Fukue Church

Fukue Catholic Church is the largest and most prominent church in the southern Goto Islands. Located in the center of the former castle town, it serves as the administrative and spiritual anchor for the entire region. While the parish became independent from the historic Dozaki Church in 1914, the current modern structure was completed in 1962.

The church is most famous for the “Miracle of 1962”. Shortly after its completion, a massive fire, known as the Great Fukue Fire, ravaged the city center, destroying hundreds of homes and buildings. Amidst the blackened ruins and devastation, the bright white concrete silhouette of Fukue Church stood completely unscathed. To the local residents, both Catholic and non-Catholic, the surviving church became a profound symbol of hope and the starting point for the city’s reconstruction.