austraLasia #2876
 
"Don Bosco of Tonj, not a Korean Schweitzer!"
Salesians take firm hold of John Lee legacy

SEOUL: 25 June 2011 -- The phenomenon of Fr John Lee, Salesian Korean missionary to an area that will soon be known as an independent nation, South Sudan, has taken Korea by storm. Sometimes, despite much goodwill, the enthusiasm his life has generated has been caught up in so many things that are plainly secondary to who and what he was for the poor and the sick of Tonj.  Fr John Lee Taesok, sdb, died of cancer in January 2010 after 8 years of missionary life as a priest, medical doctor, and outstanding witness to the Gospel. It is estimated that more than 10 million people have already watched the film "Don't Cry Tonj", a documentary produced by Mountain Pictures on the life of Fr John Lee Taesok. Many thousands have banded together to continue his legacy, and that is where there is a need for firm direction.
    The Salesians in Korea, who are rightly proud of this outstanding Salesian's achievements, held a Symposium on 24 June 2011 under a title that makes it very clear where they stand on the issue:  "Don Bosco of Tonj, the life and the spirituality of Fr John Lee Taeseok". The symposium was held in the auditorium of the Salesian Provincial House in Seoul.
    The Salesian Provincial, Fr Stephen Nam, said in his opening address that "when we commemorate someone, we have to know what was the real foundation of his life and activity. It is very important, then, to discover the roots of the life and spirituality of Fr John as a religious and priest missionary instead of imagining some artificial figure formed around other interests"
   Retired bishop Paul Choi, from Suwon Diocese not too far from Seoul, visited Tonj. Bishop Choi was looking for a mission outlet for his diocese in southern Sudan when Fr John was still working at full strength. Speaking now at the Symposium Bishop Choi argued that "this Symposium might be a good chance to see Fr John's life with God's eyes;  this man who gave us such a wonderful example for a better understanding of the mystery of the incarnation".
    Fr Marcelo Baek, who was John's companion more than 10 years through and beyond initial formation, said that “it is a huge mistake to think of him as a Korean Schweitzer”, which the Korean media have so often dubbed him as. "In some respects”, he continued, “Fr John was an even better missionary than the Franco-German doctor and theologian. Schweitzer was a great man, but is often charged with having an attitude towards Africans that could never be said of Fr John, who is regarded by the southern Sudanese as a healer, friend and now their intercessor in heaven".
    "The best title for him", Fr Marcelo continued, "follows from his choice to imitate Don Bosco in his life as a Salesian. He is Don Bosco of Tonj".
    It is estimated that some 750 people attended the Symposium, Salesian family members as well lay people who loved Fr John and want to follow his spirit in helping the poor. The four main speakers were Fr Marcelo Baek, Rector of the Provincial House, Dr Teresa Shin, who worked for one year as a volunteer at the Don Bosco School in Tonj during Fr John's final months there, and Professor Bosco Moon, who was Minister for Education and currently chairman of the Korean Catholic Education Commission, and Fr Stephen Yang, Vice Provincial.
    Doctor Shin testified that "he never turned away in sorrow, never lost his mischievous sense of humour even when he had to physically carry severely ill patients, or deal with unbelievably poor people living in smelly dugouts".   
    Professor Moon, for his part, spoke of the documentary, 'Don't cry Tonj', adding that  the "Fr John phenomenon that has swept the country leads to a positive 'obsession', something that means people cannot just stay quiet. It gives them the sense of urgency to do some thing good for others".
    "Fr John was a really great friend of young poor people in Tonj, a true master for his disciples, a strong bastion for patients, a healer of souls through the sacraments. Despite the shortness of his life he was able to do everything he could and wanted to do", Fr Stephen Yang noted as he spoke of Fr John Lee's spirituality, and added that "we can say that Fr John was a man of God who faithfully put Jesus' teachings into practice as a Salesian of Don Bosco in everyday life. So we might rightly call him "Don Bosco of Tonj".
    The symposium concluded with a viewing of a DVD narrating Fr John's life in Tonj and comparing this to Don Bosco's Oratory in Valdocco.
    The CEO of Mountain Pictures gave a substantial donation to the Salesian missions in Africa to the Provincial.
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