Sugok-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Sugok-dong Church is a church in Sugok-dong, Seowon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, belonging to the Cheongju Diocese. It was separated and established from Seoundong Parish in 1983, and its patron is St. Bartholomew the Apostle. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia states that Sugok-dong Parish became the sixth parish of the Cheongju Diocese.

History

[Establishment of the Parish] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the Cheongju Diocese, which as part of projects commemorating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Chungbuk Vicariate had promoted the construction of a church from 1983, separated and newly established Sugok-dong Parish from Seoundong Parish on May 10 of that year and appointed Father Lee Han-gu as the first pastor. Thus Sugok-dong Parish became the sixth parish of the Cheongju Diocese. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia gives the date of establishment as on May 10, 1983, while the Digital Cheongju Culture Encyclopedia and the parish information on the Cheongju Diocese website give it as on May 1, 1983.

[Construction of the Church] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Father Lee Han-gu prepared a temporary church in a building (70 pyeong) at 80-2 Sugok-dong in August 1983, and invited the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres in April 1984. As the number of believers increased, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 9 of the following year on the present parish site (766 pyeong) provided by the diocese, and in October 1986 a church (664 pyeong) with 1 basement floor and 3 above-ground floors was completed and a blessing ceremony was held. The Digital Cheongju Culture Encyclopedia states that the completion and blessing ceremony of the church on the site at 37-2 Sugok-dong was held in September 1986, giving September 1986 as the time of completion and blessing.

[Branching and Later Developments] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, during the tenure of the 3th pastor, Father Kim Seong-gyu, in August 1992, following a sharp increase in the number of believers, the parish transferred the registers of 622 households and 1,620 persons to Mochung-dong Parish, and in 1993 held an event commemorating the 10th anniversary of its establishment. The 4th pastor, Father Kim Won-taek, repaired and renovated old facilities, and in September 1996 prepared a rectory (16 pyeong) for guest priests and deacons on the 1th floor of the church and a kitchen (22 pyeong) in the basement. The same source states that, as apartment complexes were built in the Wonmaru area within its jurisdiction and the resident population grew, purchasing land for the division of the parish became an urgent task.

[Church Statistics and Successive Pastors] The church statistics recorded in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia are 686 persons in 1983, 2,040 persons in 1988, 1,814 persons in 1993, and 2,673 persons in 1997. The successive priests were the first, Laurence Lee Han-gu (1983.5–1987.5), the 2th, Paul Park Yong-su (1987.5–1991.8), the 3th, John Kim Seong-gyu (1991.8–1995.6), and the 4th, Francis Kim Won-taek (1995.6–), and the Catholic mission chapel under its jurisdiction is listed as 1 place in Mipyeong. Its jurisdiction covers all of Bunpyeong-dong, Mipyeong, Nam-myeon and Jangseong-dong, and part of Sugok-dong.

[Present Situation] According to the Digital Cheongju Culture Encyclopedia, Sugok-dong Church serves a jurisdictional population of about 31,552 people in parts of Sugok-dong, Jugong Apartment Complexes 1–3, Useong 1 and 2 Apartments, Boseong Apartments and other areas, with a total of 3,291 believers. The statue of Mary in the garden is introduced as a work by Professor Choi Jong-tae of Seoul National University, and it is stated that 2 sisters belonging to the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres serve there.

Related Places and People

• Seoundong Church: It is the mother parish from which Sugok-dong Parish was separated (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Digital Cheongju Culture Encyclopedia).
• Mochung-dong Church: It is a parish separated and newly established from Sugok-dong Parish in 1992 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Digital Cheongju Culture Encyclopedia).
• Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres: It is the congregation invited by Father Lee Han-gu of Sugok-dong Parish in April 1984 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Institute for Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Sugok-dong Parish” (Vol. 7). Establishment of the parish in 1983, blessing of the church in 1986, separation of Mochung-dong Parish, church statistics and successive priests.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/3671
2. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Cheongju Culture Encyclopedia “Sugok-dong Church”. Branching on May 1, 1983, completion and blessing in September 1986, present situation.
   https://www.grandculture.net/cheongju/toc/GC00200984
3. Cheongju Diocese, parish information “Sugok-dong Church”. Date of establishment May 1, 1983, patron saint St. Bartholomew the Apostle.
   https://www.cdcj.or.kr/parish/parish/view/23012