RIP - The Reverend Jae Wook Chung, 42

December 16, 2015

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

It is with profound sorrow that I write to tell you that the Rev. Jae Wook Chung, Priest Associate at Saint Ann's in Sayville, died early this morning at Stony Brook Medical Center.

Jae's recurrence of cancer and the swiftness with which it overtook him has shocked us all. We join his family, his parish family, and all those whose lives he touched in their overwhelming grief. And I thank you for the many prayers, visits, and messages of comfort that you have extended to Jae and his family in these last days.

Jae will be missed for all his many gifts, his deep love and faith in Jesus, but most especially for his prayerful, holy manner in all aspects of life.

Every encounter with him made me want to be a better person and a better bishop to the people we serve together. His abiding love and gentle care for all people is an example to us all.

Your prayers and presence are invited as we gather to lay our brother to rest.

Vigil Watch
Friday, December 18 from 4 pm to 9 pm
Formal vigil prayers will be held at 7 pm
at St. Ann's Episcopal Church
257 Middle Road
Sayville, NY  11782

Requiem Eucharist
Saturday, December 19 at 11 am
at the Cathedral of the Incarnation
50 Cathedral Avenue
Garden City, NY  11530

The Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano will preside
Burial will follow at St. Ann's Church Cemetery, Sayville

Cards and messages of condolence may be sent to Shin, Jae's wife, and their four children, Ian, Emma, Leo, and Lucas at 59 Pine Street, Sayville, NY  11782.

Please pray for God's consoling presence with them and Jae's wider family, the clergy and people of Saint Ann's, and all those who grieve.

Please also remember our brother Jae in your prayers and at your altar. May he rest in the loving, gentle arms of the Lord he loved and served.

Father of all, we pray to you for those we love, but see no longer: Grant them your peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and, in your loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purpose of your perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


The Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano
Bishop of Long Island

The Rev. Jae Wook Chung

July 15, 1973 - December 16, 2015

Jae Wook Chung was ordained deacon in January 2014 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation. A Korean American, he was born in Seoul in 1973, and immigrated to the United States at age 27 after finishing two years of required military service. He graduated from Korea's Dankook University with a B.S. in Economics.

In the United States, Jae founded a web agency for Global 500 companies with his wife, Shin Kang, a graphic designer.

He was an active parishioner of Great Neck Episcopal Ministry and served as a youth director for six years until he entered the General Theological Seminary as a postulant of the Diocese of Long Island in 2011.

Jae also served as a member of the Diocesan Bishop Search Committee.  He and his wife lived at Camp DeWolfe as resident staff members in 2007, where they also created the camp's first website.

Father Jae Chung with Mother Diane Britt,

rector of St. Ann's Church, Sayville.

In February, 2014, Jae began his journey as deacon in St. Ann's, Sayville.

After his ordination as priest, he continued his ministry at St. Ann's, as Priest Associate.

Father Jae with his wife, Shin, at his side at his
ordination to the priesthood on July 19, 2014

Fr. Jae also served as the co-convener, with Fr. Paul Lai, of the Diocese of Long Island's Episcopal Asian American Ministry Commission, which was formed by a resolution at the Diocese of Long Island convention in 2009.

In an article in St. Ann's Parish Journal, Fr. Jae, wrote:

"As a Korean-American who is not a native English speaker, I never imagined that I would be coming to a program-sized parish as a full time minister in Suffolk County. However, it really happened to me when I answered "Amen" (yes) to applying for the curacy position at St. Ann's.

For the last five months, my experiences to magnify (enlarge) God and the Body of Christ here at St. Ann's have "enlarged" priesthood in me. There is astonishing joy seeing all the parishioners who are happily expecting my ordination to the priesthood on Saturday, July 19th, 2014. The ordination is not only for me, but also for all parishioners as well as all people in this Diocese.

I hope and pray that I can keep happily walking this sacramental journey as a priest to magnify the Lord with the people of God in the Diocese of Long Island and beyond."

Ordination to the diaconate, January 11, 2014

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