Seoul theologian wins top academy prize

A SPIRITUAL theologian has grabbed top prize at this year’s Seoul Catholic Academy Awards.

Fr. Paul Bang Hyo-ik, who has studied spiritual theology for over 20 years, won the award for his recent book Introduction to St. John of the Cross.

He picked up his prize yesterday at a ceremony at the Royal Hotel in Seoul.

“St. John of the Cross has guided me by teaching me how to live as a priest,” he said during his acceptance speech.

Other award winners included Fr. Pio Cho Jae-yeoun and Fr. Francis Oh Kyeng-hwan who won prizes in the fields of research and achievement respectively.

Father Cho presented a vision of the future for the youth ministry with his book Reality and Prospect of the Youth Ministry, while Father Oh was rewarded for his contributions to the development of the Catholic academy.

Father Bang received 10 million won (about US$8,795); while Father Cho and Father Oh picked up 5 million won each.

The Daegu archdiocese-run Catholic Times weekly has been presenting the Catholic Academy Awards since 1997 to celebrate and praise valuable academic achievements that have contributed to the growth of the Church in Korea.

Report from ucanews.com