Installation Mass included confirmation of 18 Korean Catholics
By Christina Gray
Sixty years after Archbishop Joseph McGucken formally welcomed the Korean Catholic community to San Francisco in 1966, it witnessed the installation of a new pastor and the confirmation of 18 members.
At a bilingual installation Mass celebrated by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone on Jan. 25, Father Nara Samuel Lee became the 14th pastor of St. Michael Korean Catholic Parish. Father Lee of the Diocese of Suwon in South Korea was ordained in 2013. Father Lee succeeds Father Youngsaeng Paul Goo who was pastor from 2020 to 2025. Father Lee will serve a six-year term according to the appointment letter sent by the Archbishop on Dec. 1, 2025.
“Going forward, it is my intention to walk closely with you, sharing in the life of our community and offering myself with joy for the growth of our community and our spiritual well-being,” he said to his new parish.
The day was a triple joy for the St. Michael parish community, spiritual benefactors of what was the first Korean Catholic parish in North America (see sidebar). In one day, the community celebrated the installation of a new pastor, the confirmation of church members, and the presence of the Archbishop of San Francisco. Father Kyle Faller served as the Master of Ceremonies for both the installation Mass and Rite of Confirmation.
The confirmandi —- several wearing the traditional Korean “hanbok” dress —- entered the church with their sponsors and family and a red rose pinned to their lapels. Children and adults ranging in age from pre-teen to those in their 60s and 70s were confirmed together. A meal followed the Mass in the parish hall with the Archbishop as the honored guest.
The Gospel reading, Matthew 4:23, underscored the day as it told of Jesus approaching Simon Peter and his brother Andrew who were casting their fishing nets into the sea. Jesus later saw two other brothers, James and John, also with their nets. “Come after Me and I will be make you fishers of men,” Jesus told them, and they did.
Archbishop Cordileone commended the pastor-elect to the faithful. “My dear friends, because I am aware of your pastoral needs, am confident of Father Nara Lee’s qualifications for the office of pastor,” he said.
Father Lee was formally presented to the clergy, staff and parish council. “Father Nara Samuel Lee, this is the pastoral council of St. Michael Parish,” the Archbishop said. “It is the voice of your people who will assist and counsel you as you minister to this parish. Always be attentive to the needs they express.”
After his profession of faith, Father Lee took his Oath of Fidelity as pastor.
The candidates for confirmation were introduced individually (Gabriella Kim, Michael Seth, Sarah Han, Martie Fortun, Anselmo Kim, Dominic Kim, Stephanie Kim, Lydia Kim, Bibiana Kim, Lydia Yang, Mark Lee, Leo Lee, Clara Cropper, Hermylus Lee, Anges Cho, Bona Choe, Paul Choe, Peter Hwang) prior to the Archbishop’s homily, in which he emphasized the call to unity for the mission of evangelization.
“Evangelization is alive and well at St. Michael Korean Catholic Parish,” said the Archbishop.
“The kingdom of heaven is indeed at hand if we repent. Those who do so will conform their lives to Christ, which means that in some way or another they will share in His suffering for the sake of eternal life.”
The Archbishop noted “the glorious legacy of the Church in Korea.” Catholicism was introduced to Korea not by missionaries but by Korean scholars searching for the truth of the universe, a unique case in the history of religion. The faith spread, but it was met with violent persecution.
“The soil of your fatherland has been seeded with the blood of martyrs, which has now born the fruit of a flourishing Church,” said the Archbishop.
The candidates and sponsors behind them stood before the Archbishop who laid his hands on the candidates and prayed and anointed them with chrism oil.
“Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit,” he said to each.
The First North American Korean Catholic Parish
San Francisco Archbishop Joseph McGucken formally approved the establishment of the first Korean Catholic community in North America on April 27, 1966. In August of the same year, the Korean Catholic community celebrated its first Mass at St. Francis Xavier Japanese parish under the name St. Francis Xavier National Church of Korean. The local Korean Catholic community continued to grow and expand its pastoral mission at other church locations until 1988 when Archbishop John R. Quinn elevated the San Francisco Korean Catholic community to the status of an official parish, making it the first Korean Catholic parish in North America. In 1993, Archbishop Quinn officially announced that St. Michael Parish would be designated as a parish exclusively for Korean Catholics. The next year, the community began pastoral ministry in its current location under the name St. Michael Korean Catholic Parish of San Francisco.
Christina Gray is the lead writer for Catholic San Francisco.
Photos: Brian Ong
