Bangeojin Catholic Church

Overview

Bang-eojin Church is a church located in Hwajeong-dong, Dong-gu, Ulsan Metropolitan City, belonging to the Ulsan Vicariate of the Busan Diocese. It was separated from Jeonha Church and established on February 6, 1993, its patron is the Immaculate Conception, and in 2006 it spun off Kkotbawi Church.

History

[Land Purchase and Preparation for Establishment] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the Dong-gu area of Ulsan developed from the 1970s as Hyundai Heavy Industries and other Hyundai Group affiliates and partner companies moved in on a large scale. In 1984, Father Kim Gye-chun (Dominic), the 3th pastor of Jeonha Parish, anticipating regional development from the creation of the heavy-industry complex, purchased land in advance for a future church. The Ulsan History and Culture Encyclopedia records that the land was purchased on July 19, 1984. On March 3, 1991, the Hwajeong Parish Construction Promotion Committee was launched by Father Bae Sang-seop, the 6th pastor of Jeonha Parish, giving concrete form to the plan to divide the parish.

[Construction of the Church and Establishment of the Parish] Construction of the church began on November 15, 1991 and was completed on December 15, 1992, after just over 1 year. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia states that the site measured 516 pyeong with a total floor area of 1,153 pyeong, and that a hall of 200 pyeong was opened to local residents for evangelization in the area. With the establishment of Bangeojin Parish effective February 6, 1993, Father Bae Sang-seop of Jeonha Parish concurrently served as its first pastor. The parish name was originally chosen as Hwajeong after the local place name, but on January 16, 1992, on the recommendation of senior priests of the diocese, it was changed to Bangeojin. The number of faithful at the time of establishment was 2,511, and as of the end of 1995 it was 3,387. Its jurisdiction is recorded as covering Bangeo-dong, Ilsan-dong, Hwajeong-dong, Daesong-dong and surrounding areas in Ulsan.

[Early Pastoral Ministry] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, immediately after its establishment, as Father Bae Sang-seop concurrently served as pastor of Jeonha Parish, the first assistant priest, Father O Chang-geun (Paul), was in charge of administering the sacraments and the faith life of the faithful. At that time, a convent of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was established, and 3 Legion of Mary curiae, the Marian Association and 14 lay organizations in total were founded. Father Jo Jang-rae, who took office as the 2th pastor on February 18, 1994, worked to foster a sense of unity in the parish community and to repay debts, and published the parish newsletter “Beautiful Encounter” quarterly. Father Jo Jang-rae died in a traffic accident on November 1, 1996, and on November 16 of the same month Father Sim Won-taek of Jangyu Parish temporarily acted as pastor before being formally appointed as the 3th pastor in February 1997. The successive pastors are listed as the first, John Bae Sang-seop (1993.2–1994.2), the 2th, Peter Jo Jang-rae (1994.2–1996.11), interim Thomas Sim Won-taek (1996.11–1997.2), and the 3th, Sim Won-taek (from 1997.2 onward).

[Spin-off and Present Status] According to the Ulsan History and Culture Encyclopedia, Bangeojin Church spun off Kkotbawi Church in 2006. The Gyeongsang Ilbo reported that Kkotbawi Church was separated from Bangeojin Church on January 10, 2006. The Ulsan History and Culture Encyclopedia states that as of 2017, its jurisdiction covered parts of Wolbong-ro, Bangeojin Sunhwan-ro, Hwajin-gil, Bongsu-ro, Daesong-ro, Haesuyokjang-gil and Munjae-ro in Dong-gu, with 1 resident priest and 2 sisters, and 3,268 faithful. The pastoral council has 12 divisions.

Related Places and People

• Jeonha Church: the mother parish from which Bangeojin Parish was separated (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Ulsan History and Culture Encyclopedia).
• Kkotbawi Church: the parish spun off from Bangeojin Church in 2006 (Ulsan History and Culture Encyclopedia).
• Saint Paul Church: the church cited by the Ulsan History and Culture Encyclopedia as a parish established along with Bangeojin Church in the course of growth in the Dong-gu area of Ulsan.

References and Sources

1. Research Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Bangeojin Parish”. Establishment process, building scale, name change, early pastoral ministry, successive pastors and statistics.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/2380
2. Academy of Korean Studies, Ulsan History and Culture Encyclopedia “Bangeojin Church”. Land purchase, groundbreaking, completion and establishment history, spin-off of Kkotbawi Church, status in 2017.
   https://www.grandculture.net/ulsan/toc/GC80030222
3. Gyeongsang Ilbo, “Bright New Start for Bangeojin Kkotbawi Church” (2008.3.30). The fact that Kkotbawi Church was separated from Bangeojin Church on January 10, 2006.
   https://www.ksilbo.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=211599