The Archdiocese of Seoul’s Committee for Life marked its 20th anniversary with a two-day formation program aimed at strengthening the Church’s mission to uphold the sanctity of human life.
Held at the Conventual Retreat House in Hannam-dong, the event gathered members of Parish Life Councils for sessions on end-of-life preparation, hospice care, and spiritual support for the sick and their families.
The formation concluded on June 29 with a Holy Mass led by Bishop Job Yo-bi Koo, auxiliary bishop of Seoul and vice president of the committee.
The Committee for Life, known for its advocacy and its annual Mystery of Life Awards, organized the program as part of its efforts to promote a life-affirming culture at the parish level.
In his homily, Bishop Koo described life as “not a possession of humanity but a gift from God,” and said that defending life is “not merely an ideology or a movement, but lies at the very heart of the Gospel, drawing us into the love of Jesus who offered His life on the cross.”
He urged the lay leaders to carry the Church’s message into their local communities. “You are the guardians of life in our time and the hope of the Church,” he said.
“Become small lights for life within your families, parishes, and communities.” He closed with a prayer: “Life is love. May this confession not remain merely upon our lips, but truly become the way we live.”
Concelebrating the Mass were Fr. Leo Suk‑joon Oh, executive secretary of the Committee for Life; Fr. Simone Young‑hyun Jee, former executive secretary; and Fr. Francis Dong‑ho Lee, a committee research member.
Speaking after the Mass, Fr. Oh said the anniversary event was intentionally modest to allow resources to be directed toward more impactful projects.
These include producing educational videos on life ethics and strengthening efforts to teach the Catholic Church’s pro-life message.
Participants wore pea green vests, the Committee’s official color, symbolizing the seed of life. “It’s a symbol of the seed,” said Fr. Oh.
“We hope each member becomes a seed of the pro-life mission, helping to cultivate a culture of life wherever they are planted,” the priest added.
