Ochang Church

Overview

Ochang church is a church in Jangdae-ri, Ochang-eup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, belonging to the Cheongju diocese. From 1957, the Ochang Catholic mission chapel, which had been a Catholic mission chapel attached to Naedeok-dong Cathedral, was elevated to a quasi-parish on August 5, 1993 and became a parish on June 29, 1994, and it has jurisdiction over the Gagok Catholic mission chapel and the Jigeam Catholic mission chapel.

History

[Mission-chapel period] According to the Digital Cheongju Cultural Encyclopedia, the Ochang area was a Catholic mission chapel attached to Naedeok-dong Cathedral from 1957 to 1991. In 1962, the faithful of the Ochang Catholic mission chapel built and blessed a chapel. In 1991, as the Sacheon-dong parish was separated from Naedeok-dong Cathedral, the Ochang Catholic mission chapel was transferred to the Sacheon-dong parish.

[Quasi-parish and elevation to parish] According to the Digital Cheongju Cultural Encyclopedia, on August 5, 1993, with the arrival of Father Kim Dong-il (John Bosco), the Ochang Catholic mission chapel was elevated and established as a quasi-parish, and on June 29, 1994 it was elevated to the Ochang parish, with Father Ahn Gwang-seong (Dadu) as the first pastor. The parish information of the Cheongju diocese lists the establishment date as August 5, 1993.

[New church] According to the Digital Cheongju Cultural Encyclopedia, construction of the new church began on May 30, 2002 and the blessing ceremony was held on April 1, 2003.

[Jurisdiction and activities] The Digital Cheongju Cultural Encyclopedia describes the pastoral jurisdiction as Ochang-eup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si and part of Munbaek-myeon, Jincheon-gun, and states that it has jurisdiction over the Gagok Catholic mission chapel and the Jigeam Catholic mission chapel. It records that groups such as the Marian Association, the Mothers’ Association, the Curia, the choir, the altar society, Ultreya and Yeongbohoe are active, that local service was provided including support for areas damaged by heavy rainfall, and that a devotional Mass in honor of Mary is offered on the first Saturday of each month.

Related places and people

• Naedeok-dong Cathedral: the parish to which the Ochang Catholic mission chapel belonged from 1957 to 1991 (Digital Cheongju Cultural Encyclopedia).
• Sacheon-dong parish: the parish separated from Naedeok-dong Cathedral in 1991 to take charge of the Ochang Catholic mission chapel (Digital Cheongju Cultural Encyclopedia).
• Gagok Catholic mission chapel and Jigeam Catholic mission chapel: Catholic mission chapels under the jurisdiction of Ochang church (Digital Cheongju Cultural Encyclopedia).

References and sources

1. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Cheongju Cultural Encyclopedia “Ochang Church”. Mission-chapel period, establishment as quasi-parish in 1993, elevation to parish in 1994, new church in 2002–2003, jurisdictional area and mission chapels, group activities.
   https://www.grandculture.net/cheongju/toc/GC00203660
2. Cheongju diocese, parish information “Ochang Church”. Establishment date August 5, 1993.
   https://www.cdcj.or.kr/parish/parish/view/23040