Pocheon Catholic Church

Overview

Pocheon Church is a church in Sineup-dong, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, belonging to the Diocese of Chuncheon. Established on February 21, 1956, its patron is the Holy Family. With the help of 6 Corps Commander General Lee Han-rim (Gabriel), the church was built in 1955, and in 1969 it was transferred from the Archdiocese of Seoul to the Diocese of Chuncheon.

History

〔Faith in the Pocheon area〕 According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the Pocheon area has deep roots of faith, as shown by the martyrdom of Hong Gyo-man (Francis Xavier) and his son Hong In (Leo) during the Sinyu Persecution in 1801. After the Sinyu Persecution, believers from other areas moved to Pocheon to escape persecution and formed a faith community, and after the first Catholic mission chapel in the Pocheon area was established in Haeryong Village, Seondan-ri, Pocheon-eup in the early 1900, mission chapels were later established in Naechon, Malgeun Demi, Songuri, Goil-ri, Ogari, Saemugi and other places. Around 1921, the Pocheon area was served by Father Son Seong-jae (James), who evangelized in Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do, and later belonged to Gaeseong Parish in 1930, to Haengju Parish from 1931 to 1935, and to Deokjeong-ri Parish (now Uijeongbu 2-dong Parish) from 1935. The Digital Pocheon Culture Encyclopedia also notes that Catholic evangelization in the Pocheon area was actively carried out by Hong Gyo-man, a native of Pocheon.

〔Church construction and parish establishment〕 The establishment of Pocheon Parish in 1956 owed much to the help of General Lee Han-rim (Gabriel), commander of the 6 Corps stationed in the Pocheon area. A devout believer, General Lee promoted the construction of the church on a site of more than 1,000 pyeong donated by an anonymous benefactor, with the help of an engineer unit. In November 1955, a 60-pyeong stone church and a 20-pyeong rectory were completed, and in December the dedication ceremony was held with Bishop T. Quinlan, head of the Chuncheon vicariate, presiding. Around the construction, Father Jo Sang-ik (Peter), chaplain of the 6 Corps, briefly served the faithful, and in February 1956, with the arrival of Father Kim Jin-ha as the first pastor, Pocheon Parish was established (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia). The Digital Pocheon Culture Encyclopedia notes that the church held its dedication ceremony on December 10, 1955 and was established on February 21, 1956, recording Lee Han-rim as the founder.

Father Kim Jin-ha visited mission chapels in various places for pastoral care, while with the help of the War Relief Committee under the United States Catholic welfare council he actively engaged in relief work for residents suffering from hunger immediately after the Korean War. He formed a pastoral council to discuss parish development and organized the devotional group Sacred Heart of Mary Association (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

〔Incorporation into the Diocese of Chuncheon and separations〕 In 1969, when Gapyeong-gun and Pocheon-gun were separated from the Archdiocese of Seoul and incorporated into the Diocese of Chuncheon, Father P. Crosbie (Jo Seon-hui) Philip of the Missionary Society of St. Columban, which was in charge of mission in the Gangwon-do area, became the 8 pastor of Pocheon Parish (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia). The Digital Pocheon Culture Encyclopedia gives the date of incorporation as December 16, 1969. In November 1970, Uncheon Catholic mission chapel was raised to a parish and separated, transferring 306 faithful from the Yangmun, Gwanin, Jipori and Munhye-ri areas, and on November 7, 1971, Ildong Catholic mission chapel was raised to a parish and separated, transferring 279 faithful from Naechon-myeon, Ildong-myeon, Idong-myeon, Hwahyeon-myeon and surrounding areas. On November 4, 1971, at the recommendation of Father Crosbie, the Little Sisters of Mary built a convent at 151-3 Sineup-ri, Pocheon-eup, consisting of a 2-story building of 44 pyeong and a 2-story warehouse of 12 pyeong, and in late November, with the cooperation of an American military unit, the sloped church site was leveled, and in August 1972 the Haeryong mission chapel hall, also serving as a village hall, was built in Haeryong Village. In August 1991, Songuri Catholic mission chapel was raised to a parish and separated.

〔1970s to 1980s〕 In February 1977, during the tenure of the 9 pastor, Father Ferrie, the Pocheon Daegon Credit Union was established, in 1978 the catechism room was converted into a library, and in November 1979 a kindergarten building of about 40 pyeong was completed. During the tenure of the 10 pastor, Father Nugent, Bokja Kindergarten was opened in April 1980 (the Digital Pocheon Culture Encyclopedia gives July 8, 1980), in May 1982 the road from the church main gate to the rectory was paved, and in November 1983 a 2-story rectory was completed and blessed. During the tenure of the 11 pastor, Father Ellis, the first meeting of the Legion of Mary was held in April 1984, the Eucharistic Association was launched on January 13, 1985, and on January 26 the youth group was separated into a ‘Gathering of Young People’ centered on members aged 26 and older. In March 1987, a mothers’ association supporting the elementary division of Sunday school was organized (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

In 1988, Father Heo Dong-seon Matthew, a Korean priest, became the 12 pastor, succeeding the priests of the Missionary Society of St. Columban who had served the parish for about 20 years since 1969. At that time, a convent was newly built within Sinpyeong Catholic mission chapel, and the youth Legion Golden Palace praesidium and the married couples’ group M.E. were formed. During the tenure of the 13 pastor, Father Park U-seong Samuel, the Songuri mission chapel apostolic group was founded in June 1989, and the Franciscan group in July (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

〔Fire and rebuilding〕 On July 11, 1990, the church was completely destroyed by arson committed by an intoxicated person. The pastor and parishioners formed a church rebuilding committee the next day, on July 12, and with funds raised through events such as the ‘Bazaar of Love and Sharing’ and donations from across the country, held the groundbreaking ceremony for the new church in March 1992. In December of the same year, on December 10, a church with a total site area of 205 pyeong and a total floor area of 204 pyeong, with 1 basement floor and 2 above-ground floors, was completed and dedicated (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia). The Digital Pocheon Culture Encyclopedia also records the complete destruction by fire on July 11, 1990 and the re-completion on December 10, 1992.

〔Since the 1990s〕 During the tenure of the 14 pastor, Father Kim Jeong-sik Thomas, renovation and extension work on the convent began in October 1994 and was blessed in December. In May 1999, parishioners joined with believers from Dongducheon, Nowon and Deokjeong Parishes of the Archdiocese of Seoul and Songuri (now Solmoru) Parish of the Diocese of Chuncheon in the ‘One Heart Family Sports Festival,’ and in June 2000, during the tenure of the 15 pastor, Father Kang Seong-gu John, more than 150 parishioners attended the National Day of Prayer for National Reconciliation and Unity in Woljeong-ri, Cheorwon. In 2003, the 2 collection to help other parishes was delivered to Sinnam Parish (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia). According to the Digital Pocheon Culture Encyclopedia, from August 15, 2005 to April 30, 2006, Bible reading was held to mark the 50 anniversary of the parish founding, with a commemorative planting on February 21, 2006 for the 50 anniversary and a commemorative event on May 1, and on April 25, 2009 the 70 anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Chuncheon was celebrated. This source notes that 19 praesidia are operating and that Sinpyeong Catholic mission chapel, dedicated in August 1980, has Pocheon Church as its mother parish.

〔Church statistics and successive pastors〕 Church statistics recorded in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia are 503 in 1957, 937 in 1960, 1,314 in 1965, 1,544 in 1970, 917 in 1975, 1,257 in 1980, 1,404 in 1985, 1,929 in 1990, 2,197 in 1999, and 2,103 in 2004. Its jurisdiction is recorded as Sineup-dong, Eoryong-dong, Jajak-dong, Seondan-dong and Seolun-dong in Pocheon-si, and Gunnae-myeon, Sinbuk-myeon and Changsu-myeon. Successive priests are the first Father Kim Jin-ha John (1956.2~1961.1), 2 Father Lee Seok-chung John (1961.1~1964.8), 3 Father Lee Sam-bok John (1964.8~12), 4 Father Jo Sun-chang Casimir (1964.12~1965.7), 5 Father Kim Deok-myeong Joseph (1965.7~1967.8), 6 Father Yun Byeong-hui Paul (1967.8~1969.2), 7 Father Lee Seung-hun Paul (1969.2~12), 8 Father P. Crosbie (Jo Seon-hui) Philip (1969.12~1975.11), 9 Father F. Ferrie (Hwang) Francis (1975.11~1980.4), 10 Father W. Nugent (Yu) Walter (1980.4~1984.2), 11 Father G. Ellis (Eom) Gerard (1984.2~1988.3), 12 Father Heo Dong-seon Matthew (1988.3~1989.4), 13 Father Park U-seong Samuel (1989.4~1994.6), 14 Father Kim Jeong-sik Thomas (1994.6~2000.9), 15 Father Kang Seong-gu John (2000.9~2004.9), and 16 Father Kim Hak-su Peter (2004.9~) (as of the encyclopedia’s writing).

Related places and people

• Hong Gyo-man (Francis Xavier) and Hong In (Leo), father and son: believers from Pocheon who were martyred during the Sinyu Persecution in 1801, and the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia notes that the present parish continues their spirit of martyrdom.
• General Lee Han-rim (Gabriel): commander of the 6 Corps who promoted the construction of the church, and the Digital Pocheon Culture Encyclopedia records him as the founder.
• Uncheon Parish (separated in 1970), Ildong Parish (separated in 1971) and Songuri Parish (separated in 1991): parishes separated from Pocheon Parish (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Sinpyeong Catholic mission chapel: a mission chapel dedicated in August 1980, with Pocheon Church as its mother parish (Digital Pocheon Culture Encyclopedia).

References and sources

1. Institute for Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Pocheon Parish”. History of faith in the Pocheon area, church dedication in 1955 and parish establishment in 1956, incorporation into the Diocese of Chuncheon and separations, fire in 1990 and rebuilding in 1992, church statistics and successive priests.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/6535
2. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Pocheon Culture Encyclopedia “Pocheon Church”. Dedication ceremony on December 10, 1955, establishment on February 21, 1956, incorporation into the Diocese of Chuncheon in 1969, fire in 1990 and re-completion in 1992, 50 anniversary events and current status.
   https://www.grandculture.net/pocheon/toc/GC05001571