Fr. Constantine Bae Ki-Hyen new Bishop of Masan, Korea

The Holy Father accepted the resignation of Msgr. Francis Xavier Ahn Myeong-ok  from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Masan, Korea and appointed Fr. Constantine  Bae Ki-Hyen, vicar general and chancellor of the said diocese as the new bishop.      

The Rev.Dr. Constantine Bae Ki-Hyen was born on February 1, 1953 at Masan.  He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Theology and a Masters in Philosophy at the Catholic University of Gwanju.  He was ordained a priest on January 28, 1985 for the diocese of Masan.   

As an ordained priest he has served the diocese of Masan  in different capacities. 

1985-1989: Pastor of Namhye in Kyongnam, Diocese of Masan;

1989-1996: Religious studies in Innsbruck, Austria, and in Monaco, Germany;

1996-1998: Professor at the Major Seminary of Pusan;

1998-2001: Pastoral Ministry in the United States (Denver, Colorado), as chaplain of the local Korean community;

2002-2003: Sabbatical Year;

2003-2005: Pastor of Sachen in Kyongnam, Diocese of Masan;

2005-2008: Pastor of Ducksan in Jinhae, Masan diocese;

2008-2014: Pastoral Ministry in the United States (Los Angeles, California), serving the local Korean community;

2014-2015: Sabbatical Year;

since 2015: Vicar General and Chancellor of the Diocese of Masan

The diocese of Masan (1966), suffragan of the Archdiocese of Daego, has an area of ​​9,054 square kilometers and a population of 2,561,683, of whom 172,949 are Catholics. There are 73 parishes, served by 211 priests (162 diocesan and 49 religious), 316 nuns and 40 seminarians.