S Korea’s 1000th Mass for peace in peninsula

For 20 years, the Archdiocese of Seoul, South Korea, has been celebrating a Holy Mass every Tuesday to pray for peace and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula. On Tuesday, Jan. 6, the 1000th 'Mass for peace and reconciliation on Korean Peninsula in division' will be held in Myeongdong Cathedral, presided over by Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung.  The Mass for peace and reconciliation has been held ever since Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, officiated the first Mass on March 7, 1995. The Mass has been celebrated by Cardinal Nicholas Cheong jin-suk, the auxiliary bishop of that time, and since the year 2000, by priests who were newly ordained in each year.  While the 1000th Mass will be presided over by Cardinal Yeom, the homily will be served by Gwangju Archbishop Andrew Choi Chang-moo, the first chairman of the Committee for the Reconciliation of the Korean People. Archbishop Choi opened up the channel of interaction between the Catholic churches of the South and the North, he also made the first official pastoral trip to Pyeongyang.  The Mass will also mark the beginning of the Spiritual Revival Movement, a movement to unite the South Korean Catholics and the 54 Catholic churches in North Korea, which now remains mostly in memory only among South Koreans.  

Pope Francis visited South Korea Aug. 13-18, 2014, to conclude the Church's Asian Youth Day and declare 124 Korean martyrs as saints.  On the last day, he celebrated a Mass for peace and reconciliation in the Korean peninsula.  (Source: AsiaNews)‎