Bokhyeon Catholic Church

Overview

Bokhyeon Church is a church in Bokhyeon-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu, belonging to the Archdiocese of Daegu. On February 4, 1995 it was separated from Sangyeok-dong Parish and established, and its patron saint is Saint Joseph. Its jurisdiction covers Bokhyeon 2-dong and Geomdan-dong.

History

〔Establishment〕 The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that Bokhyeon-dong Parish received 822 households and 2,246 faithful from Sangyeok-dong Parish following the growth of that parish, and was separated and established from Sangyeok-dong Parish on February 4, 1995. The establishment date is also listed as February 4, 1995 in the directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea and in the parish information of the Archdiocese of Daegu. Father Jang Hyo-won (Joseph) took office as the first parish priest.

〔Temporary church and new church construction〕 The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that the first parish priest was celebrating Mass in a temporary tent church, and that construction of the new parish church was repeatedly delayed because most of the faithful living within the jurisdiction were working-class people without financial means. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new building was held on August 15, 1997, and the new church construction, which was underway at the time the encyclopedia was written, was planned with a total of 1,134 pyeong, with 1 basement floor(s) and 4 above-ground floor(s), with completion scheduled for October 31, 1998. Sangyeok-dong Parish delivered a church building fund to Bokhyeon-dong Parish on August 15, 1997.

〔Jurisdiction〕 The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia lists the jurisdiction as all of Bokhyeon 2-dong and Geomdan-dong. The directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea lists the jurisdictional area as Geomdan-dong and part of Bokhyeon 2-dong, the number of faithful as 2,857, the affiliated religious community as the Daegu convent of the Tutzing Missionary Benedictine Sisters, and notes that there is no Catholic mission chapel.

Architecture and Space

According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the new church, for which the groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 15, 1997, was planned with a total of 1,134 pyeong, with 1 basement floor(s) and 4 above-ground floor(s), with completion scheduled for October 31, 1998.

Related Places and People

• Sangyeok Church: Bokhyeon-dong Parish was separated and established from this parish on February 4, 1995, and the parish delivered a church building fund on August 15, 1997 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Father Jang Hyo-won (Joseph): He is the first parish priest of Bokhyeon-dong Parish (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Korean Church History Research Institute, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Bokhyeon-dong Parish”. Separation and establishment from Sangyeok-dong Parish in 1995, temporary tent church, groundbreaking for the new building in 1997, jurisdictional area.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/2614
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory “Bokhyeon” (Archdiocese of Daegu). Establishment date 1995.02.04, patron Saint Joseph, number of faithful, religious community, jurisdictional area.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&gubn=4&gyogu=201000021&code=201000816&gubn2=all&char=all
3. Archdiocese of Daegu, parish information “Bokhyeoncheong”. Establishment date February 4, 1995.
   https://www.daegu-archdiocese.or.kr/page/area.html?menu=c4&number=47&premenu&srl=church_search