Seoul Archdiocese celebrating centenary of Fatima apparitions
The Archdiocese of Seoul is holding a series of prayer services for peace and evangelization to mark the 100th anniversary of the Marian apparitions of Fatima this year. Entitled, "Prayer Pilgrimage in Commemoration of the Centennial Anniversary of the Fatima Apparition," the archdiocese will begin the services on May 13 and continue until Oct. 13, covering five areas in the South Korean capital. It will begin and conclude at Myeongdong Cathedral.
Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the famous shrine of Fatima, May 12-13, to commemorate the centenary of the apparitions. It was on 13 May, 1917, that Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta, tending their sheep in Cova da Iria, are said to have had the first vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of the Rosary. Mary appeared on six occasions until October 13 that year. Jacinta and Francisco who died in 1919 and 1920 respectively, were declared Blessed by St. Pope John Paul II during his Fatima visit in 2000. Pope Francis will declare them Saints in Fatima on May 13. The message of the Fatima apparitions can be summarized primarily as a call to repentance and prayer for peace and conversion of souls.
Seoul Archdiocese urged parishioners to join the prayer service and reflect on the message of Our Lady of Fatima given the current military tensions on the Korean peninsula. The prayer service will feature a Marian statue enshrined on the 90th anniversary of North Korea’s Pyongyang Diocese in March 2016. It was donated by a businessman from Fatima and represents the wishes of the Korean Catholics for the peaceful reunification of North and South Korea.
Father Augustine Jo Sung-poong, pastoral director of Seoul Archdiocese, said, "The prayer tour will lead the whole archdiocese to pray for peace in the Korean peninsula and the world. I hope parishioners will remember the intention and times of prayer services. The services be encouraging to Catholics and arouse interest in the Church of Silence," he added.
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