned to a parish in the Diocese of Jeju in December.
Fr Park Kyoung-woong, 39, has a BA in Philosophy and Korean Literature, and MA in Korean Literature from Sogang University. He entered the Society in 2008. During Regency he worked at the Province Vocation Promotion Office as Assistant to the Director. He will be assigned to the Institute for Ignatian Spirituality as Researcher starting September.
Fr Jeon Chan-yong, 38, entered the Society in 2007. For his Regency, he spent one year at the St Ignatius House Province infirmary and one year at Yiutsari, the Jesuit centre for migrant workers in South Korea. He completed the first cycle of Theology studies at the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University, Berkeley, California, USA. He will take up his new assignment as Acting Professor in the Character Development Center of Sogang University in September.
Fr Choi Jun-yeol, 39, holds a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and a master’s degree in Public Health. Born and raised in Dae-gu, where he and his family were active Catholics, he participated in parish life throughout his childhood. He entered the Society in 2007. As a Regent, he was assistant director of Bellarmino Dormitory in Sogang University. For the last three years, he studied at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree while he was a deacon at the Saint Michael Korean Catholic Church in San Francisco, California. He has been assigned to the novitiate in Suwon as Assistant Director of novices starting September.
Main story image: The first blessing of the newly ordained priests (L-R): Fr Park Kyoung-woong Peter, Fr Cho Chang-mo Simon, Fr Choi Jun-yeol Damianus, Fr Park Soo-young Theodore, Fr Lee Chang-hyon Pius and Fr Jeon Chan-yong John Bosco