austraLasia

?

Shortcut

PrevPrev Article

NextNext Article

Larger Font Smaller Font Up Down Go comment Print Attachment

20150401_KOR1.jpg


By Hilario Seo

After serving as parish priest for two years of Guro 3-dong in Seoul, Fr Raphael Lee left as a missionary for Tonj in South Sudan last 31 March. He shared that there is the heavy feeling of leaving for the missions at an old age, but he cannot deny that his heart is filled with joy because he feels “like committing a bit more in bringing God's love to those in need.” He adds further that, “Thinking that it would take a long time to understand the local situation,” he has resolved “to do everything possible to be well accepted by the local people and to be able to contribute to what is useful for the few confreres of the community of Tonj.”


He could not hide his concern about the warm weather which he is not accustomed to—and also the possibility of frequent illness—but the passion of the heart that desires to live more radically the teaching of the Gospel has been a true engine to make him decide to set out for the missions. The encouragement of the confreres who live in Sudan, is another factor that stimulated his preference for the missions.


In a homily he delivered in the Mass of his missionary expedition held last March 30, Fr Rafael, recalled the history of his vocation with serene voice. He had first encountered with the Salesians when he was in the secondary school. Among others, Don Vincenzo Donati invited him to consider the Salesian vocation. Contemplating the life of the old missionary priest, don Vincenzo Donati, a italian who has already lived for more than 30 years in Japan and Korea than jumped to Africa in 1982 in responding to the Don Vigano's appeal for the Africa project, and that last year was even spent to collect material aid for the poor people of the mission, could think of a strong desire leaving to the missions, which puts himself next to old friends, Don Donati and Bro Comino. "From those who had opened the Salesian life for me and invited me to the missionary life, I would like to learn more of the true religious and priestly life and want to receive the secret of the joy of life in preaching the gospel of Christ." After the homily the Provincial Superior, Fr Stephen Yang, handed the missionary cross to Fr Rafael.


Tonj in South Sudan is a well-known village for most Koreans since it is where the community in which Fr John Lee had dedicated his life for eight years until 2008. (The documentary film about Fr John Lee with title of ‘Don’t cry for me Tonj!’ was big success) The expedition of Fr Raphael is familiar not only to the Salesian Family but also the people of Korea who still remember and love the John Lee because of his heroism. After the sudden death of John Lee, except only a short period of the stay of Fr Henry Woo who was missionary too in Tonj, there had been no correspondence from Korean Salesian.


His excellent language skills, sense of optimism, and talent for music will come handy that will contribute for the success of his missionary life in Africa, Tonj. Also, his strong desire to live deeply the values of the Gospel would be a good example in the midst of the local people.


Fr Raphae Lee had his first Salesian vow in 1984, he was ordained in 1991 after which he was appointed in the province as director and master of novices and recently, parish priest. After studying in the diocesan seminary in Kwangju, he had studied for three years at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome and obtained a master’s degree at Potsdam University in New York in pastoral counseling.


Fr Raphael Lee will have a break for a few days in a Salesian community in Juba, the capital city of South Sudan from where enters the final destination, the community of Tonj.


Let us pray for him, that the Lord may bless him, protect him and accompany him in his missionary journey so that he may also proclaim the Gospel to the kids with joy and happiness. Another story that will be told is his new missionary life which has become another seed for the Salesian Family, in particular for the new generation.


20150401_KOR2.jpg


20150401_KOR3.jpg


20150401_KOR.jpg



Attach

Drag and drop your files here, or Click attach files button.

Maximum File Size : 0MB (Allowed extentsions : *.*)

0 file(s) attached ( / )

  1. 3589_Salesian Family in Macau celebrates bicentenary birthday carnival

    By Savio Yeung Macau, China—The Salesian Family in Macau which celebrated the 200th birthday of Don Bosco through an oratory carnival in Tap Sek Square, Macau drew more than 5,000 participants. It was held last April 25, Feast of St. Mark, ...
    Date2015.04.29 CategoryCIN Reply0 Views2749 file
    Read More
  2. 3588_Katmandu: Salesians already in action

    Since we have 3 communities in Nepal which were not affected, our confreres are in good position to help the victims and contribute to other emergency relief action By George Menamparampil The Salesians are in several places in Nepal, but t...
    Date2015.04.28 CategoryWorld Reply0 Views4067 file
    Read More
  3. 3587_Deadly earthquake Nepal: First report from the Salesian in Kathmand

    By Tony Cherian (Kathmandu, Nepal): There was a strong earthquake at around 11.45 am. Kathmandu is worst hit. In Biratnagar and Sirsiya though it was quite strong, so far no damage or death is noticed. But in Kathmandu nearly 850 people hav...
    Date2015.04.26 CategoryWorld Reply0 Views3398 file
    Read More
  4. 3586_Technical education exchange between Timor Leste and Macau

    By Adriano de Jesus (Macau, China): Thanks to the initiative of the SDB Macau Affairs Committee convener, Fr. Francis Hung,SDB (Rector of Yuet Wah College – Instituto Salesiano community) two Salesians from Timor Leste are now visiting the ...
    Date2015.04.23 CategoryTLS Reply2 Views4437 file
    Read More
  5. 3585_FIN has a new Doctor

    By Donnie Duchin Duya (Parañaque City, Philinppine): DBCS(Don Bosco Center of Studies) is proud to announce that there is a new doctor in the house—Fr. Anthony Nguyen Ngoc Dung, SDB, who obtained his Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Un...
    Date2015.04.22 CategoryFIN Reply1 Views4345 file
    Read More
  6. 3584_Effective communication brings change

    By Ariel Macatangay Internationally acclaimed Vatican Radio Program Director Sean Patrick Lovett and Signis Services Director Fr. Fabrizio Colombo, held a conference on ‘Effective Communication’ for 60 participants on 17th April at Don Bosc...
    Date2015.04.21 CategoryPGS Reply0 Views5071 file
    Read More
  7. 3583_First training course for the Salesian Youth Leaders at K’Long

    By Huy Hoang (K’Long, Vietnam) – In the bicentenary year of Don Bosco’s birth, the Youth Ministry Commission of St. John Bosco province in Vietnam held the first training course for the Salesian youth leaders at the retreat house of K’Long ...
    Date2015.04.21 CategoryVIE Reply0 Views5897 file
    Read More
  8. 3582_Salesian Family Spirituality Day 2015: Like Don Bosco, For the Young, With the Young

    By Hilario Seo (Seoul, Korea) At the approaching summit of Don Bosco’s bicentennial celebration, various members of the Salesian family in the Metropolitan area of Seoul gathered at the Provincial House last April 18. They attributed the jo...
    Date2015.04.20 CategoryKOR Reply0 Views3512 file
    Read More
  9. 3581_Action Song 2015-2016

    By CIN Development Office Every year, the Salesian Youth Office of China Province prepares the annual theme song. The Salesian youth are also invited to help with a video production so that together with this theme song, an annual video pro...
    Date2015.04.16 CategoryCIN Reply0 Views4355 file
    Read More
  10. 3580_Quinquennium Seminar On Spiritual Accompaniment at K'long Retreat House

    By Minh Tuan (Dalat, Viet Nam) According to the process of on going formation, this year the seminar for young Salesian priests in Viet Nam was already organized in the Salesian retreat house of K'long in three full days from April 9 to 11,...
    Date2015.04.14 CategoryVIE Reply0 Views10667 file
    Read More
List
Board Pagination Prev 1 ... 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 Next
/ 562