Seoul St. Mary's Hospital holds fetal blessing ceremony for couples who conceived naturally through NaProTechnology

Seoul St. Mary's Hospital of the Catholic University of Korea announced Monday that its NaProTechnology Pregnancy Center held a fetal blessing ceremony at the hospital chapel on June 9 for couples who achieved natural pregnancy through NaProTechnology.

The ceremony was organized to share the joy of couples who had long struggled with infertility and successfully restored their natural fertility to welcome new life.

"At a time when infertility has become a serious social challenge, this was a meaningful occasion to reflect on the intrinsic value of life and to deliver a message of hope — the possibility of natural pregnancy — to the many couples struggling with infertility," a hospital official said.

NaProTechnology carefully monitors a woman's menstrual cycle, hormonal changes and ovulation patterns to identify and treat the underlying causes of infertility. It differs from conventional infertility treatment in that it focuses on restoring a woman's natural fertility.

Father Shin Hee-jun, vice director of spiritual affairs at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, officiated the ceremony. NaProTechnology Pregnancy Center director Park In-yang, professor Lee Young, Sister Ra Jeong-ran, head of spiritual nursing, Jo Mi-jin, the country's first certified NaProTechnology practitioner, practitioner Ko Eun-gyeong, and other center staff, faculty and family members attended to celebrate the arrival of new life.

Three of the couples at the ceremony had come to the center after enduring infertility struggles lasting anywhere from three to seven years. Through precise monitoring of their biological rhythms using the Creighton Model System and personalized targeted treatment, they achieved natural pregnancy within two, six and seven months, respectively, of beginning NaProTechnology treatment. All three couples are expecting to give birth between October and December.

In his remarks, Father Shin said, "It is deeply moving and a true blessing to see couples who desperately wanted a child and endured the pain of infertility for so long now standing here, having finally conceived a new life." He added that the hospital's entire medical staff and faculty would accompany and protect the couples through prayer until each baby is safely delivered, "because these are precious lives welcomed in the most natural and humane way possible."

Park In-yang, director of the NaProTechnology Pregnancy Center, said the center would continue to provide systematic and professional medical support so that patients — many of whom have experienced repeated treatment failures — can also succeed in achieving natural pregnancy without giving up.

Established in 2025, the Seoul St. Mary's Hospital NaProTechnology Pregnancy Center carries forward the successful legacy and vision of NaProTechnology, which Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital first introduced in South Korea in 2017. The center serves as an organic hub of a life-protection network that has since expanded to five hospitals under the Catholic Medical Center — Seoul, Yeouido, Uijeongbu, Bucheon and Eunpyeong St. Mary's hospitals.

The center has recorded 13 cumulative pregnancies with a success rate of 27.7 percent, establishing itself as a new alternative for couples with infertility. Going forward, it plans to hold fetal blessing and birth celebration events on a regular basis and to lead the realization of Catholic spirituality centered on respect for life in clinical settings through ongoing education and outreach.