Q&A: Meet Fr. Jun Ho, the new Juneau priest

Father Jun Ho Lee, a priest with the Korean Mission Society (KMS), is the newest priest to join the clergy at St. Paul’s the Apostle Parish in Juneau, said Matt Meggs, vice chancellor and chief operating officer of the Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau.

“We are so happy to have Fr. Jun Ho in our archdiocese,” said Father Michael Ko, KMS, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Haines.

Fr. Jun Ho is replacing fellow KMS member Father Young Su Cheun, who has been assigned to serve St. John by the Sea Parish on Prince of Wales Island.

Father Young Cheun, Father Jun Ho Lee, Father Michael Ko, and
Father Augustine Minn attended the annual Alaska Korean Mission
Society retreat this summer. (Courtesy of Father Jun Ho Lee)

North Star Catholic editorial board member Peggy Mattson spoke to Father Jun Ho shortly after he arrived in Alaska on June 11. Here’s what he had to say:

Q: What is your name/how do you want to be addressed?

A: Hello, my name is Jun Ho Lee. Since the pronunciation of my name is similar to Juneau, where I am stationed, I would appreciate it if you could call me Fr. Jun Ho.

Q: Why did you become a priest?

A: The main reason I became a priest is that I experienced the love of Jesus Christ in my life, and I believe that living a life spreading the good news of the Gospel is the most meaningful way to live.

Q: How long have you been a priest?

A: I was ordained as a priest in the Archdiocese of Seoul (in South Korea) in February 2019, and I am currently in my fifth year as a priest.

Q: When and how did you receive your call to become a priest?

A: After graduating from the Law Department of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, I applied to the Vocations Office of the Archdiocese of Seoul in 2011 while studying for exams. Starting in 2012, I studied philosophy and theology for seven years at the Catholic University of Korea.

Q: What attracted you to your order?

A: As a representative of Jesus Christ, celebrating Mass and administering the sacraments to bring joy to the faithful has been the most rewarding aspect for me.

Q: Where else (what countries) have you served?

A: Last year, the Korean Foreign Mission Society sent me to Ireland for language training. I spent a year in Maynooth, living with retired SVD (Society of the Divine Word) priests during that time.

Q: What is your first impression of Alaska?

A: Missionary priests who were already here described it as the most beautiful place in the world, so I had high expectations. Thankfully, the weather was even better than I had hoped for from the moment I arrived.

Q: What are your hobbies and interests?

A: I enjoy capturing beautiful scenery with drones, and my hobbies include listening to music and exercising.

Q: What is your hope for the next year?

A: I aim to diligently celebrate Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and to cultivate a harmonious relationship with the congregation.