Songhyeon-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Songhyeon-dong Church is a church in Songhyeon-dong, Andong-si, North Gyeongsang Province, belonging to the Andong Diocese. It was newly established after separating from Taehwa-dong Church in 1997, and its patron is Saint Jeong Hasang Paul. It belongs to the Andong District of the Andong Diocese.

History

[Establishment] According to the Digital Andong Culture Encyclopedia “Songhyeon-dong Church,” on June 18, 1997 approval was granted for the new establishment of Songhyeon-dong Church through separation from Taehwa-dong Church, and on August 2 of the same year the first pastor, Father Choe Sung-geun (Pius), took office. The same source lists the date of establishment as August 2, 1997 in its detailed information. The Andong Diocese website’s order of parish establishment and the Korean Catholic Directory list the date of establishment of Songhyeon-dong Parish as June 18, 1997. The Digital Andong Culture Encyclopedia “Taehwa-dong Church” states that Taehwa-dong Church was established on December 5, 1979 through separation from Mokseong Church.

[Successive pastors] According to the Digital Andong Culture Encyclopedia, Father Kim Han-mo (Paul) took office as the 2 pastor on February 1, 2001, and the groundbreaking ceremony for the church building was held in April 2002. Father Lee Chun-woo (Francis) took office as the 3 pastor on January 30, 2004, and Father Jeong Do-yeong (Peter) took office as the 4 pastor on July 18, 2008, and it is recorded that as of 2016, the pastor was Father Bae In-ho (Peter).

[Activities and present status] According to the Digital Andong Culture Encyclopedia, the parish holds weekly meetings such as the Legion, the Vincentian group, the choir, the Bible study group and the Sunday school, and as monthly meetings it maintains the pastoral council and each department meeting, the Curia, the charismatic prayer group, Ultreya, and age-based groups such as the Maria, Joseph, Daegeon, Hasang and Daecheol groups. It states that in 2007, a mission soccer club was formed to promote fellowship and mission, and as a result the number of parishioners in their 30s to 40s increased and it was changing into a vibrant church. As of 2016, 1,771 parishioners were active.

Related Places and Figures

• Taehwa-dong Church: It is the mother parish from which Songhyeon-dong Church was separated in 1997 (Digital Andong Culture Encyclopedia). Taehwa-dong Church was established on December 5, 1979 through separation from Mokseong Church (Digital Andong Culture Encyclopedia “Taehwa-dong Church”).
• Andong District of the Andong Diocese: The Digital Andong Culture Encyclopedia “Catholicism” introduces Songhyeon-dong Church as one of the major churches in Andong-si.

References and Sources

1. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Andong Culture Encyclopedia “Songhyeon-dong Church.” New establishment in 1997, first and successive pastors, activities and status in 2016.
   https://www.grandculture.net/andong/toc/GC02402009
2. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Andong Culture Encyclopedia “Catholicism.” Overview of Catholicism in the Andong region and major churches in Andong-si.
   https://www.grandculture.net/andong/toc/GC02402006
3. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Andong Culture Encyclopedia “Taehwa-dong Church.” Background of the establishment through separation from Mokseong Church in 1979.
   https://www.grandculture.net/andong/toc/GC02402012
4. Andong Diocese, diocesan status “Order of Parish Establishment.” Date of establishment of Songhyeon-dong Parish June 18, 1997 (official document).
   https://www.acatholic.or.kr/sub1/sub1_4.asp
5. GoodNews, Korean Catholic Directory list of parishes in the Andong Diocese. Date of establishment of Songhyeon-dong Parish June 18, 1997.
   https://m.catholic.or.kr/web/addr/sResultList.asp?gubun=4&gubun2=&gyogu=201000025&search=