austraLasia #3349
SEOUL/JUBA: 14 January 2013 -- Tonj is some 250 km from Bor in South Sudan, far enough away, one would hope, from current fighting around the latter city. But back in Tonj, today, they cannot but help recall that the Salesian who helped put Tonj on the map for many people in the world, Fr John Lee Taesok, passed to his eternal reward just four years ago today. Fr John Lee, Salesian, priest, doctor and missionary extraordinaire, worked in Tonj for eight years before being struck down by terminal cancer. He died in his native South Korea in 2010 at 49 years of age, but left behind a legacy as a Salesian missionary priest that will not be easily forgotten.
Tonj is currently the residence for Fr Ferrington Rayen, the Delegate for Sudan-South Sudan Delegation which belongs to AFE Province. It is increasingly difficult for our people to get permits for Sudan, so Fr Ferrington is listed as resident in Tonj.
Today in Seoul, John Lee is being remembered too - by his own Salesian confreres in the first place, and of course by many others who have grouped around his legacy officially or unofficially.
One can be certain that John Lee is interceding for those whom he loved so much and gave his life for - the young people especially of whatever tribe he came across, to see that they had education, good health, and salvation within their grasp.
Of course, anywhere in South Sudan at the moment is like being between a rock and a hard place, with battles raging to the east and chaos reigning in the next door nation to the west (CAR). The Salesians in Juba have set up an Emergency Response Team, as reported in ANS, where you can follow all the details.
SEOUL/JUBA: 14 January 2013 -- Tonj is some 250 km from Bor in South Sudan, far enough away, one would hope, from current fighting around the latter city. But back in Tonj, today, they cannot but help recall that the Salesian who helped put Tonj on the map for many people in the world, Fr John Lee Taesok, passed to his eternal reward just four years ago today. Fr John Lee, Salesian, priest, doctor and missionary extraordinaire, worked in Tonj for eight years before being struck down by terminal cancer. He died in his native South Korea in 2010 at 49 years of age, but left behind a legacy as a Salesian missionary priest that will not be easily forgotten.
Tonj is currently the residence for Fr Ferrington Rayen, the Delegate for Sudan-South Sudan Delegation which belongs to AFE Province. It is increasingly difficult for our people to get permits for Sudan, so Fr Ferrington is listed as resident in Tonj.
Today in Seoul, John Lee is being remembered too - by his own Salesian confreres in the first place, and of course by many others who have grouped around his legacy officially or unofficially.
One can be certain that John Lee is interceding for those whom he loved so much and gave his life for - the young people especially of whatever tribe he came across, to see that they had education, good health, and salvation within their grasp.
Of course, anywhere in South Sudan at the moment is like being between a rock and a hard place, with battles raging to the east and chaos reigning in the next door nation to the west (CAR). The Salesians in Juba have set up an Emergency Response Team, as reported in ANS, where you can follow all the details.
..........
It has just come to our notice that Fr Sylvester Yuan Heck Tsing, of China province, has passed to his eternal re
