Geojin Catholic Church

Overview

Geojin Church is a church in Geojin-eup, Goseong County, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, belonging to the Diocese of Chuncheon, and was established after separation from Ganseong Parish in 1976. Its patron is Our Lady of Victory, and the first pastor, Father Huberto Oh Nam-seong (Hubert Hayward), purchased the church site with an inheritance received from his parents and built the church building. As for the date of establishment, the Chuncheon Diocese website gives August 16, while the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia gives September 1.

History

[Establishment of the Parish] The Chuncheon Diocese website states that Geojin Our Lady of Victory Parish was separated and established from Ganseong Parish on August 16, 1976 and that its patron is ‘Our Lady of Victory.’ The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia states that it was separated and established from Ganseong Parish on September 1, 1976 and that its patron is ‘Our Lady of Victory.’ At the time of establishment, its jurisdiction covered Geojin-eup and Hyeonnae-myeon in Goseong County.

[First Pastor and Construction of the Church Building] According to the Chuncheon Diocese website, Father Huberto Oh Nam-seong, who took office as the first pastor, purchased the church site with an inheritance received from his parents and thus built the present church building. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia states that the number of the faithful at the time of establishment was about 500, that it at one point grew to about 700, but after repeated increases and decreases it recorded 594 faithful as of 1993.

[Religious Community and Annex Facilities] The Chuncheon Diocese website states that the ‘Mirinae Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary,’ which had entered on February 1992 to assist in the ministry of the parish, voluntarily withdrew on February 28, 2011. It says the parish built in 2007 a building that can be used as an education hall and retreat facility, and that it is used as a facility available to young people and the faithful from city parishes during the vacation season.

[Successive Pastors] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the first parish pastor was Father Hayward (Hubert Hayward, Huberto Oh Nam-seong) (1976–1989), the 2 pastor was Father Nugent (Walter Nugent, Walter Yu) (1989–1991.4), and the 3 pastor was Father Laurencio Choi Il-ho (1991.4–present). Here, ‘present’ means the time of writing of this encyclopedia. The encyclopedia lists the Mirinae Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary as the active religious community.

Related Places and People

• Ganseong Parish: The mother parish from which Geojin Parish was separated (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Chuncheon Diocese website).
• Father Huberto Oh Nam-seong (Hubert Hayward): The first pastor, who purchased the church site with an inheritance received from his parents and built the church building (Chuncheon Diocese website, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Mirinae Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary: They entered the parish on February 1992 to assist in ministry and voluntarily withdrew on February 28, 2011 (Chuncheon Diocese website).

References and Sources

1. Research Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, “Geojin Parish” (vol. 1). Separation and establishment from Ganseong Parish in 1976, number of the faithful at establishment and jurisdiction, successive pastors, and active religious community.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/260
2. Chuncheon Diocese website, parish “Geojin Our Lady of Victory Parish.” Year of establishment 1976.08.16., separation from Ganseong Parish, purchase of the site and construction of the church building by the first pastor, withdrawal of the sisters, and education hall and retreat facility in 2007.
   https://www.cccatholic.or.kr/parish/parish/view/26