Blessed Church

Overview

Bokja Church is a church of the Archdiocese of Daegu located in Sincheon-dong, Dong-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City. As a martyr-memorial parish erected by the Archdiocese of Daegu to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Byeongin Persecution, it was established on January 1, 1970, renamed Sincheon-dong Parish on March 1988, and restored to Bokja Parish on April 8, 1999. Its patron is Saint Andrew Kim Dae-geon.

History

〔Decision to establish a martyr-memorial parish〕 The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that the Archdiocese of Daegu decided on November 9, 1964, as one of the projects for the 100th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Byeongin Persecution, to establish a martyr-memorial parish in Sincheon-dong and conducted a fundraising campaign among all diocesan faithful. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia also records that the Korean Catholic Church decided to build a memorial church in each diocese to honor the martyrs’ spirit for the 100th anniversary of the Byeongin Persecution in 1866, and that the Archdiocese of Daegu launched a preparatory committee for the martyr-memorial church on November 9, 1964 and set up branch organizations to promote the building campaign in each parish.

〔Church construction and parish establishment〕 According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, with that fund construction of a new church began on October 17, 1966 and a church of 220 pyeong was completed on December 1969, after about 3 years, and Bokja Parish was established the following year on January 1. The encyclopedia records that it was separated and erected from Samdeok-dong Parish on January 1, 1970. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia records that in 1965 the fundraising campaign and the groundbreaking for the church building took place, that from September 12, 1966 to the 28th a touring Martyrs’ Night was held in parishes for the 100th anniversary year of the martyrdom, and that on January 1, 1970, about 5 years after groundbreaking, the church was completed and raised to parish status. The establishment date January 1, 1970 also appears in the address book of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea and in the parish information of the Archdiocese of Daegu.

〔Martyr statues and remains〕 The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that Father Seo Jeong-gil, who was ordained on December 12, 1967 and took office as the first pastor, erected a statue of Blessed Kim Dae-geon in July 1970, the year he took office, and erected a statue of the Virgin Mary on August. The 3th pastor, Father Lee Chang-ho, in order to give the parish the character of a martyrs’ memorial parish, transferred on October 1973 from the diocesan cemetery in Gamcheon-ri to the church the remains of 3 martyrs, including Heo In-baek (James), Kim Jong-ryun (Luke) and Lee Yang-deung (Peter), who had lived together in the Catholic village of Eonyang Daejae (Jukryeong) and were martyred during the Byeongin Persecution. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia records that the statue of Father Saint Kim Dae-geon was blessed on July 5, 1970, and that on October 19, 1973 the remains of these 3 martyrs, martyred in Ulsan, were moved from the Catholic cemetery in Gamcheon-ri to Bokja Church, giving it the character of a memorial church honoring the martyrs.

〔Expansion of facilities〕 According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, in the time of the 4th pastor, Father Lee Dae-gil, the rectory was completed on February 1979 and Bokja Hall for catechesis and meetings was built on September 1981. The 5th pastor, Father Lee Seong-u, prepared a meeting room inside the church on July 1983 and completed the convent the following year on October, and created a Marian grotto on August 1985 and expanded Bokja Hall in the same year on December. In the time of the 7st pastor, Father Yun Gwang-je, a continuous Eucharistic adoration chapel was established on June 2, 1991 for the first time in the diocese, and the 8nd pastor, Father Jang Tae-sik, expanded the rectory and convent buildings on August 1994.

〔Activities and name changes〕 The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that the parish holds every year a festival for the unity and sharing of all the faithful, carries out free medical volunteer service for villages without doctors, and holds open concerts and plays for youth. It states that the Marian statue was refurbished on May 2000, and that, centered on the 9th pastor, Father Choe Si-dong, prayers are continuously offered for the beatification of 3 martyrs included in the list of candidates for beatification of the Archdiocese of Daegu. Its original name was ‘Bokja Parish,’ but it was changed to Sincheon-dong Parish on March 1988 and restored again to Bokja Parish on April 8, 1999.

〔Jurisdiction and statistics〕 The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia gives the jurisdiction as all of Sincheon 1- and 3-dong and parts of Sincheon 2- and 4-dong, Beomeo 3-dong in Suseong-gu, and part of Suseong 4-ga, and gives the statistics as 1,599 faithful in 1971, 3,565 in 1980, 5,450 in 1990, and 5,264 in 1999. The address book of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea gives the religious community as the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres, the number of faithful as 3,261, and the jurisdiction as part of Beomeo 3-dong and Sincheon 1- and 2-dong. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia records about 2,499 registered members, 1 pastor, 1 assistant pastor, a religious community, and active groups including the pastoral council, district council, lay council, youth association, choir, Association for the Deceased, Bokja Sunday School and mothers’ association.

〔Successive pastors〕 The pastors listed in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia are the first Seo Jeong-gil (John, 1970.1~10), 2th Jeon Dal-chul (Thomas Aquinas, 1970.10~1972.10), 3th Lee Chang-ho (Andrew, 1972.10~1977.7), 4th Lee Dae-gil (Simeon, 1977.7~1982.5), 5th Lee Seong-u (Achilleo, 1982.5~1987.1), 6rd Jeong Sun-jae (Peter, 1987.1~1990.6), 7th Yun Gwang-je (David, 1990.6~1993.10), 8th Jang Tae-sik (Rino, 1993.10~1998.8), and 9nd Choe Si-dong (John, 1998.8~).

Architecture and Space

The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that the church completed on December 1969 measured 220 pyeong. Afterwards followed the rectory in 1979, Bokja Hall in 1981 (expanded in 1985), the convent in 1984, the Marian grotto in 1985, the continuous Eucharistic adoration chapel in 1991, and the rectory-convent expansion in 1994.

Related Places and Figures

• Heo In-baek (James), Kim Jong-ryun (Luke), Lee Yang-deung (Peter): 3 martyrs martyred during the Byeongin Persecution, whose remains were moved in 1973 from the diocesan cemetery in Gamcheon-ri to Bokja Church (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).
• Samdeok-dong Church: the mother parish from which Bokja Parish was separated in 1970 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Hyomok Church: a parish separated and established from Bokja Church on July 1977 (Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia “Hyomok Church”).
• Father Seo Jeong-gil (John): the first pastor of Bokja Parish (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Sincheon-dong Parish” (Bokja Parish). Decision to establish a martyr-memorial parish, church construction in 1966~1969, establishment in 1970, transfer of martyrs’ remains, successive pastors, facility expansion, name changes, statistics.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/3971
2. The Academy of Korean Studies, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia “Bokja Church.” Building of a church for the 100th anniversary of the Byeongin Persecution, establishment on January 1, 1970, blessing of statues and transfer of martyrs’ remains, present status.
   https://www.grandculture.net/daegu/toc/GC40020973
3. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory “Bokja” (Archdiocese of Daegu). Establishment date 1970.01.01, religious community, patron Saint Andrew Kim Dae-geon, number of faithful, jurisdiction.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&gubn=4&gyogu=201000021&code=201000815&gubn2=all&char=all
4. Archdiocese of Daegu, Parish Information “Bokja Church.” Date of establishment January 1, 1970, patron Saint Andrew Kim Dae-geon.
   https://www.daegu-archdiocese.or.kr/page/area.html?menu=c4&number=46&premenu&srl=church_search