At noon on Wednesday 15 December, a thanksgiving Mass for professors retiring in the second semester of the 2021 academic year was celebrated in St Ignatius Chapel, presided over by President Fr Shim Jong-hyuk.

Six of the professors due to retire in the second semester of 2021 attended the Mass: Professor Nam Jun-woo of the Department of Economics, Professors Baek In-ho and Choi Ki-young of the Department of History, Professor Seo Jung-yun of the Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Professor Lee Beom-hoon of the Department of Physics and Professor Huh Nam-gun of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Professor Lim Ji-bong of the Law School attended for the liturgy, and Professor Lee Yo-an (English Language and Literature), president of the Catholic Professors' Association, conveyed thanks and gifts to the retiring professors.

President Shim said: "The professors here today have striven all their lives as scholars in the pursuit of truth, and have devoted their lives as professors in the field of education to teaching and cultivating those who follow, living faithfully the calling as scholars and teachers that God gave them." Drawing on the Gospel reading offered that day, he shook hands with each retiring member of faculty who had devoted a lifetime to the pursuit of truth and the education of students, and conveyed his thanks.

▲ President Shim Jong-hyuk celebrating the Mass

He went on: "The professors have played the role of illuminating more clearly our dim understanding of the world; through their scholarship they have guided us along the right path a person ought to walk, and have devoted themselves to shedding light on truth so that those on the wrong path may walk rightly and live truly lives." He added: "As you conclude one stage of life and begin anew, I pray that God will bless each of you with great grace."

The list of the ten full-time faculty retiring in the second semester of the 2021 academic year (retirement date: 28 February 2022) after their service to Sogang is as follows.