South Orange Event: Seton Hall To Host Renowned Korean Catholic Leader

From Seton Hall: Reverend Simon C. Kim from University of Holy Cross, New Orleans, LA, will deliver the Archbishop Gerety Lecture on Wednesday, October 4, at 7:30 p.m., hosted by the Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology of Seton Hall University. The thought-provoking presentation, “From Immigrant Parish to Intercultural Church: The Ongoing Ecclesial Movement of U.S. Catholicism” takes place at Chapel of Christ the Good Shepherd, Lewis Hall, on Seton Hall University's main campus, 400 South Orange Ave., South Orange, NJ. All are welcome and admission is free. Call-in registration is strongly encouraged. Please contact Debbie Kurus at (973) 761-9016 or via e-mail at deborah.kurus@shu.edu.

Father Kim, assistant professor of theology at the University of Holy Cross, will discuss the increasing integration of cultures attending parishes due to such factors as immigration, shortages of priests and fiscal resources, depleting congregations, and more. He focuses his case study specifically on Korean American Catholics.

"Father Kim's presentation is most timely," says Monsignor Joseph Reilly, Rector/Dean of the Seminary. "The Archdiocese of Newark is one of the most multi-ethnic and multi-racial churches in the United States. The rapid transformation of the Archdiocese raises many practical pastoral questions for all Catholics, priests, deacons, ecclesial ministers, and laity. Father Kim has studied and addressed these issues not only from the perspective of the Korean American experience, but also has developed pastoral principles of multi-ethnic ministry that apply to all. We are grateful that he will share his wisdom with us."Father Kim has written and appeared in a variety of articles for such publications as New Theology Review and U.S. Catholic. His forthcoming 2018 book is titled From this Day Forward: A Handbook for Intercultural Marriages. Founder of the Korean American Catholic Theological Society, Father Kim has delivered a number of presentations and has led retreats and workshops all over the country and around the world.

He also has led and participated in countless conferences and committees, including the 2017 USCCB Pastoral Letter on Racism Writing Committee in Washington, D.C. In 2014, Father Kim received his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from the Catholic University of America. He holds a B.A. in Social Work from the University of Washington and an M.A. and M.Div. from St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, CA.

The Archbishop Gerety Fund for Ecclesiastical History was established by the Most Reverend Peter Leo Gerety, late Archbishop of Newark, to advance studies in ecclesiastical history, especially the history of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. Among its various activities, the Fund sponsors lectures each year at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology.

Image Courtesy of Seton Hall