By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 7: The Diocese of Sibu has reminded the faithful not to participate in any religious activities at Naju in South Korea regarding events associated with Julia Kim, which include apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“After consultation with the Archdiocese of Singapore and reviewing the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith letter dated September 11, 2025, Bishop Joseph Hii Teck Kwong confirmed that the Church continues to uphold the 2008 decree of Archbishop Andreas Choi Chang-mou of Kwangju.
“This decree declares the phenomenon at Naju as ‘non constat de supernaturalitate’, meaning that the supernatural origin is not proven,” it said in a statement posted on Facebook today.
It also added that the decree forbids any clergy, religious, or layperson from presiding over or attending the celebration of sacraments or sacramentals at the site, saying that those who do so are subject to automatic excommunication, and that the current Archbishop of Kwangju also continues to uphold this decree.
Hii explained that in obedience to the universal Church, all clergy, religious, and faithful in the Diocese of Sibu must not participate in any religious activities at Naju, including Mass, Confession, Anointing of the Sick, or blessings.
He also clarified that while visiting the site for tourism or social reasons is not prohibited, the faithful are encouraged to refrain from visiting to avoid misunderstanding or confusion.
“This guidance is not meant to discourage the faithful but to show love and respect for our Mother Church.
“As the Bride of Christ, the Church provides direction for our spiritual welfare. By following these decisions from the highest authority in matters of faith, we express our filial devotion and faithfulness to her teachings,” said Hii.
According to a report by Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News) dated Jan 5, 2024, the ‘Marian miracle of Naju’ was believed to have dated to the 1980s when Julia Kim claimed she had a vision of Jesus Christ in 1982.
Then, she claimed a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary owned by her started weeping on June 30, 1985. Kim also claimed she was healed from terminal cancer. She has also claimed to continue receiving messages, as well as the Stigmata.
As the stories of the apparition and Julia’s healing spread, many visited the statue. This prompted the Archdiocese of Gwangju, which covers the area, to investigate the claims, and the Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference rejected the miracles associated with the shrine. — DayakDaily
