Four new priests were ordained in the Korean Jesuit Province on June 27 at the Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul by Most Rev Job Koo Yo Bi, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Seoul.  Bishop Job asked the newly ordained priests to help the diocese, and spoke of how the Jesuits have helped a lot throughout his apostolic experience.

All the new priests made their first vows on February 6, 2010. They studied philosophy and theology at Sogang University in Seoul, South Korea and completed their theological studies at the Loyola School of Theology in Manila, Philippines where they stayed at the Arrupe International Residence.

Fr Kim Ju-chan Albert SJ received a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Graduate School of Pusan National University in Korea and worked as a researcher at KATECH (Korea Automotive Technology Institute). During his regency, he cared for the elderly Jesuit members of the St Ignatius community and worked as assistant director of the Jesuit Benefactors Association.

Fr Han Hyun-bai Joseph SJ studied economics at York University in Canada and worked at a bank in Canada before joining the Society of Jesus. For his regency, he was sent to Banteay Prieb, the Jesuit vocational training centre for survivors of landmines and polio, and people with learning disabilities in Cambodia, where he served for two years.

Fr Lee Huen-kwan John SJ studied life sciences at Konkuk University in Korea. He worked for two years at Sogang University during his regency.

Fr Jung Hoi-kang Peter SJ graduated from Korea University with a degree in computer education. He worked at MAGIS – Jesuit Youth Center during his regency.

The four new priests may have spent most of their formation together but they have been missioned to quite different ministries. Fr Kim will be a parochial vicar of the Korean Catholic church in Atlanta, USA. Fr Han is now assistant director for vocation promotion. Fr Lee will join a small community movement at Gwangjang-dong church in Seoul diocese, while Fr Jung is now the minister and treasurer of the novitiate and assistant director of novices.

Main image: The candidates during Election (L-R) Fr Han Hyun-bai Joseph SJ, Fr Kim Ju-chan Albert SJ, Fr Lee Huen-kwan John SJ, Fr Jung Hoi-kang Peter SJ

Watch the newly ordained priests talk about their vocation journey. The video is in Korean.