By Fr. Samuel Yoo, SDB

       Seoul, Korea, 27 February 2021 -- On the feast of St. Francis de Sales, 24 January 2021, Br Francis Choi, Hyeon-jong made his final (perpetual) religious profession during the Eucharist celebrated in the Seoul Provincial House Chapel (7th floor) at 2 PM. Less than 50 Salesian Family members attended the Mass, according to the government COVID-19 Guidelines.

       The Eucharist was celebrated by Fr Timothy Choi Won-cheol, SDB provincial of Korea, and attended by the whole provincial council, family members, and Salesians in charge of liturgy, music, and media.

       The vocation story of Brother Francis Choi Hyeon-jong is a true adventure, since Francis started his initial formation as a candidate to the priesthood and spent also two years in Rome, Gerini community. Then Br Choi completed the 4 year theology course in Gwangju Catholic University (undergraduate course) and after his practical training changed to the Salesian Brother vocation.

       Our wish is that Brother Choi Hyun-jong lives as a joyful witness to God’s love amidst the young people of Korea, and we entrust him to the guidance of Mary Help of Christians and of Saint Francis de Sales.

       First SDB religious profession in Daejon, January 24th at 7:00 AM

       The Korean province holds the first and final vows on the same day every year. The first profession is usually held in the morning and the solemn perpetual profession Eucharist in the early afternoon. But this year, due to Covid19 pandemic restrictions, it was not possible to celebrate in the same place. So Fr Provincial presided at the first profession ceremony in Daejeon in the morning, then moved by high-speed train (160km) and in Seoul presided at the perpetual profession Eucharist at 2 PM.

       There are 4 newly professed Salesians in the Korean province this year, all of them are candidates to the priesthood: Gabriel Kim Sun-woo, Francis Jeong Hoi-in, John of the Cross Lee Hae-sung and John Park Jeong-hyo. The parents of all four newly professed Salesians were present. After their religious profession all four will continue their initial formation in the postnovitiate in Gwangju – Shin An Dong formation community (Rector Fr Bonaventura Kim), while studying in the Gwangju Catholic University (3rd year).

       We give thanks to God for the blessing of 4 newly professed Salesians and one perpetually professed Salesian Brother in Korea province. During the 2021 there is a 'break year' for the novice-master, Fr Felix Wee, since there are no novices, but the good news is that 6 young men are starting their pre-novitiate year in Seoul in this month of January.

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