The Catholic Church in Seoul is set to mark its 1,000th priest milestone as it prepares for its annual ordination ceremonies.
Scheduled for February 7 at 2 p.m., the priestly ordination will take place at Myeongdong Cathedral, presided over by Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick.
On this occasion, 26 deacons, including one from the Redemptoris Mater Seminary, will receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders, officially becoming priests.
The Sacrament of Holy Orders, one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, consists of three ranks: episcopate, priesthood, and diaconate. The ordination ceremony involves the bishop’s laying on of hands and a solemn consecratory prayer.
The newly ordained priests are consecrated to serve the people of God by teaching, sanctifying, and governing. Through this sacrament, priests collaborate with bishops, proclaim God’s Word, administer sacraments, and celebrate the Eucharist.
This year’s ordination will bring the total number of priests in the Archdiocese of Seoul to 1,000, marking a significant milestone for the Catholic Church in Korea.
Currently, the Archdiocese of Seoul counts one cardinal, one archbishop, three bishops, and four monsignors among its clergy. According to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea’s 2024 report, there were 5,721 priests across South Korea as of December 2023.
A day prior to the priestly ordination, on February 6, a diaconal ordination ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. at Myeongdong Cathedral.
This event will see 17 deacons from the Archdiocese and one from the Capuchin Franciscan Order receiving the diaconate. Deacons assist priests in duties such as preaching, distributing Holy Communion, and performing sacramentals.
While they can preside over baptisms and witness marriages, they cannot celebrate the Eucharist or administer other sacraments.
The ordination ceremonies will be broadcast live on CPBC Catholic Peace Broadcasting, allowing faithful across Korea to witness this historic milestone in the Archdiocese of Seoul.