Rest in peace, Fr. Ambrosio Park Yang Ung

By Our Own Correspondent

Seoul, Korea, 6 January 2018 -- Known to many who visited or lived in the former General House community (Pisana: 1982-1984, 1988-2006) where he was in charge of the Central Salesian Library, Fr. Ambrosio Park (1943-2018) passed away just few days after a difficult surgery (cancer on pancreas) in the ICU of Catholic Hospital in Seoul, Korea few minutes before midnight of January 5, 2018.

Fr. Park was born in the Korean family resident in Japan (Kyoto), then joined the diocesan clergy of Seoul archdiocese (same batch like the present archbishop and cardinal Andrew Yeom) and was ordained to priesthood in 1970. His Salesian journey started during this canon law studies in Europe. After his Salesian novitiate (Seoul, 1981-1982) Fr. Ambrogio spent the rest of his life in Rome-Italy, most in the General House (1982-1984, 1988-2006) and also in the Rome province (IRO - then ICC) in the communities of Pius XI, Prenestino - Borgo Ragazzi Don Bosco, Sacro Cuore, Testaccio and finally Don Bosco Cinecitta'.

All his major assignments are connected with history and law: Member of the Salesian History Institute (ISS), Salesians Central Archive (1988-1990) and Salesian Central Library (1991-2006). Beyond his Doctorate in Canon Law (1979), Fr. Ambrosio was specialized in 'Biblioteconomia' (Vatican, 1983) and diploma course in Archivistic (Vatican, 1984).

Last August 2017 he returned to Korea - Seoul, in order to stay close to his mother Teresa Hong (Daegu City, 2 hrs by train from Seoul). During past few months Fr. Ambrosio was a member of the Provincial House community. He passed away at the age of 75, after 47 years of priesthood and 36 years of Salesian religious life.

May he rest in peace!

Brief timeline

• 1943: born in Kyoto, Japan


• 1970: ordained priest in Seoul, Korea


• 1982: first profession in Seoul, Korea


• 1982-2017: ministry in Rome, Italy


• 2017-2018: return to Seoul, Korea

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