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Herald Malaysia
18-07-2025
- Herald Malaysia
Korean Church marks centenary of martyrs' beatification
On July 5, the Archdiocese of Seoul, South Korea, marked the 100th anniversary of the beatification of the 79 Korean martyrs of the Gihae (1839) and Byeong-o (1846) persecutions with a Mass, the release of a new report on their martyrdom and a special exhibition, a press release of the archdiocese's Jul 18, 2025 The celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the martyrs' beatification (Archdiocese of Seoul) SEOUL: On July 5, the Archdiocese of Seoul, South Korea, marked the 100th anniversary of the beatification of the 79 Korean martyrs of the Gihae (1839) and Byeong-o (1846) persecutions with a Mass, the release of a new report on their martyrdom and a special exhibition, a press release of the archdiocese's website states.'Even in the trials of persecution, these martyrs never abandoned their faith in the Lord. Their endurance deepened their faith, which ultimately bore fruit as true hope that overcame even death', said the Archbishop of Seoul, Peter Soon-taick Chung, during his 79 Korean martyrs of the Gihae and Byeong-o persecutions were beatified by Pope Pius XI in St. Peter's Basilica on July 5, 1925. Paul VI then beatified a second group of 24 martyrs in 1968, and both groups, totalling 103 people, were canonised collectively by Pope John Paul II in than 1000 faithful gathered for the liturgy at the Seosomun Shrine History Museum in Seoul, where 41 of the 79 martyrs lost their lives. According to the Fides news agency, in the 19th century the Korean Church estimates that approximately 16,000 Catholics were killed. Religious freedom was not granted to Catholics in Korea until press release explains that during the Mass a new report titled 'The Documentation of the Gihae and Byeong-o Persecutions' was also published by the Martyrs Elevation Committee of the Archdiocese of Seoul. This work drew from the royal chronicles, judicial records and state archives of the Joseon Dynasty who ruled at the time of the persecutions. The official documents and data from the time featured in the report have also been translated into Korean to make this information more accessible to scholars and the Catholic community. 'This is the first time that historical facts from official records — interrogations, reports, and directives from institutions like the Royal Secretariat and the State Council — have been carefully extracted, translated, and compiled, rather than relying solely on testimonies,' said Archbishop Chung. 'Even though these were records written by the persecutors, the courageous faith and deep conscience of the martyrs stand out all the more clearly within them'. --Vatican News
Herald Malaysia
17-07-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Bishops of Myanmar's war-torn regions: 'Let us not lose faith'
Three Bishops of war-torn Myanmar's hardest hit regions offer words of comfort and faith to their people, despite death, unrest and suffering. Jul 17, 2025 Destruction in Myanmar (AFP or licensors) By Deborah Castellano Lubov"The Lord Jesus told us: 'Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me!' (John 14:1)": This reminder of the Lord's comfort amid extreme suffering was offered by three Bishops of war-torn Myanmar to the faithful in a joint pastoral letter, sent to and reported by the Vatican's Fides agency. The letter's signatories were Bishop John Mung-ngawn La Sam, M.F., of the diocese of Myitkyina; Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam, of the Diocese of Banmaw; and Bishop Lucas Dau Ze Jeimphaung, SDB, of the Diocese of Lashio, who have all grown accustomed, due to fighting in their territories, to being forced to leave their homes and seek refuge elsewhere due to insecurity. Amid the ongoing civil war, and in the wake of the horrific March 2025 earthquake that claimed over 3,000 lives, the three Bishops reflect that "over the past four years, the fighting has led to the destruction of lives, families, farms, and land, as well as the displacement of thousands of people to refugee camps." People are "worried about their safety and their children's education." Moreover, they observe that their suffering was greatly exacerbated by the powerful earthquake that "once again shook central Myanmar, collapsing houses, and injuring and killing many people." Yet, the Bishops of the Burmese dioceses of Myitkyina, Banmaw, and Lashio in north-central Myanmar, remind their faithful to take comfort in faith, and in particular, recall the Lord's words, 'Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." Despite the unrest and the suffering, the Bishops offer their faithful reassurance and comfort. "No matter how difficult our situation may be, if we pray to God every day with faith and love," they write, "we will be able to endure all difficulties and become bearers of the Cross with Jesus Christ, receiving His grace of consolation and encouragement." With this in mind, they urge the faithful to not become discouraged, but to "pray for a lasting peace and implore peace from God with all our heart, mind, and strength." Finally, the Bishops conclude, "Let us pray, encourage, console, and help one another in this Holy Year, which, despite everything, is full of hope... May God bless you with physical, mental, and spiritual health and grant you His grace and the strength of the Holy Spirit."--Vatican News
Herald Malaysia
18-06-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
New documentary on Korean missionary who served in Mongolia
Fr Stephen Kim Seong-Hyeon was assistant vicar general of the Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar Jun 18, 2025 Fr Stephan Kim Seong-Hyeon. (Photo: Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar via Asia News) SEOUL: The Catholic priests' association in South Korea, in collaboration with a local Catholic newspaper, has launched a documentary to commemorate the life of a Korean priest who died while serving in Mongolia. The documentary — Who is a priest? — was released on the YouTube channel of the Catholic Times of Korea, the Vatican's missionary news service Fides reported on June 17. The documentary celebrates the life of Father Stephen Kim Seong-Hyeon, with testimonies from priests, nuns, and other Catholics. Kim had served in Mongolia for 22 years until his sudden death on May 26, 2023, at the age of 55 due to a heart attack. At the time of his death, he was the assistant vicar general of the Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar in the national capital. The documentary, published on June 14, was produced in collaboration with the Association of Priests of the Prado Institute for the Province of Korea, of which Kim was a member. Earlier in 2024, the Daejeon Diocese had co-produced another documentary on Kim titled "Wind of the Prairie - The Last Lecture of a Mongolian Missionary," in collaboration with the Catholic Times of Korea. The documentary had won the award for best production in the Internet Radio category at the 34th Korea Catholic Mass Media Awards for its ability to convey Kim's 'profound spirituality,' Fides reported. Kim, a clergy from South Korea's Daejeon Diocese, had worked extensively among Mongolians as a Fidei Donum missionary. A Fidei Donum missionary is a priest or layperson sent by their diocese to serve in another diocese, often in a mission territory. This practice, stemming from Pope Pius XII's 1957 encyclical "Fidei Donum," meaning "gift of faith,' aims to strengthen younger churches with personnel and resources from older, established ones. Born in Daejeon of South Korea, in 1968, Kim was ordained a priest in 1998. He came to Mongolia as a missionary of the Daejeon Diocese in 2000. He is credited with setting up a new parish and building the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Ulaanbaatar, two years after his arrival there. The church is shaped like a Mongolian ger, a traditional Mongolian tent, located in Hang-ol, Ulaanbaatar. Kim reportedly ran a minor seminary in a parish that offers a boarding facility for Mongolian boys. It is credited with raising the first native religious vocations for the priesthood. He was also known to be an avid follower of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, the patron saint of missionaries. In 2019, he was invited to participate in an Easter retreat for priests of the Prado in Fatima, Portugal, where he shared his missionary experience in Mongolia. Kim adopted the nomadic lifestyle of Mongolians by living with a group of people in Erdenesant, a prairie land located about 200 kilometers from the national capital, after obtaining permission from the bishop. For several years, he lived in a ger and taught Korean to young students in a school. He later returned to Ulaanbaatar, as called by the bishop, to serve as assistant vicar general. The Mongolian Catholic Church has about 1,400 Catholics in a Buddhist-majority population of about 3.3
Herald Malaysia
05-06-2025
- Herald Malaysia
Vietnam archbishop hails Marian pilgrimage as ‘event of love, faith'
It also served to prepare for the Solemnity of Pentecost, and celebrated Mary as the 'Woman of Pentecost' Jun 05, 2025 Pilgrims are seen seated during a Holy Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Tra Kieu, Vietnam, on May 31. (Photo: Fides) HANOI: A Catholic archbishop in Vietnam has termed a recently concluded pilgrimage to a famed Marian shrine as an 'event of love, faith, commitment, and service.' The journey to the Marian shrine in Tra Kieu, a Catholic village located in Quang Nam province, was undertaken by more than 10,000 pilgrims. It was an 'opportunity to profess one's faith in the face of the challenges of the present time," said Archbishop Joseph Dang Duc Ngan of Hue in his remarks at a Holy Mass on May 31, the Vatican's missionary news service Fides reported on June 3. People from across Da Nang Diocese, which covers some 10,000 square kilometers, attended Mass at the culmination of the pilgrimage at the end of the Marian month of May. Traditionally, May is known as the "month of flowers," dedicated in Vietnam to the devotion to Mary. The pilgrimage to the Marian shrine in Tra Kieu 'is not only an individual act, but a communal act to renew our vocation and mission,' Archbishop Ngan said. Vietnamese Catholics believe Mother Mary appeared at the top of the church in Tra Kieu in September 1885 to help parishioners defeat royal soldiers who were trying to exterminate the village's Christians. Archbishop Ngan warned that all activities — community gatherings, liturgies, and pilgrimages — without the grace of the Holy Spirit, 'will be purely social gatherings.' During the Marian month of May, Catholics observe prayer vigils, open-air Masses, and community rosaries at Marian shrines, where fresh flowers are offered as a sign of love and devotion to the Mother Mary. The pilgrims also used the event to prepare for the Solemnity of Pentecost, which falls on June 8. The pilgrimage was also a celebration of Mary as the "Woman of Pentecost." The Da Nang Diocese has been the cradle of Catholicism in southern Vietnam. Evangelization efforts began in the area in 1615 when three Jesuit missionaries landed in Hoi An. An estimated 130,000-300,000 Christians were killed during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, accused of joining the false religion of Westerners and working with foreign forces to invade the country, Church records say. Many were executed by beheading, suffocation, or flaying, while others, including priests, were hanged in cages. The first Vietnamese martyr, Blessed Andrew of Phu Yen, a catechist beatified in 2000 by Pope Saint John Paul II, was the result of the preaching efforts by these Jesuit missionaries, Fides reported. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Da Nang was a leading center of the erstwhile Diocese of Cochinchina (in southern Vietnam). Pope John XXIII created the Diocese of Da Nang on Jan. 18, 1963. The diocese, which spans the city of Da Nang and the province of Quang Nam, has approximately 73,000 Catholics (2.7 percent) in a population of 2.7 million across 51 parishes. It is estimated that Vietnam has approximately seven million Catholics, accounting for around seven percent of the country's 101.5 million
Euronews
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Pope Leo XIV completes last ceremonial steps as new Bishop of Rome
Pope Leo XIV declared himself a Roman on Sunday, completing the final ceremonial steps in his role as the bishop of Rome. Wearing his formal red papal cape and brocaded stole, Pope Leo XIV recalled the words he had uttered from the loggia of St Peter's Basilica on the night of his election. The pontiff quoted St Augustine in saying, 'With you I am Christian, and for you, bishop.' 'By special title, today I can say that for you and with you I am Roman,' Leo said. Rome's Mayor Roberto Gualtieri welcomed Pope Leo XIV first at the steps to City Hall, noting that his May 8 election fell during a Holy Jubilee year, an event occurring every 25 years to invite pilgrims to Rome. The city underwent two years of traffic-clogging public works projects to prepare and expects to welcome upward of 30 million people in 2025. Pope Leo XIV felt a 'serious but passionate responsibility' to serve all Romans during the Holy Year and beyond. The first US-born pontiff formally took possession of the St John Lateran Basilica, which is Rome's cathedral and seat of the diocese, with an evening Mass attended by Roman priests and faithful. He then took the popemobile for a visit to St Mary Major, where he prayed before Pope Francis' tomb and an icon of the Virgin Mary beloved to many Roman faithful. Last week, the pontiff visited the St Paul Outside the Walls basilica. In his homily, Pope Leo XIV said he wanted to listen to them 'in order to learn, understand and decide things together.' One of the many titles that Pope Leo XIV assumed when he was elected 8 May was bishop of Rome — an honorific derived from the pontiff's role as the apostolic successor to Saint Peter, the founder of the Church. The symbolic possession of the four papal basilicas completes his inauguration as the Church's supreme pontiff. Given his responsibilities running the 1.4 billion-strong universal Catholic Church, the pontiff will likely delegate the day-to-day governance of the diocese of Rome to a vicar. On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV asked for prayers for China's Catholics to be in communion with the Holy See, as he made his first public remarks about one of the thorniest foreign policy issues facing his new pontificate. The pope recalled that the Catholic Church marked a special feast day on Saturday to pray for the church in China. Pope Leo XIV noted that on the feast day, 'in the churches and shrines in China and throughout the world, prayers have been raised to God as a sign of the solicitude and affection for Chinese Catholics and their communion with the universal church.' Speaking from his window during his noontime blessing, Leo prayed that Catholics in China and elsewhere 'obtain the grace to be strong and joyful witnesses of the Gospel, even in the midst of trials, to always promote peace and harmony.' Pope Leo XIV told the archbishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Stephen Chow, that he had 'visited China several times and got to know the Chinese culture and reality,' according to the Fides missionary news agency, citing comments Chow made in his diocesan weekly newsletter after the conclave. Chow added that he expected Pope Leo XIV to follow Pope Francis' direction for the church in China. He said he had given Pope Leo XIV a small statue of Our Lady of Sheshan, a statue of the Madonna that is particularly venerated by Chinese faithful and is celebrated on the feast day, 24 May. Chow, a Jesuit, said he had implored Pope Leo XIV 'to not forget the church in China and the Chinese people,' according to the newsletter. The Vatican has been working for years to try to improve relations with China that were officially severed over seven decades ago when the Communist Party came into power under Mao Zedong. Relations had long been stymied over China's insistence on its exclusive right to name bishops as a matter of national sovereignty, while the Vatican insisted on the pope's exclusive right to name them as the supreme pontiff of the Church.
