Recognized as the first Roman Catholic Priest of Korea, San Andres Kim Tae-gon not only left a big mark in the history of the Church in Korea, but also in the Diocese of Malolos. His footsteps in the small community of Lolomboy, Bocaue, Bulacan left inspiration to people who see hope from his examples. Saint Andres Kim Taegon was born into a Christian Family in Korea on August 21, 1821, at a time when Christians were greatly persecuted by the Government. The Catholic faith first came to the land of Korea through the Japanese occupation in 1592. From this time, the faith became a seed in a foreign land. Christian teaching was attracted to test the existing social law in ancient Korea, particularly the system inspired by the Confucianism philosophy that the state of life was inherited from birth. Despite the efforts of the monarchy to uproot and eradicate this faith, the attraction to Christianity gradually grew, and the number of people who were baptized into this faith increased. Among them are the parents of San Andres Kim Tae-gon. Despite the persecution and hardships of life, they upheld the faith that planted hope in their souls. This is also what shaped the life of San Andres Kim Taegon to love the Catholic faith.
During the invasion of the Missionaries who emigrated to Korea, they were shocked that despite the intense persecution of Christians by the government, many secret communities of believers were working hard. A major deficiency of these communities is the absence of a Priest, yet the grace of the Lord kept the communities alive and continuing to live. Because of this, the missionaries chose Koreans to mold to become Priests of Christ, and one of them was St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon. After he was baptized when he was 15 years old, San Andres Kim Taegon responded to his passion for the Catholic faith. From Korea, he traveled miles away to be formed at the Seminary in Macau – a colony of Portugal. And not later he continued his shaping in the Philippines. Upon arrival in Manila, the Dominican friars were the first to support the Korean seminarians accompanying the missionaries. Due to the location in Manila, the noise of the city, and the source of food, staying and socializing with San Andres Kim Tae-gon became a test. Through the goodness of the Dominicans, they were invited to move to the Order’s convent in Hacienda de Lolomboy, a few kilometers away North of Manila. A plain Barrio, quiet, and surrounded by water is what captivated the heart of San Andres and his companions who found the tranquility and peace of the place. So many times that San Andres left the country to carry out his mission, and because of his proficiency in Latin, French, Spanish, English, and Mandarin, he still wanted to be in Lolomboy. He lived in this simple place in the years 1837, 1839, and 1841.
In the letters of San Andres Kim Tae-gon, he described Lolomboy as a simple, peaceful, and excellent place for his study and meditation. The shaper of the good Saint also said that Saint Andrew likes to take shelter under the mango tree. Even though their status in Manila has become good, Lolomboy remains a good place, because in this place, there is no delay in the study and formation of the seminarians and there is plenty of opportunity to improve the life of prayer. Just as the peace of Lolomboy captivated the Korean Seminarian, in this same place the good Saint received the painful news that broke his heart. According to the shaper of San Andres Kim Tae-gon, also under the mango tree where he often rests, San Andres cried when he received the letter saying that his Father Ignacio Kim (Je-jun) was beheaded of the head because of his faith. This news did not stop his vocation, but he worked hard and in 1845 in Shanghai China by the French Bishop, Jean Ferreol, San Andres Kim Tae-gon was ordained a Priest – the first Korean Priest. The good Saint did not hesitate to fulfill his Mission after his ordination. He worked hard to return to his native land to serve as a Priest of Christ. In June of 1846, while trying to re-enter Korea through the Southeast coast road, San Andres Kim Taegon was arrested by guards. He was imprisoned along with other captive Christians, and while they waited for the Government’s verdict, San Andres Kim Taegon remained and became an inspiration to the Parishioners hoping that he would be freed and seen again. Despite the hardship, he wrote a letter of instruction and hope. At the end of his letter his words are an echo of love he said: “… now that we are close to the end of the hardship, I pray to you not to be discouraged, and to continue to be a witness of the faith. So that when the time comes you can enter the sky, there we will meet and greet each other. I leave you my kiss of love…” September 16th at the age of 25, San Andres Kim Taegon was persecuted and tortured. His ears were pierced with arrows; and the good Saint was beheaded in the Han River near Seoul (then Hanyang) – the current Capital of Korea. A group of Christians led by Yi Min-Sik took care of his remains and moved them to Mount Mi-ri-nai, 35 miles away from Seoul.
The example of St. Andrew Kim Taegon reverberated and became the foundation of the Catholic faith in Korea. His shed blood, along with his martyred friends, became the perfect fertilizer to water the seedling of faith, and let it grow in the ears. The honor that San Andres Kim Tae-gon achieved in the sky, became a glimpse of people who looked up to him with hope. Andres Kim Tae-gon along with his father Ignacio Kim were ordained to the Saints on July 25th, 1925. Andres Kim Tae-gon was recognized in 1949 as the main Patron of Korean Priests. And on May 6, 1984 led by Pope John Paul II, Andres Kim Tae-gon was presented together with 102 Martyrs of Korea together with Paul Chong Hasang as Saints of the Holy Church. As the Diocese of Malolos remembers the historical residence of San Andres Kim Tae-gon in Barrio Lolomboy in Bocuae, the then Second Bishop of Malolos, Lubhang Kgg. Cirilo R. Almario, Jr. that the Parish of Nuestro Señor Jesucristo in Lolomboy be a partner church in a “Sister Covenant” with the Church of the 103 Korean Martyrs or “Saenamteo” Shrine in Korea signed by him and the then Bishop of Suwan, Lubhang Kgg. Angelo Kim on May 22, 1966. Over time, the devotion to San Andres was recognized in the Diocese, especially in the construction of a convent of Korean nuns near the parish that resembled the structure of palaces in Korea. On January 31, 2021, the current Bishop of Malolos, Lubhang Kgg. Dennis C. Villarojo is honored that Lolomboy Parish becomes Nuestro Señor Jesucristo Parish – Diocesan Shrine of St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon, the first and only shrine in his direction in the Philippines. San Andres Kim Taegon and companions, pray for us.
Writthen
G. Alexander Vilaluz, M.A. (Cand.), DCSC Research Team
Sanggunian
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