ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - 5,000th priest in 164-year history of the Church in Korea ordained in Year for Priests

Seoul (Agenzia Fides) – It is a landmark within the Year for Priests, proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI, and which will serve as an inspiration in the vocational ministry in Korea: the Church's celebration of the ordination of the 5,000th priest in its history, beginning in 1845, with the ordination of the first Korean priest, Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, martyr.
The ordination liturgy for Fr. Dionysious Son Ho-bin, of the Archdiocese of Seoul, celebrated by Cardinal Nicholas Cheoung, was attended by an enthusiastic crowd of faithful who gave thanks for this gift to the Church in Korea, which lights the way for the future.
In a statement sent to Agenzia Fides from Cardinal Cheoung, the Prelate told us: “When I was ordained a priest in 1961, there were only 250 Korean priests. In the last 50 years, the number has grown to 5,000 and this flowering of vocations to the priesthood is a sign that the Church in Korea is journeying in accord with the will and grace of God.” The Cardinal then invited all the Korean priests to learn from the example of Saint John Mary Vianney in living out their priestly life and asked the youth not to silence the voice of their conscience, but to respond with generosity to the Lord's call, as He “sends new laborers into His fields.”
In addition to the ordination of Fr. Son Ho-bin in Seoul, which had a great impact on the nation, in other Korean dioceses as well, various initiatives for the Year for Priests have been taking place, with days and moments of prayer for priests. Instructions on how to gain the plenary indulgence have been distributed in parishes and the faithful are continually being reminded of spiritual and moral support, as well as practical aid, they can offer the priests in their parishes, which have the gift of administering the Sacraments for the benefit of the community. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/9/2009)