The new bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Korea has vowed to depart behind all his weaknesses to serve Catholic military personnel and their households with knowledge and endurance.
Bishop Titus Seo Sang-bum was ordained because the ordinariate’s fourth head at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul final week.
Pope Francis appointed Bishop Seo, 60, of Seoul Archdiocese, the brand new military atypical on Feb. 2 after Franciscan Bishop Francis Xavier You Soo-il stepped down on reaching the obligatory retirement age of 75.
The consecration ceremony on April 9 was attended by church leaders together with Bishop Seo’s predecessor Bishop You, Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul, Bishop Mattias RI Long-hoon, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, and Archbishop Alfred Shuereb, apostolic nuncio to Korea.
Also current had been leaders from Buddhist and Protestant communities and senior military officers.
“I’ll depart my human weaknesses and worries to the Lord, and as soon as once more attempt to dwell a life that responds to the Lord’s name,” Bishop Seo stated throughout the ceremony, reported Catholic Times of Korea.
Bishop Seo stated that as a human being he can do nothing, however he can accomplish nice issues with ‘knowledge and energy from God’
The prelate pledged do his finest to serve the trustworthy within the Military Ordinariate with knowledge, endurance and communication abilities to “lay the brand new basis for improvement.”
Born on Feb. 6, 1961, in Seoul, he studied philosophy and theology on the Catholic University of Korea in Seoul, acquiring bachelor’s and grasp’s levels in theology. He additionally accomplished an intensive course in English.
He was ordained a priest on Feb. 12, 1988. Since his ordination, he has been concerned in varied ministries for the Archdiocese of Seoul.
He additionally has a protracted monitor file of engagement with the Military Ordinariate of Korea. He joined the military as a seminary pupil, served as a military chaplain from 1992 to 2013 and vicar basic of the Military Ordinariate from 2013 to 2017.
Cardinal Yeom known as on Bishop Seo to make use of his earlier experiences within the military ministry to supply nice companies to the trustworthy.
“Bishop Seo Sang-bum joined the military as a seminary pupil, after which served as a military chaplain and vicar basic, and now he’s known as to function a bishop. As Apostle Paul stated, he’s the son of religion and I anticipate the brand new bishop will function a superb military commander,” Cardinal Yeom stated.
Bishop Seo stated that as a human being he can do nothing, however he can accomplish nice issues with “knowledge and energy from God.”
The Military Ordinariate of Korea covers all Catholic military personnel and their households. However, it doesn’t belong to any ecclesiastical province.
It began because the Military Chaplain Corps, organized by Maryknoll Monsignor George Carroll, on Feb. 1, 1951, throughout the Korean War (1950-53).
Priests have baptized hundreds of troopers over time and the ministry is described as a ‘golden fishing pond’ for evangelization
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea formally acknowledged the Military Chaplain Corps in 1961. It grew to become the Military Ordinariate of Korea on Oct. 23, 1989. It has 95 parishes and 166 mission stations with 99 clergymen.
In South Korea, all younger males are required to serve 24 months of obligatory military service. The nation has 6.7 million military personnel together with 600,000 energetic forces, 3.1 million reserve forces and three million paramilitary forces, in response to Global Firepower.
The military chaplain clergymen of South Korea have fun Mass, counsel and accompany troopers to supply them with spiritual and ethical training. Priests have baptized hundreds of troopers over time and the ministry is described as a “golden fishing pond” for evangelization.
By 2008, the Catholic inhabitants of the Military Ordinariate of Korea stood at 79,769.
The Korean Church observes the primary Sunday of October as Military Mission Sunday when church leaders urge Catholics to assist via prayer, donations, twinning different parishes with military parishes and extra participation of nuns within the military mission.
