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Saint
Andrew Kim and the Korean Martyrs
Feast Day: September 20
Andrew Kim (sometimes called Andrew
Kim Taegon) grew up in one of the highest–ranked noble families
in Korea. Kim’s family raised him in a life of faith. They taught
him about Christianity. When the Korean government began arresting and
killing Christians, Andrew Kim remained a devoted Christian. In fact,
Andrew Kim was so devoted that he went to Macao, to the seminary. In 1845
he became the first native-born Korean priest and returned to Korea. Unfortunately,
Andrew Kim was martyred one year later.
During his trip to Korea in 1984, Pope John Paul II canonized Andrew Kim
and many other Korean martyrs. Among the martyrs are a few bishops and
priests, and many, many lay people, men, women and children. The feast
day for this group of martyrs is September 20.
