Silver Jubilee of presbyterial ordination and religious profession

By Fr. Anthony Kishore Minj, SDB

Darkhan, Mongolia, 24 June 2018 -- With great Jubilation Auxilium Parish Darkhan celebrated the 25th anniversary of priestly ordination of Fr. Simon Ho Yeol Lee, SDB and the 25th anniversary of the religious profession of Fr. Jaroslav Vracovsky, SDB on June 23, 2018. 

More than three hundred people, including many priests and religious participated in the celebration. All the salesians from Mongolian delegation were present to witness this big event. The celebration began at 10 am with Holy Mass presided over by his Excellency Bp. Wenceslao Padilla, CICM. During the homily, talking about the jubilee celebrants the bishop highlighted their simplicity and humility, and thanked them for their dedication and whole hearted service to develop the mission in Mongolia. Fr. Paul Leung SDB, the delegate superior of Mongolia appreciated them for their diligence, untiring zeal and passion for the service for the young. 

After mass, whole crowd move towards the stage to felicitate both the celebrants and colorful concert was organized by the youth of the parish, thereafter grand lunch was served for all.

An Electrician to a Salesian (Speech made by Fr. Jaroslav)

Dear friends, it is great to be here and to celebrate things that God has done in my life! “This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118, 24)

To be honest, I never expected that I would become a salesian, priest and a missionary in Mongolia. Until the age of 18, I was thinking that I would be an electrician, but sure not a religious and priest. But when I was studying in ‘Czech technical university’ Prague, mysteriously I met Salesians, joined Bible sharing groups, animator’s movement and summer camps. It was time of communism and everything had to be done in secret. This experience helped me to listen to God’s call to follow him. Electricity is invisible and strong. Similarly God is invisible and strong. I realized that anybody could be an electrician, but God expected something else from me.

It is 25th year since I made my religious profession after novitiate. The day of my first religious vows was one of the happiest moments in my life which I even cherish today. During these 25 years God gave me much more that I have ever given him.

I would like thank many people who have been supporting and accompanying me all these while. First of all, a big thanks to God the almighty and to Mother Mary for her guidance, protection and support. To my mother, father, sister and all the relatives, who have been assisting me to follow me God’s ways. A big gratitude to Salesians in Czech province and in Mongolian delegation! My heartfelt thanks to our lay co-operators, youth and children with whom I live and find my inner joy! Again, thanks to all of you for your prayers and support. “This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118, 24)

A Mechanical engineer to a Salesian priest and a missionary (A short summary of a drama played by the youth portraying the life and priestly vocation of Fr. Simon Lee, SDB)

Fr. Simon Lee, born in a small village far from city, grew up in a farming set up, as a small boy he learnt hard work and to be industrious from his parents particularly from his mother.

When he was a teenager he met FMA sisters by whom he was taught catechism. Inspired by the religious life of sisters, despite all opposition from his parents he got baptized. He joined the university to prepare himself to be an engineer. God’s ways are mysterious; he was led by FMA sisters to join the salesians to follow God’s call. Thus became a Salesian and was ordained a priest on June 24, 1993.

For few years he worked in Korea, then inspired by the salesian missionaries he left his native land 17 years ago. From then on he has been working in Mongolia. In Mongolia he worked with street children, in the printing press, in the farm etc. Now he is a parish priest of Maria Auxilum, Darkhan and at the same he is a rector of the Salesian community.

Addressing to the audience in the church he said, “If young people are not here, I will not be here, they are everything for me.” He has a great love and passion for the young.

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