austraLasia #3184
KOR
Province: largest group of ordinations ever
SEOUL: 26 January 2013 --
24th January was a huge, joyful feast day of our patron, St
Francis
Sales in Korea Province, with the ordination of 7 new priests
and 2
deacons in the provincial house at Seoul. The Mass was
celebrated by
Archbishop Yeom Sujeong (Andrea), of the Seoul Archdiocese
with some 80
Salesian and others priests concelebrating, and the ordinands'
families
and friends present, along with youth from various Salesian
settings,
FMA, SCG, other Salesian Family Group members, in short, more
than
3,000 people were really jammed into the chapel.
"It's a really great thing
for a
religious congregation that 7 members be ordained at the
same time;
it's the largest single group in the history of Salesian
Korea.
Congratulations to all Salesians who are celebrating their
patron
today. The priest is one who proclaims the Word, teaches
catechism,
leads the people to build up the Kingdom of God, following
the good
example of Christ, and poor and humble like St. Francis de
Sales. Up to
now you have not forgotten, especially in the spirit of Don
Bosco, that
you have to express God's love to the young and to be signs
of of his
love for them as your highest priority. You new Salesian
priests have
to be convinced of what Mamma Margaret told Don Bosco when
he was
ordained” the Archbishop reminded them.
The newly ordained are Frs Benedict Kang, Andrew Chang, Paul
Kang,
Albert Kim, Lupicino Kim, Peter Choi and Peter Gong. The new
Deacons
are Pascual Shin, Joseph Shin.
Fr Stefano Nam, Provincial, told the newly ordained: "We
are into the second year of preparation for the 200th
anniversary of
Don Bosco's birth and we have to thank God for giving us a
great gift
this year. My wish is that you, the newly ordained, be true
disciples
of the Lord. Knowing and imitating the heart of Don Bosco's
may you be
fascinating ministers who are fully engageed in the mission
for poor
youth. With the Rector Major, following Don Bosco, let's
make the young
our mission in life.” He expressed his gratitude to
the parents
who have generously given their sons to Don Bosco’s mission,
and he
thanked the confreres who willingly followed up these newly
ordained,
and finally the young people who give significance and meaning
to our
Salesian vocation.
The provincial presented a special message from the Rector
Major: “loving
greetings from the General House on this day in which we
celebrate the
Feast of Our Saintly Patron, St Frances of Sales. I would
like to
congratulate you and the whole Province of Korea for the
many blessings
received over these days, first of all through the Perpetual
Profession
of 3 Confreres, then for the First Profession of the three
novices, and
for the Ordination of 2 Deacons and 7 new Priests. What a
blessing!!!
The Lord is so good to you and to all the Congregation.
Blessed be His
Name forever! Now the most important thing is to help all
the confreres
to consolidate their vocational choice and to live their
life with joy,
generosity and fidelity. I entrust you and all of them to
the motherly
care and guidance of Mary the Immaculate Help of Christians.
I wish you
a very happy Feast of Don Bosco. In communion of hearts and
prayers. Fr
Pascual Chávez V., SDB. Rector Major