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New Suwon auxiliary pledges spirituality through prayers

Korea's 'weak' bishop elect says he will garner strength through God
New Suwon auxiliary pledges spirituality through prayers
Auxiliary Bishop Linus Lee Seong-hyo of Suwon
Published: February 09, 2011 06:35 AM GMT
Updated: February 09, 2011 06:35 AM GMT

Newly appointed Korean Bishop-elect Linus Lee Seong-hyo says he is a weak man who will gain in strength and spirituality by praying to God and Christ to help him fulfill his duties. Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Lee the new auxiliary of Suwon on February 7. In his first press conference yesterday, Auxiliary Bishop-elect Lee compared his appointment with Saint Augustine, and said he was chosen a bishop because he is weak. “Saint Augustine was baptized after a great struggle and decided to live in a monastery in his hometown. But, he was suddenly ordained a priest. I will find the hidden providence of God in the appointment and fulfill my duties step by step,” he said. “I’ll consult with Jesus and be a bishop discussing with Jesus rather than speaking about Jesus much,” he added. Born in 1957 in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do province, Bishop-elect Lee was once a promising electronics engineer and first decided to be a priest after finishing high school, but his father objected to it. However, after attending a Mass presided by Pope John Paul II in Seoul in 1984, he was determined to become a priest and his father kicked him out. One-and-a-half year later, his father finally accepted his son’s priestly ambitions. “I was insane when I look back on that time” Bishop-elect Lee said. “But, there was no other way. After studying St. Augustine, I found my position similar to that of the saint. I’ll try to be a priest of spirituality like Augustine was,” he added. His consecration Mass will be on March 25 at Jeongja-dong Cathedral in Suwon. Related report Suwon diocese gets new auxiliary bishop KO13216.1640

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