[GLOBAL ECONOMIC TIMES] The touching story of Father Lee Tae-seok (1962-2010), who passed away while serving as a medical and educational volunteer in the remote Tonj village of South Sudan, Africa, is being revived at the Vatican.
The Lee Tae-seok Foundation announced on the 22nd that it will screen the movie 'Resurrection' on the second floor of the Vatican Synod Hall at 10:30 a.m. (local time) on the 24th during the Synod.
Resurrection is a sequel to the movie 'Don't Cry Tones', which depicts the noble life of this priest, and tells the story of the disciples who grew up with the love of this priest. Don't Cry Tones became the first Korean film to be screened at the Vatican in 2011, and its sequel also set a record for being screened at a Catholic holy site.
Koo Soo-hwan, chairman of the Lee Tae-seok Foundation, who directed both Don't Cry Tones and Resurrection, expected the ripple effect of this screening to be much larger.
This is because while Don't Cry Tones was screened for a limited audience, including dignitaries of the Vatican, at the Vatican's St. Pius
A synod is a meeting where discussions and decisions are made together to solve problems facing the Catholic Church. A total of 368 delegates from over 110 countries around the world participated in this synod of bishops.
Chairman Koo said, “I ran around with the intention of letting people know about Father Lee Tae-seok, but something completely unexpected happened. I was very surprised that the synod secretariat actively helped me, saying, ‘This film should be shown to everyone.’”
The issue of finding a location for the film screening was resolved with the help of Cardinal Yoo Heung-sik, the first Korean minister to the Vatican.
Cardinal Yoo said, “All the answers sought at the synod are contained in the life of Father Lee Tae-seok, so (screening the film) is consistent with the purpose of the synod,” and added, “The key is how many people come to see it.”
The Lee Tae-seok Foundation completed the English dubbing work in time for the Vatican screening. Additionally, 500 copies of the movie pamphlet were produced at the request of the Synod Secretariat. The goal is to spread the life of Father Lee Tae-seok to each country by inviting as many synod attendees as possible.
The Korean Embassy in the Vatican is also making efforts to invite attendees, including ambassadors from various countries to the Vatican.
Previously, the Korean Embassy in the Vatican hosted a special screening of Resurrection at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, Italy, on the 28th of last month.
At the time, Pope Francis said in his congratulatory address, "I hope that the activities of Salesian missionary and doctor Father John Lee Tae-seok in Tonj will revive each person's evangelical passion and the courage to testify of Christ's love for the most vulnerable."
He added, "Following the example of the Korean priest, we hope that his precious spiritual legacy will become a source of inspiration and support for everyone on the path of faith."
After graduating from Inje University Medical School, Father Lee entered a Catholic university again, studied abroad in Rome, and was ordained a priest by Cardinal Kim Soo-hwan in 2001 at the age of 39. He then immediately went to Tonj, South Sudan, Africa.
He built his own hospital under extremely harsh conditions and treated residents suffering from leprosy and other diseases. At the same time, he also built a school dormitory, taught children, and engaged in educational activities by forming a musical band. He died of colon cancer.
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