Naedeok-dong Cathedral

History & origins

Naedeok-dong Parish was established on August 15, 1957, when it was separated from the then Cheongju Parish. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records this as the beginning of the parish that became the cathedral parish of Cheongju, and the early community developed its foundations and church building with the missionary work and support of the Maryknoll Fathers.

The present church building was begun with a cornerstone ceremony on August 22, 1960, and was dedicated on October 11, 1961. Architectural history compiled by the Research Foundation of Korean Church History notes that it was built with financial and technical support from Maryknoll and became an important example of Catholic church architecture in the Cheongju region. When the Catholic hierarchy was formally established in Korea on March 10, 1962, the church was elevated to the cathedral of the Diocese of Cheongju.

As the diocese and city grew, the parish’s territory was divided. In 1964 the Naesu mission station within its jurisdiction became a separate parish. In 1970, with the installation of Bishop Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk, the transfer of pastoral governance of the Diocese of Cheongju from Maryknoll to Korean clergy marked another important change connected with this cathedral. Naedeok 1-dong Parish was later separated in 1987, followed by Sacheon-dong Parish in 1991, as the parish network of Cheongju became more differentiated.

This chronology shows that Naedeok-dong Cathedral witnessed not only the growth of a parish but also the consolidation of the Diocese of Cheongju, the establishment of its cathedral, and the transition from the missionary era to diocesan leadership centered on Korean clergy.