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因著這位慈幼會士的超凡成就，一些以此自豪的韓國慈幼會士，於二零一一年六月二十四日舉辦了研討會，清晰地道出主題：「東吉部鮑聖，John Lee Taeseok神父的生平與靈修」。研討會在首爾慈幼會院禮堂舉行。 省會長Stephen Nam神父在開幕辭中表示：「當我們紀念一個人的時候，必須知道他一生及其活動的真正基礎。這是十分重要的，要以修道者及傳教司鐸的方向，去發掘John Lee神父的生平與靈修，而不是藉著想像一些其他方面所產生的圖像。」 來自離首爾不遠的水原教區退休主教Paul Choi，到訪東吉部。當John Lee神父仍如火如荼地工作時，Choi主教已著手為教區物色前往南蘇丹傳教的途徑。Choi主教在研討會中堅決地表示：「這研討會可作為一個好機會，以上主的眼目觀看John Lee神父的一生；這人向我們展示超凡的榜樣，讓我們理解降生奧蹟。」 Marcelo Baek神父自接受培育開始，使與John Lee神父共同生活超過十年，他說：「如果認為他是韓國的史懷哲，便大錯特錯了。」韓國傳媒經常向他冠以這個稱號。他繼續說：「John Lee神父的傳教工作，比這位法德籍醫生暨神學家還要優勝。史懷哲是偉人，然而卻常被認為對非洲人有一種看法，而John Lee神父卻不如此，他被南蘇丹人認為是醫者、摯友，以及天國的轉禱人。」 Marcelo繼續表示：「他最貼切的稱號，源自他決意效法鮑聖，成為慈幼會士：他是東吉部的鮑聖。」
Shin博士見證說：「他在悲傷中從不退避，當他背著重病者，或服務那些居住在臭氣薰天洞穴的貧苦者時，從不放棄那份幽默性情。」 Moon教授講論有關紀錄片「東吉部，不要哭泣！」，並表示「John Lee神父的事蹟，使全國彌漫著一份正面的『迷戀』，這表示人們不能沉默。這催促他們為他人服務。」 Stephen Yang神父講論John Lee神父的靈修時指出：「John Lee神父在東吉部，真是一位青少年貧苦者的摯友，他也是門徒的導師、病者堅固的堡壘，以及藉著聖事的靈魂治癒者。即使他英年早逝，卻已盡力履行他所願意作的。我們可能說，John Lee神父是一位天主的人，忠信於耶穌的訓導，在日常生活中實踐慈幼會士的精神。因此我們真的可稱他為『東吉部鮑聖』」。 研討會結束前，播放了一輯描述John Lee神父在東吉部生活，並將之與華度角鮑聖慶禮院作比較的DVD光碟。 Mountain Pictures總監向會省捐出巨款，以協助慈幼會在非洲的傳教事業。 "Don Bosco of Tonj, not a Korean Schweitzer!" Salesians take firm hold of John Lee legacy (ANS – SEOUL, 25 June 2011, austraLasia #2876) – The phenomenon of Fr John Lee, Salesian Korean missionary to an area that will soon be known as an independent nation, South Sudan, has taken Korea by storm. Sometimes, despite much goodwill, the enthusiasm his life has generated has been caught up in so many things that are plainly secondary to who and what he was for the poor and the sick of Tonj. Fr John Lee Taesok, sdb, died of cancer in January 2010 after 8 years of missionary life as a priest, medical doctor, and outstanding witness to the Gospel. It is estimated that more than 10 million people have already watched the film "Don't Cry Tonj", a documentary produced by Mountain Pictures on the life of Fr John Lee Taesok. Many thousands have banded together to continue his legacy, and that is where there is a need for firm direction. The Salesians in Korea, who are rightly proud of this outstanding Salesian's achievements, held a Symposium on 24 June 2011 under a title that makes it very clear where they stand on the issue: "Don Bosco of Tonj, the life and the spirituality of Fr John Lee Taeseok". The symposium was held in the auditorium of the Salesian Provincial House in Seoul. The Salesian Provincial, Fr Stephen Nam, said in his opening address that "when we commemorate someone, we have to know what was the real foundation of his life and activity. It is very important, then, to discover the roots of the life and spirituality of Fr John as a religious and priest missionary instead of imagining some artificial figure formed around other interests" Retired bishop Paul Choi, from Suwon Diocese not too far from Seoul, visited Tonj. Bishop Choi was looking for a mission outlet for his diocese in southern Sudan when Fr John was still working at full strength. Speaking now at the Symposium Bishop Choi argued that "this Symposium might be a good chance to see Fr John's life with God's eyes; this man who gave us such a wonderful example for a better understanding of the mystery of the incarnation". Fr Marcelo Baek, who was John's companion more than 10 years through and beyond initial formation, said that “it is a huge mistake to think of him as a Korean Schweitzer”, which the Korean media have so often dubbed him as. "In some respects”, he continued, “Fr John was an even better missionary than the Franco-German doctor and theologian. Schweitzer was a great man, but is often charged with having an attitude towards Africans that could never be said of Fr John, who is regarded by the southern Sudanese as a healer, friend and now their intercessor in heaven". "The best title for him", Fr Marcelo continued, "follows from his choice to imitate Don Bosco in his life as a Salesian. He is Don Bosco of Tonj". It is estimated that some 750 people attended the Symposium, Salesian family members as well lay people who loved Fr John and want to follow his spirit in helping the poor. The four main speakers were Fr Marcelo Baek, Rector of the Provincial House, Dr Teresa Shin, who worked for one year as a volunteer at the Don Bosco School in Tonj during Fr John's final months there, and Professor Bosco Moon, who was Minister for Education and currently chairman of the Korean Catholic Education Commission, and Fr Stephen Yang, Vice Provincial. Doctor Shin testified that "he never turned away in sorrow, never lost his mischievous sense of humour even when he had to physically carry severely ill patients, or deal with unbelievably poor people living in smelly dugouts". Professor Moon, for his part, spoke of the documentary, 'Don't cry Tonj', adding that the "Fr John phenomenon that has swept the country leads to a positive 'obsession', something that means people cannot just stay quiet. It gives them the sense of urgency to do some thing good for others". "Fr John was a really great friend of young poor people in Tonj, a true master for his disciples, a strong bastion for patients, a healer of souls through the sacraments. Despite the shortness of his life he was able to do everything he could and wanted to do", Fr Stephen Yang noted as he spoke of Fr John Lee's spirituality, and added that "we can say that Fr John was a man of God who faithfully put Jesus' teachings into practice as a Salesian of Don Bosco in everyday life. So we might rightly call him "Don Bosco of Tonj". The symposium concluded with a viewing of a DVD narrating Fr John's life in Tonj and comparing this to Don Bosco's Oratory in Valdocco. The CEO of Mountain Pictures gave a substantial donation to the Salesian missions in Africa to the Provincial. |
