Gaewondong Catholic Church

Overview

Gaeun-dong Church is a church in Gaeun-dong, Sangju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, belonging to the Diocese of Andong. It was established on July 5, 2007. The Sisters of Christian Education are active and administer the Oenam Catholic mission chapel.

History

〔Establishment〕 According to the Digital Sangju Culture Encyclopedia “Gaeun-dong Church,” construction of the parish building began in April 2007, it was established as the Catholic Gaeun-dong Church on July 5, 2007, and Father Yang Ho-jun (Delfino) took office as the first pastor on July 13, 2007. The order of parish establishment on the Andong Diocese website and the Korean Catholic Directory also list the establishment date of Gaeun-dong Parish as July 5, 2007. The Digital Sangju Culture Encyclopedia “Seomun-dong Church” states that Seomun-dong Church newly established Gaeun-dong Church in 2007.

〔Blessing and Dedication of the Church and Afterward〕 According to the Digital Sangju Culture Encyclopedia, the parish blessing and dedication ceremony was held on October 26, 2008, and Bishop Kwon Hyeok-ju (John Chrysostom), head of the Catholic Diocese of Andong, made his first pastoral visit on July 12, 2009. It administers the Oenam Catholic mission chapel in Oenam-myeon, Sangju-si.

〔Present Situation〕 According to the Digital Sangju Culture Encyclopedia, as of 2023, weekday Masses and Sunday Masses are offered at various times, centered on the pastor and the sisters of the Sisters of Christian Education. The faithful continue to steadily hand-copy Scripture through the ‘Gaeun-dong Church Bible School,’ and as of 2023, the number of registered parishioners is 1,302.

Related Places and People

• Seomun-dong Church: It is the parish that newly established Gaeun-dong Church in 2007. The Digital Sangju Culture Encyclopedia states that Seomun-dong Church separated Hwaryeong Church in 1962, Namseong-dong Church in 1963 and Gyerim-dong Church in 1990, and newly established Gaeun-dong Church in 2007.
• Oenam Catholic mission chapel: It is a Catholic mission chapel administered by Gaeun-dong Church and located in Oenam-myeon, Sangju-si (Digital Sangju Culture Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. The Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Sangju Culture Encyclopedia “Gaeun-dong Church”. Establishment and construction in 2007, first pastor, blessing and dedication ceremony in 2008, bishop’s pastoral visit in 2009, Oenam Catholic mission chapel, present situation in 2023.
   https://www.grandculture.net/sangju/toc/GC09101158
2. Catholic Diocese of Andong, diocesan overview “Order of Parish Establishment”. Gaeun-dong Parish establishment date July 5, 2007.
   https://www.acatholic.or.kr/sub1/sub1_4.asp
3. GoodNews, Korean Catholic Directory list of Andong Diocese parishes. Gaeun-dong Parish establishment date July 5, 2007.
   https://m.catholic.or.kr/web/addr/sResultList.asp?gubun=4&gubun2=&gyogu=201000025&search=
4. The Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Sangju Culture Encyclopedia “Seomun-dong Church”. History of Seomun-dong Church and new establishment of Gaeun-dong Church in 2007.
   https://www.grandculture.net/sangju/toc/GC09101167
5. The Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Sangju Culture Encyclopedia “Catholicism”. Overview of Catholicism in the Sangju area and 8 churches in the Sangju district.
   https://www.grandculture.net/sangju/toc/GC09101157