Banyawol Church

Overview

Banyawol Church is a church in Seoho-dong, Dong-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City, belonging to the Archdiocese of Daegu. It traces its origins to evangelization that began around 1907 and the Banyawol Catholic mission chapel established in 1921, and on March 19, 1960 it was elevated from a Catholic mission chapel under Sinam-dong Parish to a parish. Its first pastor was Father Lee Seong-man (Ignatius).

History

[Evangelization and establishment of the mission chapel] The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that evangelization in this area began when Yu Catharina, who had lived in Padong, Daegu, moved to Buk-myeon, Hayang-gun (present-day Dongho-dong, Dong-gu, Daegu City) around 1907 after being baptized. Through Yu Catharina’s evangelization, more than 30 households received baptism and formed a Catholic village, and pooling their efforts, in 1920 they purchased a site of 77 pyeong and prepared a mission-chapel hall of 3 kan. 1 years later, in 1921, it was established as the Banyawol Catholic mission chapel by Father J. Vermorel of Daegu Parish (present-day Gyesan-dong), who visited the area, it came under the jurisdiction of Hayang Parish in 1931, and in 1945 its affiliation was changed to Sinam-dong Parish.

[Construction of the church and elevation to a parish] The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that Father Im Hwa-gil (Andrea), the 6 pastor of Sinam-dong Parish, accepted the wishes of the mission-chapel faithful, who had steadily hoped for elevation to a parish during nearly 40 years of mission-chapel life, drew up a plan to divide the parish and purchased 72 pyeong as the site for the present parish. Construction began in July 7, 1957 and, a little more than 5 months later, in December 30 a church with a scale of 91 pyeong was completed. On June 5, 1959 Banyawol Kindergarten was opened, but due to various circumstances it was closed on September in the same year. In the following year, on March 19, 1960, Banyawol Catholic mission chapel was elevated to a parish, and Father Lee Seong-man took office as its first pastor. The foundation date March 19, 1960 is also listed in the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia, the address book of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, and the parish information of the Archdiocese of Daegu.

[Settlement and ancillary facilities] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Father Lee Seong-man completed a rectory of 10 pyeong (the present catechesis classroom) in June 1962 and prepared a hall of 25 pyeong in May 1967, founded lay groups, laid the foundation of the parish over more than 10 years, and retired in November 11, 1970. His successor, Father Choi Bong-do, who came from Gunwi Parish, issued the parish bulletin in 1971, and from January 1972 carried out a campaign to double offertory donations and a campaign to double the number of faithful, reflecting the results in the formulation of pastoral plans. On July 1, 1972 the Legion of Mary Praesidium ‘Source of Joy’ was organized, and in October 15, 1975 a convent was built. The faithful organized a committee to promote the construction of a cultural center on July 15, 1975 and, after a full 5 years of construction, completed the cultural center on November 30, 1980 during the time of Father Kim Yong-gil, the 6 pastor.

[From the 1980s to the 1990s] The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary in 1982, the parents of Yun Agatha, who died in the Gosan train accident, donated the consolation money for her death to erect a statue of Our Lady of the Rosary. In the time of Father Kim Jong-heon, the 8 pastor, the first Holy Spirit Seminar was held, and on October 6, 1985 the Mass for the 25 anniversary of the parish foundation and a friendship sports festival were held. Around this time, the Word was proclaimed through a 40-week Scripture event, a magazine of the middle- and high-school student association was launched, and the Inseonghoe to help neighbors in need was also founded. Father Jeong Gi-mo, the 9 pastor, emphasized the sanctification of the family with the pastoral guideline ‘Happy Family, My Beloved Family,’ and in the time of Father Lee Chang-su, the 10 pastor, a fathers’ Bible group was formed and Cheongcheon Catholic mission chapel, which had been under Hayang Parish, became part of Banyawol Parish. In 1993, the ‘Paschal Bible Family Movement’ was conducted and the social service society opened a ‘Volunteer School.’

[New church site] The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that Father Park Gang-su, the 12 pastor, introduced a registration system for Sunday school students and resumed the plan to build a new church that had been under consideration since 1986. As a result, a site of 847 pyeong was purchased in the area of 10 and 8 in Seoho-dong, Dong-gu, and construction was scheduled to begin in 1998 (as of the time of writing of the encyclopedia).

[Jurisdiction and status] The patron is given as Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, by the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia and the address book of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, and as Our Lady, Queen of the Rosary, by the parish information of the Archdiocese of Daegu. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia gives the jurisdiction as Ansim 1-4-dong, Dong-gu, and the Cheongcheon-dong area of Hayang-eup, Gyeongsan-si, the mission chapel under its jurisdiction as 1 Cheongcheon chapel, and the church statistics as 738 faithful in 1968, 781 faithful in 1974, 1,298 faithful in 1979, 1,507 faithful in 1986, 1,829 faithful in 1991, and 2,326 faithful in 1995. The address book of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea gives the number of faithful as 2,720 and the jurisdictional area as the entire lengths of Gyeongan-ro, Banyawol-ro, Yulhadong-ro and Yulhaseo-ro and parts of Geumhogangbyeon-ro, Banyawolbuk-ro, Ansim-ro and Yonggye-ro. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia records that the registered membership is more than 1,642, with 1 pastor, 1 assistant priest and a religious congregation of sisters, and that the pastoral council, mission committee, district council, liturgy committee, social welfare committee, family committee, lay council, Gurrsilryo, Legion of Mary, choir, altar-linen group, adult altar-server group, student altar-server group, youth group, Hasomhoe, Yedamhoe, mothers’ association, apostolic associations, Banseokhoe, Daegeonhoe, Sunday school, Banyawol Bible College and others are active.

[Successive pastors] The successive priests listed in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia are the first Father Lee Seong-man (Ignatius, 1960.3-1970.11), the 2 Father Choi Bong-do (Francis Xavier, 1970.11-1975.10), the 3 Father Lee Gang-eon (Paul, 1975.10-1978.9), the 4 Father Jeong Gwang-yeong (Antonio, 1978.9-1979.6), the 5 Father Jeong Sun-jae (Peter, 1979.6-1980.1), the 6 Father Kim Yong-gil (Paul, 1980.1-1982.1), the 7 Father Lee Jeong-u (Alberto, 1982.1-1985.1), the 8 Father Kim Jong-heon (Balthasar, 1985.1-1986.1), the 9 Father Jeong Gi-mo (John Bosco, 1986.1-1989.6), the 10 Father Lee Chang-su (James, 1989.6-1991.7), the 11 Father Oh Cheol-hwan (Paul, 1991.7-1994.9), and the 12 Father Park Gang-su (Romuald, 1994.9-).

Architecture and Space

The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that the church completed in December 30, 1957 had a scale of 91 pyeong. A rectory in 1962 (10 pyeong, the present catechesis classroom), a hall in 1967 (25 pyeong), a convent in 1975 and a cultural center in 1980 were added in turn, and in 1982 a statue of Our Lady of the Rosary was erected. As of the time of writing of the encyclopedia, a new church was planned on 847 pyeong in the area of 10 and 8 in Seoho-dong.

Related Places and People

• Sinam-dong Church: the parish that had jurisdiction over Banyawol Catholic mission chapel from 1945, and Father Im Hwa-gil, the 6 pastor, promoted the division of the parish (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Hayang Church: the parish to which Banyawol Catholic mission chapel belonged from 1931 to 1945. Cheongcheon Catholic mission chapel, which had been under Hayang Parish, later became part of Banyawol Parish (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Sinseo Church: a parish established on August 2003 as a branch from Banyawol Church (Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia “Sinseo Church”).
• Yu Catharina: the person who moved to Buk-myeon, Hayang-gun around 1907 and became the beginning of evangelization in this area (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Banyawol Parish”. The mission-chapel period and the establishment of the mission chapel in 1921, the construction of the church in 1957, the elevation to a parish in 1960, successive priests, activities by year, church statistics, and jurisdiction.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/2351
2. Academy of Korean Studies, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia “Banyawol Church”. Foundation on March 19, 1960, first pastor, background of the establishment of the mission chapel, organization of the praesidium in 1972 and completion of the cultural center in 1980, and current status.
   https://www.grandculture.net/daegu/toc/GC40020972
3. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory “Banyawol” (Archdiocese of Daegu). Foundation date 1960.03.19, patron Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, number of faithful, jurisdictional area.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&gubn=4&gyogu=201000021&code=201000811&gubn2=all&char=all
4. Catholic Archdiocese of Daegu, Parish Information “Banyawol Church”. Date of establishment March 19, 1960, patron saint Our Lady, Queen of the Rosary.
   https://www.daegu-archdiocese.or.kr/page/area.html?menu=c4&number=44&premenu&srl=church_search