Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - On 6 July thousands of Catholics in the archdiocese of Seoul gathered for the ordination of 39 new priests held in Jamsil Sports Stadium. One of the new priests, Benedict Park Min-seo, is the first deaf-mute priest in Asia.
Benedict, who lost his hearing at the age of two, felt the call to be a priest at a young age. While at a special school for deaf children he met Fr. Michael Jeong Sun-oh, parish priest at Beon-dong. Benedict was given special assistance to discern his vocation and during the years at the seminary and finally reached the important moment of his ordination. Since there were no special courses for deaf-mute seminarians in Korea, Benedict was sent to study theology at St. John's University in New York where he obtained a degree in 2004. Back in Seoul he continued his studies and was ordained a deacon in 2006.
Fr Bendict celebrated his first Mass on 8 July at Beon-dong parish church using sign language and concelebrating with another of the 39 new priests, Fr. Gabriel Jang Won-seok. Among the 1,500 people present, besides numerous members of communities and institutes for the deaf-mute in Korea, Fr. Thomas Coughlin, a deaf-mute priest who was Fr Benedict's teacher in the United States.
Using sign language Fr Benedict said: “I have achieved my dream of becoming a priest after a path of 22 years. I wish to thank all those who prayed for me and helped me on the difficult path of discernment and growth ”. Fr. Michael Jeong Sun, present at the mass, added: “It is a special grace that Fr Park has become a priest despite many difficulties. I hope he will be light, salt and leaven in his apostolate especially among communities of deaf-mute Catholics”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 17/7/2007 righe 27 parole 271)
