Bisan Church

Overview

Bisan Church is a church in Bisan-dong, Seo-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City, belonging to the Archdiocese of Daegu. Originating from the Nalmoe Catholic mission chapel in Nalmoe (Bisan) Village, it branched off from Daegu Church (now Gyesan Cathedral), and its patron is Saint Paul (the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle). The first pastor was Father Mialon (Korean name Maeng Seok-ho, Aloysius).

History

〔Nalmoe Village and the Nalmoe Mission Chapel〕 The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia states that Bisan, that is Nalmoe, is where the Roman Catholic faith first spread in Daegu, and that its history begins with the Nalmoe Catholic mission chapel in 1909. Believers had lived in Nalmoe Village since around 1829. In 1909, Song Gi-taek, a believer of Daegu Church (now Gyesan Cathedral), donated the thatched house on his residential land of about 152.07 m² (46 pyeong) and repaired it with donations of 225 nyang collected by believers to establish a mission chapel. As believers increased, a temporary chapel was newly built on April 9, 1923, but it remained a mission chapel because of the shortage of clergy and its closeness to downtown Daegu.

〔Elevation to Parish〕 According to the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia, on November 1, 1927 the Nalmoe Catholic mission chapel branched off from Daegu Church and was elevated to Nalmoe Church as a parish. In 1932, the Sangni, Jukjeon and Naedang mission chapels were transferred from Gyesan Church to Nalmoe Church. The founding date differs by source. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia lists November 1, 1927 as the founding time, while the directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea and the parish information of the Archdiocese of Daegu list June 12, 1928 as the founding date.

〔Blessing of the Church and Daughter Parishes〕 The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia states that the Sacred Heart Kindergarten was opened on October 28, 1952, the church was blessed on January 29, 1958, and the Bisan Credit Union was established on November 26, 1958. As daughter parishes, it lists Chilseong Church (now Goseong Church) in 1958, Sangni Church (now Saebanggol Church) on November 20, 1963, Naedang Church on January 1, 1966, and Nowon Church in 1976.

〔Jurisdiction and Status〕 The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia describes the jurisdiction as Wondae-dong and Bisan-dong in Seo-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City. The directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea describes the jurisdiction as Bisan-dong 1, 2 and 3, all of Wondae-dong, and parts of Bisan-dong 5 and 6, and the sisters as the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres. As of the end of January 2022, the pastor was Father Heo In (Benedict) and registered believers numbered 1,619.

〔Local Activities〕 According to the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia, Bisan Church holds year-round events such as summer Bible school, winter faith school, pilgrimages and clubs, and holds events for local residents every year. In 2013 it held a cabbage-sharing event organized by the Social Welfare Committee, and in 2017 it held street-cleaning activities for local residents, a kimchi-sharing project, and an ‘Open Summer School’ for local youth. In the same year, through the ‘Wongogae Nalmoe Village Urban Landscape Regeneration Project’ in cooperation with the Seo-gu District Office of Daegu Metropolitan City, it decorated the church wall with themes from the history and culture of the area, such as the ancient tombs of Bisan-dong and the Nalmoe Bukchum dance. In 2018 it held the ‘Bisan Church 90th Anniversary Concert’.

〔Significance〕 The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia evaluates Bisan Church as an early church in Daegu Metropolitan City and as a Catholic Church needed for studying the process of the spread of Catholicism and the status and role of Catholicism in the local community.

Related Places and People

• Gyesan Cathedral (Daegu Church): the mother parish to which the Nalmoe mission chapel belonged before branching off as Nalmoe Church in 1927 (Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).
• Goseong Church (Chilseong Church), Saebanggol Church (Sangni Church), Naedang Church, Nowon Church: parishes branched off from Bisan (Nalmoe) Church (Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).
• Father Mialon (A. Mialon, Korean name Maeng Seok-ho, Aloysius): the first pastor (Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).
• Song Gi-taek: the believer who donated his thatched house and land in 1909 to establish the Nalmoe mission chapel (Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Academy of Korean Studies, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia “Bisan Church”. Beginning of the Nalmoe mission chapel, elevation to parish in 1927, blessing in 1958, daughter parishes, jurisdiction, local activities, status in 2022.
   https://www.grandculture.net/daegu/toc/GC40004641
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory “Bisan” (Archdiocese of Daegu). Founding date 1928.06.12, sisters, patron Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle, jurisdiction.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&gubn=4&gyogu=201000021&code=201000822&gubn2=all&char=all
3. Archdiocese of Daegu, Parish Information “Bisan Church”. Date of establishment June 12, 1928, patron Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle.
   https://www.daegu-archdiocese.or.kr/page/area.html?menu=c4&number=51&premenu&srl=church_search