Lenten Campaign 2025
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It has only been 180 years since the first native priest was ordained in Korea. Today, as the Vocation Support Association celebrates its 50th year, the Archdiocese of Seoul’s priesthood is 1000-strong.
In his homily at a celebratory liturgy, Archbishop Chung shared, “By the grace of our good and loving Father, and through your concern, support, and generous contributions, we have reached a historic moment,” he said.
“In this 180th year since the ordination of Korea’s first native priest, St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon, the number of diocesan priests in the Archdiocese of Seoul has finally reached 1,000.”
That’s 1,000 priests currently in the Archdiocese today -- both active and retired.
Lay-led past and present
The liturgy was attended by 10 former directors and deputy directors of the Vocations Department, along with six religious sisters who have faithfully served in the department’s mission over the years. Also present were the current and nine former presidents of the Vocation Support Association — representing generations of dedicated lay leadership united in service to the Church.
The number of Catholics in Seoul is over 1.5 million; according to statistics from two years ago, the faithful-to-priest ratio was 1,385. (By comparison, Milan's average is 2,086; the small diocese of Wichita, Kansas, which has the highest rate of new priests in the USA has an average of just 933 Catholics per priest. The Archdiocese of Mexico has 3,481, and Kinshasa in Democratic Republic of Congo has 10,352 faithful per priest.)
This milestone is the fruit of a deep and unique history of Catholicism in South Korea. The Archdiocese’s Global Communications Manager Stephany Sun shares,
Catholicism was introduced not by missionaries but by laypeople in the late 18th century who discovered the faith through books from China. Despite having no priests at first, they baptized one another and built up faith communities. This grassroots beginning led to rapid growth — but also brutal persecution. Throughout the history of the Korean Church, it is estimated that around 10,000 Catholics were martyred for their faith. Their witness and sacrifice form the spiritual foundation of the Church in Korea today.
In a further explanation of Korean Catholicism, Sun provided more details about Korea’s first native-born priest:
One of the most beloved figures in Korean Catholicism is St. Andrew Kim Taegon, the first Korean-born Catholic priest. He was ordained in 1845 and martyred a year later at age 25. His courage and witness continue to inspire Korean Catholics today. He is not only one of the most beloved saints in Korea but also honored as the patron saint of Korean clergy.
3 Pillars of support
Fifty years ago, the beginnings of the Vocation Support Association was founded by some seminary priests and 15 women. Their support of priests has taken the form of three pillars:
Spiritual (prayers and Masses offered for vocations),
Financial (Association members assist seminarians with tuition and living expenses), and Community and Formation (members receive ongoing education to help encourage them in their role as Vocation supporters)
Decades of Association leadership, past and present, gathered together to celebrate this anniversary. Yeong-suk Park, current president of the Association, said,
“We give thanks to God for this amazing providence, and I sincerely thank all of you who have joined us today to share in this joy … and invite you to become laborers in the field of vocations.”
A gift that must be nurtured
Archbishop Chung offered this reflection on the nature of the priesthood:
“The priest is one who celebrates the Eucharist and the sacraments in persona Christi — in the person of Christ. A vocation is a gift from God, yes — but it is also a gift that must be nurtured and cultivated in order to come to fulfillment.”
Acknowledging this gift, the Archbishop also recognized that there is a consistent global decline in priestly vocations today. At the same time, he knows from experience that the support of parishioners makes a real impact, imploring,
“I ask all of you, our members and supporters, to pray even more fervently, and to encourage your neighbors and communities to support vocations in every way possible.”
The Church in Seoul has increasingly drawn attention from the universal Church in recent years. In 2018, the Vatican recognized the Catholic Pilgrimage Routes in Seoul wherein pilgrims experience key sites of Korean martyrs’ lives and death.
Pope Francis also announced that the next World Youth Day will take place in Seoul in 2027, inviting young people around the world to visit this bastion of vocations and the Catholic faith.
