Life testimony of novice Antonio Lee (Lee Hyo Jun)

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I was born on the third of March in 1980. My father worked in a Taekwondo exercise hall. My father was a Taekwondo superintendent. He taught many students in my hometown. He also worked on the farm and my mother worked with him. Sometimes she worked alone on the farm. I have two older sisters. One sister is five years older, and the other is four years older.

When I was an elementary school student, I was not intelligent. When I went to church with my sisters, I felt comfortable in the chapel. I loved being there, but I didn't go to Sunday school.

Sometimes I went to church on the Lord's day. A parish priest preached about vocations. It was the first I heard about vocations. When I was ten years old, I received communion for the first time. When I was a high school student, I went to my parish church every day. I prayed every morning and evening about by future. I said, “My Lord, I hope in your son.”

When I was a high school student, I became class president for the first time, because I wanted to change my attitude. I wanted to be a brave man. I was a member of a broadcasting team and also of a leadership club, and even of an English conversation club. I changed my lifestyle at high school. I also had to go to Sunday school.

When I was a university student, I taught in the Sunday school in my hometown. I didn't know any doctrine, but I was there just to meet students every Sunday for three years. When I taught them, I was happy. I wanted to live with children forever, no matter where I might go. I thought that it was my vocation. And at them time I also studied biology in the university for two years; but I didn't like studying biology. I liked to study venture business economics more than my major. I also worked for student rights, but I was worried about my future. I didn't know what I should do. I just thought that I'd like to have children. I was praying to God that I might go into the seminary. I couldn't get admission to the seminary because my father didn't want me to go into a convent. He also didn't have another son. I couldn't talk about my life to my father. I failed the exam.

When I failed the exam, I couldn't give up on my vocation; but my father changed his mind. He also went to church. I was staying with my father at home. I tried the exam again. I succeeded in the exam. I lived in another community for five years (including army service for two years) and studied philosophy in Suwan seminary for two years.

After I did my army service for two years, I worked with the army chaplain for two years. We took care of the army's Church and also looked after a recruit who was finding army life difficult and wanted to become a Catholic, so I taught Catechism. At that time, I thought I wanted to be a priest who works with students. After my army service, I had contact with the Dominican community, with Fr Thomas Aquinas who was a promoter of vocations and who wanted me to join the Dominicans.

 I wanted to become a Dominican because Dominicans usually take care of students and work with students. The Order of Preachers is an international community.

 I lived in the Dominican community in Seoul, Korea, and studied philosophy and theology in the Catholic University of Korea for two years.

 After that I was sent to the Philippines to study English for three months. Fr Prol and the other fathers helped me; it was a very good experience for me. I am thirty years old and received my Bachelor of Theology from the Catholic University of Korea this year. I am happy in Hong Kong.