The Korea Province celebrated the profession of final vows of Fathers Kwon O-myun Xavier, Jung Kang-yup Benedict and Seok Yo-seop in Seoul, South Korea.
Fr Kwon made his final vows on April 4 in the chapel of the Sogang University Jesuit Community. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1990 and was ordained in 2000. After his ordination, he was missioned to direct retreats in the House of The Word Retreat Center in Suwon and later became its Director. He has been the Director of the Jesuit Apostolic Center since 2014.
Fr Kwon shared that he chose that day within the Easter Octave for his final vows because he was inspired by the journey of the desolate disciples who met Jesus on the way to Emmaus. Like the disciples, he experienced spiritual difficulties when he started to study theology.
“Our Formation Delegate Fr Chae Junho Mathias visited me then in Australia. It was the same day as today, Wednesday in the Octave of Easter in 1996. In his homily, Fr Mathias said, ‘Jesus had resurrected, but his disciples did not know what had happened. Though good things had happened to the disciples, they did not notice it yet’. That thought gave me deep consolation and led me to hope. Every time I face an unexpected situation or when I sometimes have a crisis, the Emmaus experience inspires me.
“I really appreciate the late Fr Chae who was my spiritual director, Formation Delegate and Provincial. And I’m grateful to Andy Bullen, Brendan Byrne, Maryanne Confoy and the Jesuit Theological College members who accompanied me during my studies in Australia,” narrated Fr Kwon.
A week later on April 11, Fr Jung and Fr Seok made their final vows in the chapel of St Aloysius House of Studies.
Fr Jung entered the Society of Jesus in 1992 and was ordained in 2004. After completing his doctoral degree in education, he was assigned to the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific as Socius and Treasurer. He also served as Director and Prefect of Studies for Philosophers at Arrupe International Residence from 2009 to 2013. After his mission in the Philippines, he returned to Korea where he worked as Executive Director and member of the Board of Trustees of Sogang University until 2017.
“The final vows are a concrete call that urges me to lead ‘a life on the road’ like St Ignatius, el peregrino, who follows God’s dynamic compass rather than human beings’ tattered map,” said Fr Jung. “There is a stark difference between a wayfarer and a peregrino: amid the drift of life, a peregrino has a set direction, always endeavouring to take unshakable root in God’s call and care. Only those who can first be firmly anchored to God can become a pilgrim setting out to fulfil that call. May my life continue to follow Jesus, who always goes ahead of me with his gaze of mercy!”
Fr Seok entered the Society of Jesus in 1996 and was ordained in 2006. After his ordination, he was assigned as Province Secretary. Afterwards, he worked as Director of the Jesuit Apostolic Center and Province Treasurer in turn. Now, he is the Director of Manresa Spirituality Center in Hongcheon-gun, a rural area on the eastside of Korea.
Reflecting on his final vows, he said, “God is the one who never lets me die; rather He longs to give me life. God, whom I meet in my Jesuit religious life, is the master and the giver of life. Through the final vows, I feel more deeply the God who lives and gives life.”
We thank God for the gift of Jesuit vocation and we pray that Fr Kwon, Fr Jung and Fr Seok may continue to flourish in their call to be ministers of reconciliation.