Deoksan Catholic Church

Overview

Deoksan Church is a church belonging to the Catholic Diocese of Cheongju, located in Yongmong-ri, Deoksan-eup, Jincheon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. It began when the Deoksan Catholic mission chapel was elevated to a parish on January 20, 2005, and its patron saint is Thomas Choe Yang-eop.

History

[Mission Chapel Period] According to the Digital Jincheon Culture Encyclopedia, Deoksan Church was formerly the Deoksan Catholic mission chapel under the jurisdiction of Jincheon Church, and was elevated to a parish on January 20, 2005. The Deoksan Catholic mission chapel was first established in 1938, then newly re-established on August 1960, and its blessing ceremony was held on November 1961. Meanwhile, the Iwol Church entry in the Digital Jincheon Culture Encyclopedia states that, on January 2005, the Deoksan Catholic mission chapel under the jurisdiction of Iwol Church was elevated to a parish and the Deoksan area was separated from the jurisdiction of Iwol Church, which differs from the Deoksan Church entry that names Jincheon Church as the parish that had jurisdiction over the Deoksan Catholic mission chapel before the elevation.

[Elevation to Parish and New Construction] The Digital Jincheon Culture Encyclopedia states that the Deoksan Catholic mission chapel was elevated to a parish as the number of Catholic believers grew, and that Deoksan Church was newly built under the responsibility of Father Seok Geun-ung. Its purpose of establishment was to proclaim the Catholic Gospel and to celebrate Mass in Deoksan-eup and in parts of Maengdong-myeon, Eumseong-gun. The directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea and the parish information on the Diocese of Cheongju website also record the date of establishment as January 20, 2005.

[Jurisdiction and Activities] The Digital Jincheon Culture Encyclopedia states that the jurisdiction of Deoksan Church covers Deoksan-eup, Jincheon-gun and part of Maengdong-myeon, Eumseong-gun, that the population under its jurisdiction is about 6,000 people, that the proportion of believers within its jurisdiction is about 12%, and that the total number of believers is about 770 people. It explains that it carries out activities such as volunteer visits to welfare facilities and hospitals, community service, running a summer Bible school, holding feasts for the elderly, and holding believers’ hiking events and sports festivals, and states that on Fridays it operates a faith school for catechumens and believers after Mass.

[Diocesan Information] The directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea lists Deoksan Parish as belonging to the Central District of the Diocese of Cheongju, with Saint Thomas as patron and 0 mission chapel. The parish information on the Diocese of Cheongju website names Thomas Choe Yang-eop as patron saint.

Related Places and Figures

• Jincheon Church: The Deoksan Church entry in the Digital Jincheon Culture Encyclopedia names Jincheon Church as the parish that had jurisdiction over the Deoksan Catholic mission chapel.
• Iwol Church: The Iwol Church entry in the Digital Jincheon Culture Encyclopedia states that, on January 2005, the Deoksan Catholic mission chapel under the jurisdiction of Iwol Church was elevated to a parish and the Deoksan area was separated from the jurisdiction of Iwol Church.

References and Sources

1. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Jincheon Culture Encyclopedia “Deoksan Church.” Establishment (1938), re-establishment (1960), and blessing ceremony (1961) of the Deoksan Catholic mission chapel, elevation to parish on January 20, 2005, new construction, jurisdiction and status of believers, and activities.
   https://www.grandculture.net/jincheon/toc/GC02701119
2. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Jincheon Culture Encyclopedia “Iwol Church.” The separation from the jurisdiction of Iwol Church when the Deoksan Catholic mission chapel was elevated to a parish on January 2005.
   https://www.grandculture.net/jincheon/toc/GC02701116
3. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Catholic Directory in Korea “Deoksan.” Date of establishment January 20, 2005, patron Saint Thomas, Central District, number of mission chapels.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&gubn=4&gyogu=201000023&code=201000978&gubn2=all&char=all
4. Catholic Diocese of Cheongju, Parish Information “Deoksan Church.” Date of establishment January 20, 2005, patron saint Thomas Choe Yang-eop.
   https://www.cdcj.or.kr/parish/parish/view/23062