South Korean Catholic convert finds strength in Legion of Mary
Even at 94, Helena Heo Yung-ja continues her life of witness and prayer with a smile May 21, 2025
Heo Yong-ja, the 94-year-old head of the Legion of the Central Episcopal Parish of Jeonju Diocese. (Photo: catholictimes.org)
SEOUL: For 94-year-old Helena Heo Yung-ja, her time at the Legion of Mary has been an inseparable part of her daily life and a testament to her faith.
'I always say, 'now is heaven,' because I live with God, Jesus, and Mary in my heart,' says Heo, who converted to Catholicism in 1957 at the age of 26.
'When I think about that, it makes me humble and careful, and I try to live a life that is pleasing to them,' adds Heo.
But her association with the Legion of Mary is as old as her faith. She has been a member of the Legion of Mary Hope of Sinners Presidium for 68 years.
A regular at presidium meetings
A regular face at presidium meetings, Heo has only missed a few of them following a hospitalization due to leg surgery.
Heo says she would hurry home after visiting her children, who were staying in other parts of South Korea, to ensure she did not miss the Legion meetings.
'We are the Legionaries of Mary, so how can we miss the [Legion] meetings?' Heo says when asked about the enthusiasm and dedication she exhibits for the Legion.
As a result of her consistent dedication, Bishop Sun Tae Kim of Jeonju awarded Heo a certificate of appreciation as part of the 70th anniversary celebration of the introduction of the Legion of Mary in the diocese on May 17.
However, her dedication was also acknowledged by her appointment as the presidium director at the Cathedral Church, a position that Heo says she initially declined.
'At the age of 94, I was asked to preside over the Legion, and although I refused, I accepted when they asked me to preside at the beginning of the meeting,' says Heo.
The presidium in Jeonju started in 1955, about two years after Columban Father Harold Henry introduced the Legion of Mary to South Korea at Kwangju's Kyong-dong and Sanjong-dong parishes in 1953.
Frank Duff, a layperson and civil servant, founded the Legion of Mary in Dublin, Ireland, in 1921.
The Marian movement, an international association of lay members of the Catholic Church, now has more than 10 million members across 170 countries.
The Legion aims to glorify God through the holiness of its members, through prayer and active cooperation in the Church's work.
Daily Mass and Rosary recitations
For Heo, another activity that bolstered her faith life was attending daily Mass at the church.
She says that she used to attend Holy Mass daily since her baptism, but had to discontinue a few months back due to health concerns. A regular at the church, Heo even has a seat that is reserved for her.
Heo says she loves to recite the Rosary as a small contribution to Mother Mary, whom she believes prays tirelessly for the world and remembers each individual.
She says she does not have a favorite Rosary, pointing out that 'they are all the same, a tool to pray to the Holy Mother.'
She claims that she used to recite up to 100 decades, equivalent to twenty cycles of the complete Rosary, in a day. However, due to her advancing age, she has reduced the numbers to 70 decades a day.
More than 60 converts to Catholicism
For Heo, her faith and steadfastness also led more than 60 people to the Catholic faith, for which she received the Legion of Mary Award for Mission Excellence in 2014.
But Heo recalls that bringing her husband to the Catholic faith was the most challenging ordeal she faced.
'I had a hard time because of my husband, but I left it all to Mary,' says Heo.
Heo recalls how her husband would come home from time to time and ask for a divorce, which was painful for her.
She often prayed in tears in front of the statue of Our Lady in the cathedral, seeking divine help in mending the relationship with her husband.
The Pieta, which depicts Mother Mary holding the body of Jesus, reminded her that the suffering she faced was nothing compared to Mary's, she says.
'Whenever he came home, I would treat him with all my heart, and he eventually relented and was baptized and confirmed at the age of 80,' says Heo.
Heo says her husband's conversion happened with the help of her children, the parish priest, and nuns.
She said she is happy that her husband received the Sacrament of the Sick before he died peacefully.
At 94, Heo continues her life of witness and prayer, with a smile for all.--ucanews.com
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