* The 5000th Korean Priest Ordained

At the beginning of the Year for Priests, the Church in Korea had the pleasure of ordaining its 5000th Korean priest, counting from the first Korean priest ordained in 1845, St. Andrew Kim Taegon (1821-1846).

Fr. Dionysious Son Ho-bin of the Archdiocese of Seoul, ordained a priest at Olympic Stadium with other 27 new priests on June 26, 2009, had the honour of becoming the 5000th Korean priest.

At the celebration of ordination to the ministerial priesthood, His Eminence Nicholas Cardinal Cheong Jinsuk said, "In the year 1961 when I was ordained a priest, there were less than 250 Korean priests. However, today in this place, we have the pleasure of witnessing the birth of the 5000th Korean priest." In closing the Pauline Year and in welcoming the Year for Priests that marks the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Mary Vianney, he invited the newly ordained priests to sincerely and ardently commit themselves to their ministry following the example of St. Paul and of St. John Mary Vianney.