Cardinal Kim Pays Tribute to His Late Mentor

“Father Geppert was not only my mentor but also my spiritual father. When I was appointed as a cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1969, it was Father Geppert who told me the news.”

A funeral mass was held in Saint Ignatius Hall at Sogang University in Shinsu-dong Seoul at 11 a.m. on July 19 to honor the late Father Theodore Geppert. Cardinal Kim himself presided over the mass to pay respect to his teacher whom he met first in Japan decades ago. And the service was full of love, respect and grief.

The late priest who served as the first president of Sogang University passed away at Loyola House in Tokyo Japan on July 13 at the age of 98.

“Father Geppert is in heaven and I can imagine he is saying, “I pray for Korea, Korean churches and Sogang University. I pray for you and Bishop Kang Woo-il. Please remember we do everything for the glory of the lord.”

Cardinal Kim and the late father have had a close relationship for 60 years since they met each other as a teacher and a student. “He was a man of dignity,” Kim looked back. “So it was difficult to talk to him at first, but once you got to know him you could feel such warmth and affection around him. He was like a mother to me.”

While wanting to share more time with him, the cardinal later prayed God in his sorrow to end Rev. Geppert’s suffering as he became terminally ill. “Father Geppert sometimes made complaints to God whether he forgot him, as his decrepitude became too painful to bear. Wishing his longevity, I came to pray for his rest in peace.”

Cardinal Kim also told an episode about the late father and foundation of Sogang University. “He was a master at the college dormitory where I stayed. Once he called and asked me what I would like to do after graduation, and he told me that he wanted to go to Korea. I was surprised to hear that since Korea was a colony of the Japanese Empire and of little interest to foreign missionaries working in Japan.”

According to cardinal Kim, Father Geppert settled down in Sogong-dong, Seoul where he worked hard by himself to found Sogang University and foster Jesuits. In particular, it was not easy for him to get the site and an approval from the government due to rampant illegal dealings, but he made it in the end.

“To Father Geppert, Sogang University was a beloved child,” said the cardinal, “which is why he wanted to be buried in Korea.”

The mass was attended by 4000 people including archbishop Jung Jin-suck, archbishop Yoon Gong-hee, Vatican ambassador to Korea Jovanni Batista Morandini, bishop Kang Woo-il, bishop Lee Han-taek and father Ryu Jang-sun, president of Sogang University.

Gab-Sik Kim gskim@donga.com