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(Originally published by the Archdiocese of Seoul on March 28, 2025. Reposted with permission.)
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On the evening of March 28, 2025, Myeongdong Cathedral and its surrounding area became a sanctuary of silence, prayer, and hope as young Catholics from across the Archdiocese participated in the “24 Hours for the Lord,” a Lenten vigil held in response to Pope Francis’ invitation for the Jubilee Year 2025.

Hosted by the World Youth Day (WYD) Seoul 2027 Local Organizing Committee, the event, held from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., marked a solemn and intimate moment in the Archdiocese’s preparations for the upcoming World Youth Day in Seoul. Drawing inspiration from the Pope’s call to experience God’s mercy through reconciliation, the gathering brought together hundreds of youths in a shared act of reflection, confession, and Eucharistic adoration.

The program unfolded in three parts. Participants first entered a space of silent reflection in the cathedral, recalling times of estrangement from God through meditative readings and prayers. The quiet atmosphere and soft lighting invited each attendee into personal introspection at the beginning of the Lenten season.

During this first part, Bishop Paul Kyung-sang Lee addressed the participants with words of encouragement and hope. “Tonight, we respond to the Pope’s invitation as pilgrims of hope, seeking God’s mercy and preparing the way for World Youth Day 2027,” he said. Referring to the biblical theme of the evening—“You are my hope, Lord; my trust, God, from my youth” (Psalm 71:5)—he invited the youth to entrust themselves to the Lord anew, especially through the grace of the sacraments.

As darkness settled, the second part of the evening began—the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Twenty-five confessionals had been arranged across the grounds, offering various formats to meet participants’ spiritual needs: traditional booths, face-to-face encounters, and even opportunities to confess while walking with a priest. Many took the opportunity to participate, encountering the mercy of God in a deeply personal way.

In the final part of the evening, participants responded to God’s love by symbolically inserting toothpicks—representing wounds caused by sin—into a crown of thorns, expressing repentance and a desire for renewal. The event concluded with Eucharistic adoration and a blessing, as attendees gathered inside the cathedral in a shared moment of prayer and silence.

“24 Hours for the Lord” has been observed annually since 2014, and despite limitations in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s gathering was a renewed effort by the youth of Seoul to pray for reconciliation—with God, with themselves, and with those who have not yet encountered Christ. The event marked a meaningful step in the spiritual journey toward WYD 2027.