The 50th anniversary of the Prado priests’ mission in Korea was marked on May 27 with a solemn Mass at Myeongdong Cathedral, led by Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul.
The liturgy gathered clergy, religious, and lay members of the Prado Secular Institute to honor a half-century of service to the poor rooted in the spirituality of Blessed Antoine Chevrier, who founded the Prado community in 19th-century France.
In his homily, Archbishop Chung reflected on the core values that continue to guide the Prado mission. He said the Prado priests are “living out their mission by embodying the spirit of the crib, a symbol of poverty; the cross, a symbol of offering, sacrifice, and death; and the tabernacle, a symbol of the Eucharist and life.”
“Guided by the Holy Spirit, they put into practice the preferential option for the poor,” he added.
He noted the community’s contributions to the Korean Church over the decades, adding, “We pray that they will continue to shine the light of the Gospel through the Spirit and in the spirit of their founder, Father Antoine Chevrier.”
Archbishop Chung invited the faithful to pray for the 170 Prado priests serving in Korea, as well as those discerning a vocation, emphasizing their continued mission in pastoral ministry to the poor.
Founded in Lyon in the 1860s, the Prado Priests are a secular institute focused on evangelizing the poor. Their presence in Korea began in 1975, when Fr. Yong-yu Lee of the Archdiocese of Seoul made his first Prado commitment shortly after his ordination.
The celebration included the presentation of two key publications: a Korean translation of Blessed Chevrier’s letters and a commemorative history of the Prado Priests’ 50-year journey in Korea. A message from Archbishop Giovanni Gaspari, the Apostolic Nuncio to Korea, was also read during the Mass.
Archbishop Gaspari praised the community’s witness. “You know well that your pastoral work becomes a powerful testimony when it is supported by authentic Gospel living,” he said.
“Whether priests, religious sisters, or lay members, your faithful commitment to this sacred calling is deeply moving,” he added.
He emphasized that the Prado community’s work is rooted not merely in compassion, but in a deep commitment to Christ, whom they strive to embody through their lives and ministry.
