Nae-su Catholic Church

Overview

Naesu Church is a church belonging to the Catholic Diocese of Cheongju, located in Naesu-eup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do. Beginning as a voluntary faith community of local believers in early 1961, it was established as a parish in December 1964 with the Eucharist as its patron. It is also called Naesu Eucharist Church.

History

[Beginning of the community] According to the Digital Cheongju Culture Encyclopedia, Naesu Church began as a voluntary faith community of local believers in early 1961 and was designated in 1963 as a protected Catholic mission chapel under the jurisdiction of Naedeok-dong Parish in Cheongju. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that the church site was purchased in January 1963.

[Establishment of the parish] According to the Digital Cheongju Culture Encyclopedia, Father Seon Daniel, whose American name is Daniel Schneider, of the Maryknoll Mission Society, who was assistant priest at Naedeok-dong Parish, was appointed as the first parish priest and took office on December 28, 1964, so that Naesu Church was established, the church and the rectory were completed in December 1964, and on May 25, 1965 it was separated from Naedeok-dong Parish to become an independent parish. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that it was separated from Naedeok-dong Parish and Jeungpyeong Parish on December 28, 1964, and that after purchasing the church site in January 1963, the church building of 120 pyeong and the rectory building of 51 pyeong were built the following year and it was established as a parish. The parish information on the Cheongju Diocese website lists the establishment date as December 28, 1968, which differs in year from December 28, 1964 in the two sources above.

[Facilities and religious orders] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, a convent was built in February 1968 and in October of the same year a branch of the Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was installed, which helped parish ministry for about 3 years and then withdrew in 1971. An education hall was built in June 1984, a branch of the Servants of Mary Sisters was installed in March 1992, and in August of the same year a new convent with a total floor area of 44 pyeong was completed and blessed and the existing education hall was remodeled. The interior of the rectory was remodeled in June 1993 and the education hall was expanded again in May 1994. The Digital Cheongju Culture Encyclopedia records that the education hall and the rectory were newly built in March 2000 and that Laurencio Bill, a residential facility for persons with disabilities, was completed in December 2015, and describes the Servants of Mary Sisters as a religious institute headquartered in Italy.

[Church statistics and successive parish priests] The church statistics recorded in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia are, in 1964, 325 persons, in 1974, 789 persons, and in 1993, 1,483 persons. The successive priests are the first Daniel Schneider, Seon Daniel (1964.12–1967.2), interim Eduardo Flanagan, An Eduardo (1967.2–6), the 2 parish priest Leo Deckmann, Ma Leo (1967.6–1969.5), interim Peter Yi Jong-tae (1969.5–1970.6), the 3 parish priest David Clyde, Jang David (1970.6–1971.9), the 4 parish priest Augustine No Gyu-chae (1971.9–1972.4), the 5 parish priest Sylvester Park Gi-hyeon (1972.4–1974.9), the 6 parish priest Eduardo Whelan, An Eduardo (1974.9–1981.2), the 7 parish priest Pius Shin Sun-geun (1981.2–1982.4), interim Lawrence Kang Yeong-don (1982.4–11), the 8 parish priest Raimundo McDonough, Ma Raimundo (1982.11–1989.2), the 9 parish priest Lawrence Jo Seong-hak (1989.2–1991.2), the 10 parish priest Bernard Jang In-san (1991.2–1993.4), and the 11 parish priest Camillus Park Chang-hwan (1993.4–). The jurisdiction is recorded as parts of Bugil-myeon and Bugi-myeon, Cheongwon-gun.

[Present situation] According to the Digital Cheongju Culture Encyclopedia, the pastoral jurisdiction is Naesu-eup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si and part of Bugi-myeon, excluding Geumdae-ri, Geumam-ri, Gwangam-ri, Oksu-ri and Songjeong-ri, and the total number of the faithful is 2,745. The Lay Council, Marian Association, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Mothers Association, Liturgy Group, Altar Society, Youth Vincentians, Choir, Sacred Heart Association and others are active. The same source judges it significant in that, having been raised from a spontaneous faith community to a local parish, it has continued its tradition for nearly 60 years.

Related places and persons

• Naedeok-dong Church, Naedeok-dong Cathedral: the parish that designated Naesu Church as a protected Catholic mission chapel in 1963, and Naesu Parish was separated from this parish (Digital Cheongju Culture Encyclopedia, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Jeungpyeong Church: the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that Naesu Parish was separated from Naedeok-dong Parish and Jeungpyeong Parish.
• Maryknoll Mission Society: the mission society to which the first parish priest, Father Seon Daniel, Schneider, belonged (Digital Cheongju Culture Encyclopedia).

References and sources

1. Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Naesu Parish” (2 volume). Parish establishment in 1964, facility construction, branch houses of religious orders, church statistics and successive priests.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/1069
2. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Cheongju Culture Encyclopedia “Naesu Church”. Development from mission chapel to parish, facility history, completion of Laurencio Bill, present situation.
   https://www.grandculture.net/cheongju/toc/GC00203658
3. Catholic Diocese of Cheongju, parish information “Naesu Church”. Establishment date December 28, 1968, patron saint the Eucharist.
   https://www.cdcj.or.kr/parish/parish/view/23031