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About this place
Yangyang Catholic Church is a parish of the Yeongbuk District in the Diocese of Chuncheon and is dedicated to St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. As the central parish of Catholic life in the Yangyang area, it serves the local faithful through Mass and the sacraments and continues the Catholic tradition of the northern Yeongdong region together with its mission stations. The Yangyang Shrine commemorating the martyr Fr. Timothy Yi Gwang-jae is located at the same site, so ordinary parish life and the memory of pilgrimage coexist here.
Yangyang is one of the long-established Catholic parishes of the Yeongdong region. It developed from local Catholic communities that had been forming since the late nineteenth century and became an independent parish in the early twentieth century. The community endured major trials, including political oppression, the loss of its church during war, and the martyrdom of its pastor, yet rebuilt the church and continued its life of faith. The present church is therefore both a living parish and an important place expressing the continuity of Catholic history in Yangyang.
History & origins
The Catholic community of Yangyang grew in the late nineteenth century under missionaries serving from Wonsan, Anbyeon, and Naepyeong parishes. In 1921, Fr. Choi Mun-sik established a Catholic chapel at Sangdomun-ri and Yangyang became an independent parish. Later that year, he secured a residence in Seomun-ri and moved the center of the parish there. The early parish was dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In 1937, Fr. Yu Jae-ok obtained land at Seongnae-ri, the site of the present church, and began plans for a new building. The new church was blessed in February 1940 during the pastorate of Fr. Yi Gwang-jae. After liberation, Yangyang came under Soviet occupation and religious activity was restricted. Fr. Yi helped clergy and religious cross south while refusing to leave his own faithful behind. In 1950 he traveled north to assist Catholics there, was arrested, and was martyred.
The church was destroyed during the Korean War. After the war, Fr. Patrick McGowan led reconstruction from 1952, and the new church was dedicated on November 30, 1954. At that time the parish patron was changed to St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. The present Yangyang Church is the result of this long history of relocation, wartime destruction, and rebuilding.
Korean Catholic Places Encyclopedia
Yangyang Catholic Church: history and architecture
Read about the place's history, architecture, people, and events in the Korean Catholic Places Encyclopedia.
Encyclopedia articles are currently available in Korean.
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- Last updated
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- Francisco Diary
Diocese
Chuncheon Diocese (Diocese of Chuncheon)
Official website: http://www.cccatholic.or.kr
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