THE KOREAN BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE HELD A FESTIVE CEREMONY TO COMMEMORATE THIS IMPORTANT MILESTONE FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE COUNTRY.
Newsroom (03/04/2025 13:55, Gaudium Press) The Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) have completed 60 years of activity in Korea. To celebrate this milestone, the president of the Korean Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Mathias Iong-hoon Ri, presided over a Holy Mass at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul.
The ceremony was attended by several prelates, priests, former directors of the PMS, religious sisters, lay missionaries and hundreds of faithful. Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General of the Vatican City State Governorate and former President of the PMS, was in charge of the homily, in which he recalled the uniqueness of Korea, a nation where the Faith took root spontaneously before the arrival of the missionaries.
Courageous perseverance of the first Korean Christians
Nappa praised the courageous perseverance of the first Korean Christians, who, despite harsh persecution, kept their Faith with the hope of eternal life. He also thanked God for all those who have served the Korean PMS throughout its history. Finally, he urged the faithful present to pray with the same unshakeable faith that animated their ancestors.
Cardinal Andrew Soo-jung Yeom, Archbishop Emeritus of Seoul, took a moment in his speech to analyze the development of the PMS in Korea, recalling that it was created on June 29, 1965, as the Pontifical Commission for the Propagation of the Faith. Over these sixty years, the Church in Korea has evolved from a ‘receiving Church’ to a ‘giving Church’, reflecting the missionary spirit of a people who have shared their faith and resources with those most in need.
Meeting with the Apostolic Nuncio in Korea
Emilio Nappa’s visit began on March 26, when he met with the Apostolic Nuncio to Korea, Monsignor Giovanni Gaspari. During his stay, he took part in various Holy Masses, meetings with religious and lay people and celebrated events of pastoral importance in different dioceses in the country. He also visited the Daegu Major Seminary, the Martyrdom Museum and the Marian Shrine in Namyang.
At the end of the event, a message of good wishes to the Korean Church was read and gifts were presented, including a wooden reproduction of the Cross given by St. John Mary Vianney to Blessed Paulina Jaricot, and Holy Missionary Rosaries, as symbols of commitment to the universal mission. (EPC)
Compiled by Teresa Joseph
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