Geoje-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Geoje-dong Church is a church in Geoje-dong, Yeonje-gu, Busan Metropolitan City, belonging to the Diocese of Busan. On November 19, 1973, it was established by separation from Yangjeong Parish and Dongnae Parish, and its patron is Our Lady of Fatima.

History

〔Background of Establishment〕 According to the Dictionary of Korean Catholicism, before the parish was founded, this area was more than 30 minutes on foot from either Yangjeong Parish or Dongnae Parish, causing much inconvenience. While asking the diocese to establish a new parish in this area, whose population had reached 5 ten thousands and 3 thousand-odd people, the faithful, on July 6, 1973, purchased 300 pyeong of land for the present parish, and Fr. Park Heung-seop (Sebastian) of Yangjeong Parish celebrated a thanksgiving Mass for the land purchase on site.

〔Establishment of the Parish〕 The Dictionary records that, dated November 19, 1973, the diocese announced the establishment of the parish and at the same time appointed Fr. Kim Gyeong-u (Alexius) as the founding priest, and that at that time 122 households from Yangjeong Parish and 51 households from Dongnae Parish were incorporated into the parish. As soon as the founding priest arrived, the faithful rented the Ramira wedding hall to offer the first Mass, organized a “Church Construction Preparatory Committee,” raised funds on their own, and hastened the construction of the church. As a result, the following year, on February 10, the blessing ceremony of the church was held.

〔Early Projects and Division〕 According to the Dictionary, the parish invited the Olivetan Benedictine Sisters, opened the Our Lady of Fatima Kindergarten, and also held a blessing ceremony for the statue of Our Lady of Fatima. During the tenure of the 2 pastor, Fr. Lee Yeong-muk (Andrew), on December 1977, parishioners were sent out to the newly created Sajik Parish. During the tenure of the 4 pastor, Fr. Hong Hyeong-pyo (Ambrose), on September 1982 the parish curia was founded, and with a plan to expand the church, on August 1983 an additional 31 pyeong of land was purchased. The church expansion plan was later changed into a new construction plan for the future.

〔Parish Membership and Jurisdiction〕 The Dictionary gives the parish address as 575-2 in Geoje 3-dong, Dongnae-gu, the jurisdiction as Geoje 1~4-dong, Yeonsan 5-dong and apartment complexes, and the membership as in 1973, 1,040 members, in 1977, 1,483 members, in 1980, 2,004 members, in 1986, 3,543 members, and in 1993, 3,844 members. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea directory lists the parish as currently belonging to the Gaya District, the date of establishment as November 19, 1973, the affiliated congregation as the Olivetan Benedictine Sisters, the number of faithful as 4,118, and the number of Catholic mission chapels as 0.

〔Successive Parish Priests〕 The successive priests as recorded in the Dictionary of Korean Catholicism are the founding Fr. Kim Gyeong-u Alexius (1973.7~1977.7), the 2 Fr. Lee Yeong-muk Andrew (1977.7~1978.1), the 3 Fr. Jo Ok-jin Peter (1978.1~1982.2), the 4 Fr. Hong Hyeong-pyo Ambrose (1982.2~1986.2), the 5 Fr. Choe Deuk-su Andrew (1986.2~1989.1), the 6 Fr. Lee Gi-jeong Andrew (1989.1~1992.2), and the 7 Fr. Park Seung-won Nicomedes (1992.2~then current at the time the Dictionary was compiled).

Architecture and Space

According to the Dictionary of Korean Catholicism, on July 6, 1973 300 pyeong of land was purchased, on February 10, 1974 a church blessing ceremony was held, and on August 1983 an additional 31 pyeong of land was purchased.

Related Places and Figures

• Yangjeong Parish and Dongnae Parish: These are the parishes from which Geoje-dong Parish was separated and established. At the time of establishment, 122 households from Yangjeong Parish and 51 households from Dongnae Parish were incorporated (Dictionary of Korean Catholicism).
• Sajik Parish: On December 1977, this parish was newly created from parishioners sent out from Geoje-dong Parish (Dictionary of Korean Catholicism).
• Fr. Park Heung-seop (Sebastian): As priest of Yangjeong Parish, in 1973 he celebrated a thanksgiving Mass for the land purchase on site (Dictionary of Korean Catholicism).

References and Sources

1. Research Institute of Korean Church History, Dictionary of Korean Catholicism “Geoje-dong Parish” (Vol. 1). Background of establishment, parish establishment in 1973, church blessing in 1974, division of Sajik Parish, membership, jurisdiction, successive priests.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/258
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory “Geoje-dong” (Diocese of Busan). Date of establishment, patron, district, congregation, number of faithful, number of Catholic mission chapels. Directory-recorded date of establishment 1973.11.19, patron Our Lady of Fatima, Gaya District.
   http://directory.cbck.or.kr/m/catholicInfo.asp?code=201001363&gubun=4