Munhyeong-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Munhwadong Church is a church of the Catholic Diocese of Cheongju located in Munhwa-dong, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do. It was separated from Gyohyeon-dong Parish and established on May 18, 1986, and its patron is the Apostle Saint James. Its name at establishment was Yeokjeon-dong Parish, and it became Munhwa-dong following a change of the administrative district name in 1992.

History

[Background of Establishment] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, in the mid-1980s the Diocese of Cheongju decided to divide Gyohyeon-dong Parish in Chungju and establish a new parish in the Yeokjeon-dong area, purchasing land at lot 721-5 in Yeokjeon-dong with an area of more than 500 pyeong. With the church-building fund raised by the mother parish, Gyohyeon-dong Parish, construction of the church began on May 3, 1986, and Yeokjeon-dong Parish was established on May 18, only fifteen days after construction began. The Digital Chungju Culture Encyclopedia notes that this day was the Solemnity of Pentecost.

[Early Facilities] With not even a temporary church building, the faithful celebrated outdoor Mass at the new construction site until a prefabricated temporary church (120 pyeong) was completed on August 3, 1986 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia). The Digital Chungju Culture Encyclopedia records that the prefabricated church was completed on August 1, giving a different date. The rectory used a building leased free of charge by a parishioner, then moved after an education hall and rectory were completed within the present site on December 30, 1987.

[Name Change] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the parish location is the same at the time of establishment (Yeokjeon-dong 721-5) and at present, but on December 1, 1990 only the lot number was changed to lot 1996 in Yeokjeon-dong, and on March 1, 1992 the administrative district name was changed to Munhwa-dong.

[Separation of the Mission Chapel and Construction of a New Church] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the parish carried out pilgrimages to holy places every year for catechumens and for each group. On April 1, 1992 construction began on a hall (98 pyeong) for the Bongbang-dong Catholic mission chapel under its jurisdiction and was completed on November 10 of the following year, and this mission chapel was separated from Munhwa-dong Parish on June 29, 1996, during the tenure of the 2th pastor, Father Jeon Myeong-su, and was elevated to Bongbang-dong Parish. On May 6, 1995 construction of a new church began and, 1 years and 6 months later, on November 29, 1996, a church with a total area of 676 pyeong, comprising the church, catechism rooms, convent, dining hall and rectory, with 1 basement floor and 3 floors above ground, was completed. The Digital Chungju Culture Encyclopedia records that the groundbreaking ceremony for the new church was held in 1995 and that the church and rectory were completed on November 29, 1996.

[Church Strength and Successive Pastors] The church strength recorded by the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia is, in 1986, 1,820 people, in 1991, 2,430 people, and in 1995, 2,617 people. The successive pastors are the first, Leo Gyeong Deok-su (1986.5–1992.8), the 2th, Abraham Jeon Myeong-su (1992.8–1997.1), and the 3th, Peter Yu Han-yeong (from 1997.1 onward).

[Present Status] According to the Digital Chungju Culture Encyclopedia, its jurisdiction covers Munhwa-dong, Jihyeon-dong, Dalcheon-dong, Yonggwan-dong and Daesowon-myeon, and as of 2008 it has 2,467 faithful, with Father Aloysius Kim Nam-o as pastor. The Marian Association, choir, Saint James Association, Saint Monica Association, Altar Linen Association, Mothers’ Association, Saint Joseph Association, Saint Anne Association and Saint Vincent de Paul Society are active, along with the elementary school section, altar servers and a football club, and its facilities comprise the parish and rectory on a site of 645 pyeong.

Related Places and People

• Gyohyeondong Church: the mother parish from which Munhwa-dong Parish was separated and established (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Digital Chungju Culture Encyclopedia).
• Bongbangdong Church: the place that was a Catholic mission chapel under the jurisdiction of Munhwa-dong Parish and was elevated to a parish on June 29, 1996 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Research Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Munhwadong Parish” (5 volume). Founding process, name change, separation of the Bongbang-dong mission chapel, new church construction in 1996, church strength and successive priests.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/2158
2. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Chungju Culture Encyclopedia “Munhwadong Church”. Separation on the Solemnity of Pentecost, prefabricated church, new church construction, active groups.
   https://chungju.grandculture.net/chungju/toc/GC01902136
3. Catholic Diocese of Cheongju, parish information “Munhwadong Church”. Date of establishment May 18, 1986, patron Apostle Saint James.
   https://www.cdcj.or.kr/parish/parish/view/23019