SPOTLIGHT 24/08/28 Korean Catholics pay homage to ‘good shepherd’ bishop

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Korean Catholics pay homage to ‘good shepherd’ bishop 

Bishop Michael Park Jeong-il served three dioceses before retiring in 2002

Korean Catholic clergy and laypeople carry the coffin and portrait of Bishop Michael Park Jeong-il, former bishop of Masan, shortly before the funeral Mass in Masan on Aug. 31. (Photo: Catholic Times)

By UCA News reporter

Published: September 03, 2024 11:19 AM GMT

Updated: September 03, 2024 11:55 AM GMT

Hundreds of Catholics in South Korea joined the funeral service of a Catholic bishop on Aug. 31, hailing his fatherly nature, humility, and kindness.

Retired Bishop Michael Park Jeong-il of Masan died Aug. 28 at 97.

Hundreds of Catholics, including clergy, religious, and laypeople, attended the funeral Mass at the Shinan-dong Catholic Church in Jinju, Masan Diocese.

Archbishop Thaddeus Cho Hwan-ki of Daegu led the Mass in the presence of other bishops, including Bishop Matthias Ri long-hoon, the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Korea (CBCK).

Cho highlighted Park's long and dedicated life in service of the Church and urged people to follow in his footsteps.

Bishop Francis Xavier Ahn Myong-ok of Masan said people’s love and respect for what Bishop Park’s “love and devotion mean to our diocese.”

A commemoration ceremony followed the Mass, during which bishops, priests, laity, and Park’s family members spoke about his remarkable life and legacy.

Father Choi Kyung-sik spoke on behalf of the clergy and said Bishop Park was “kindness personified.”

“I remember the bishop’s life of devotion as a priest and bishop throughout his life, and I once again reflect on the nobility of the priesthood,” Choi said.

Park was born in 1926. He studied at the Catholic University of Korea.

He obtained his master’s degree in philosophy and theology from Pontifical Urbaniana University and Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He was ordained a diocesan priest in Rome in 1958.

After returning to Korea in 1962, Park began his pastoral life as an assistant parish priest at Choryang Cathedral in the Busan Diocese.

While serving as a professor at Daegeon Theological University (now Gwangju Catholic University), he was appointed the second bishop of Jeju Diocese in 1977.

In 1982, he was appointed the sixth bishop of Jeonju Diocese, the first Korean church to dispatch three overseas missionary priests to Latin America at the time.

He was appointed the third bishop of Masan Diocese in December 1988. He retired in 2002.

Bishop Park also served as the chairman of the Special Committee for Beatification and Canonization of the Bishops' Conference of Korea for 11 years from 2001.

He played a vital role in leading the selection of candidates for beatification and the preliminary examination for beatification in Korea, making a significant contribution to the beatification of 124 people.

This report is brought to you in partnership with Catholic Times of Korea.