Catholic Church

Overview

Seongdang-dong Church is a church in Seongdang-dong, Dalseo-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City, belonging to the Archdiocese of Daegu. It was built as part of the 200 anniversary commemoration project for the founding of the Catholic Church in Korea, and was separated and established from Songhyeon-dong Parish (Songhyeon Church) on April 19, 1985. Its patron is the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and its first pastor was Father Jang Jeong-sik (Mattia).

History

[Promotion of the founding] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the Archdiocese of Daegu promoted the construction of new churches from January 1983 as part of the 200 anniversary commemoration project for the founding of the Catholic Church in Korea, and the plan for Seongdang-dong Parish was one of them. After the diocese purchased 533 pyeong of the present church site, it entrusted church construction to 4 parishes, including Namsan-dong, Sohwa, Bongdeok-dong and Sang-dong. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia writes that the Archdiocese of Daegu promoted the establishment of 16 new churches from January 1983, purchased a church site, and entrusted church construction to 4 churches, including Namsan Church, Sohwa Church, Sangdong Church and Bongdeok Church.

[Parish establishment and first Mass] The encyclopedia records that after a groundbreaking ceremony on November 11, 1984, Seongdang-dong Parish was established as of April 19 the following year, and Father Jang Jeong-sik was appointed as its first pastor. Father Jang prepared a temporary rectory, celebrated the first Mass on June 2, 1985 in the church whose frame alone had been completed, and invited the Sisters of Divine Providence on June 16. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia records that 184 households and 630 believers branched off from Songhyeon Church. The founding date April 19, 1985 also appears in the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea address book and in the Archdiocese of Daegu parish information.

[Completion of the church] According to the encyclopedia, the rectory and the convent were completed on September 1985, and the following year on June 1 a church with 1 basement floor and 2 above-ground floors and a size of 417 pyeong was completed. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia writes that on June 1, 1985 a church with a total floor area of 1,378.51 square meters and 1 basement floor and 2 above-ground floors was completed and blessed (the two sources give different completion years).

[Jurisdictional changes and later developments] The encyclopedia records that in the time of temporary administrator Father Na Gi-jeong, part of the Bonri-dong Parish district was incorporated into this parish on May 1, 1989, and that the rectory was expanded in the time of the 2 pastor, Father Kim Gyu-tae. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia records that the ‘Seongdang Scholarship Association’ was founded on July 7, 2013 and that a bazaar commemorating the parish day was held in 2013 for the 28 anniversary, and lists as annual events the Curia pilgrimage, the Lenten piggy-bank collection, selection of vicariate scholarship students, the parish Parents’ Day jajangmyeon feast, and the parish unity sports festival.

[Jurisdiction and current status] The jurisdiction differs by source. The encyclopedia gives the entire Seongdang-2dong area plus Seongdang-1dong, Gamsam-dong, Bonnae-dong (as written in the original), and part of Duryu-dong, while the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia gives Duryu-dong, Gamsam-dong and Bonri-dong, and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea address book gives all of Seongdang-dong and part of Bonri-dong. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia writes that as of January 2022 the pastor was Father Lee Seong-do (Andrea) and registered believers numbered 1,603, and lists the elementary and middle/high school Sunday schools, youth group, pastoral council and various committees, and within the Parish Lay Apostolate Association the Anna Association, Marian Association, Sohwa Association, Mothers’ Association, Altar Association, ME Group, Holy Spirit Prayer Group, Vocations Support Association, Ministry for a Holy Death, Ultreya, Senior Altar Servers, Military Chaplaincy Support Association, Prayer Group for Vocations, Curia, and Evergreen Sacred Heart School. The encyclopedia’s membership figures are for 1985 – 845 believers, for 1990 – 2,757 believers, and for 1996 – 2,930 believers.

[List of pastors] The encyclopedia lists the first Jang Jeong-sik Mattia (1985.4–1988.11), temporary Na Gi-jeong Daniel (1988.11–1989.6), the 2 pastor Kim Gyu-tae Timoteo (1989.6–1991.3), the 3 pastor Park Hyeong-jin Augustino (1991.3–1995.6), the 4 pastor Lee Jeong-u Alberto (1995.6–1996.8), the 5 pastor Jeong Sam-deok Benedikto (1996.8–1998.8), and the 6 pastor Gwon Hyeok-si Moses (1998.8–time of writing).

[Significance] The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia evaluates Seongdang-dong Church as a Catholic church needed for studying the spread of Catholicism in the Seongdang-dong area of Dalseo-gu, Daegu after 1980, and the status and role of Catholicism in the local community.

Related Places and People

• Songhyeon Church (Songhyeon-dong Parish): the mother parish from which Seongdang-dong Church was separated in 1985 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).
• Namsan Church, Sohwa Church, Bongdeok Church and Sangdong Parish: the 4 parishes entrusted by the diocese with building the Seongdang-dong church (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).
• Bonri-dong Parish: on May 1, 1989 part of its parish district was incorporated into Seongdang-dong Parish (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Father Jang Jeong-sik (Mattia): the first pastor (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Research Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Seongdang-dong Parish” (Vol. 7). 200 anniversary project, separation and establishment in 1985, groundbreaking and first Mass, church completion in 1986, jurisdictional changes, membership figures and list of pastors.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/3303
2. Academy of Korean Studies, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia “Seongdang-dong Church.” Background of the founding and number of branching believers, blessing in 1985, activities in 2013, status as of January 2022 and significance.
   https://www.grandculture.net/daegu/toc/GC40004665
3. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Address Book “Seongdang-dong” (Archdiocese of Daegu). Founding date 1985.04.19, patron Sacred Heart of Jesus, jurisdictional area.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&gubn=4&gyogu=201000021&code=201000838&gubn2=all&char=all
4. Archdiocese of Daegu, Parish Information “Seongdang-dong Church.” Date of establishment April 19, 1985, patron Sacred Heart of Jesus.
   https://www.daegu-archdiocese.or.kr/page/area.html?menu=c4&number=58&premenu&srl=church_search