The confirmandi from the Church of the Korean Martyrs gather for a group photo with Bishop Kwon and Bishop O’Connell, both seated, as well as standing in second row, from left, Father Son, Father Felicien, Father Dela Cruz and Father Hwang. Courtesy photo Sixteen parishioners from the Church of the Korean Martyrs community in Trenton received the Sacrament of Confirmation during a May 18 Mass in St. Ann Church, Lawrenceville.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., presided over and preached the homily. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop John Chrysostom Kwon of the Diocese of Andong, South Korea, who administered the Sacrament to 11 young adult and five adult confirmandi.
Bishop Kwon was assisted by Father Dae Hyeok Son, pastor of the Church of the Korean Martyrs, and Father Mathias Hwang, assistant to Bishop Kwon and director of Pastoral Life of the Diocese of Andong. Both concelebrated the Mass along with Father Leandro Dela Cruz, pastor of St. Ann Parish.
Father Son, who is incardinated in the Diocese of Andong and is on loan to the Diocese of Trenton to minister to the Catholic Korean population in Trenton, translated Bishop O’Connell’s homily into Korean for the congregation.
Dr. Lusia Yi, whose son Alex was among the confirmandi, and Matthew Lee, both members of the Korean Martyrs community, coordinated activities connected to the celebration, including a dinner held the evening before at a restaurant in Hamilton. Bishop O’Connell and his priest secretary, Father Jean Felicien, hosted the dinner for Bishop Kwon, Father Mathias and Father Son.
Following the Mass, the Korean community provided a buffet meal and celebratory cake for the confirmed, their families and guests.
Prior to the May 18 Mass, Bishop Kwon had visited the Diocese of Trenton on three other occasions.
Bishop Kwon, in turn, extended an invitation to Bishop O’Connell and Father Felicien to attend the 2027 “World Youth Day” celebration in the Diocese of Andong in Seoul, South Korea.
Following their visit to the Trenton Diocese, Bishop Kwon and Father Hwang’s next stop on their US visit is Pittsburgh, Pa., where another Andong priest is working in a Korean parish in that Diocese.
Bishop Kwon confirms a candidate. Courtesy photo