Dongmyeong Catholic Church

Overview

Dongmyeong Church is a church in Geumam-ri, Dongmyeong-myeon, Chilgok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, belonging to the Archdiocese of Daegu. It was separated from Chilgok Parish and established in December 1979, and its patron is St. James the Apostle. A Catholic village formed in the nearby Hanti area by believers fleeing persecution, and the parish is working to develop the Hanti Shrine and the Heukdari Shrine.

History

[Era of Catholic villages and mission chapels] The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that believers from Sangju, Jeomchon and other places moved to Hanti (now Deukmyeong-dong, Dongmyeong-myeon, Chilgok-gun) to escape persecution, forming a Catholic village, and centered on Hanti, Catholic villages also arose in Hakmyeong-dong, Sangha-dong (Songsan 3-dong, Dongmyeong-myeon), Heukgari-gol (near Dabu-dong and Geumhwa-dong, Gasan-myeon) and other places, but they were almost destroyed by the Byeongin Persecution (1866-1873). According to this source, the Namwon Catholic mission chapel founded in 1893 as part of Daegu Parish (now Gyesan-dong) was transferred in 1949 to the jurisdiction of Nalmoe Parish (now Bisan-dong), the Samsan Catholic mission chapel opened around that time, owing to the 6-25 War, was closed in 1954, and the Bakok (Hakmyeong) Catholic mission chapel created afterwards was also closed in 1959. The Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia records that the believer village in the Hanti area was formed by believers from Sangju, Jeomchon and other places migrating and settling there to escape persecution from around 1876 to around 1910 (the two sources differ in their dating).

[Dongmyeong mission chapel] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, as of 1959, land at the present parish site was purchased and in 1960 it was founded as the Dongmyeong Catholic mission chapel (the Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia also records that land was purchased and the Dongmyeong mission chapel was founded in 1960), and in the same year the Dabu-dong Catholic mission chapel and the Geumhwa-dong Catholic mission chapel in Gasan-myeon were created, with Dongmyeong as their mother chapel. In 1970, a mission chapel building was newly built with a subsidy from the Waegwan Vicariate, and in November of that year the retired Father Lee Gi-su (James) resided here and administered the sacraments. It was recognized as an autonomous Catholic mission chapel in May 1976, but when it returned to the jurisdiction of Chilgok, chapel president Kim Eop (Peter) and other believers opened a kindergarten in March 1978 and requested the Sisters of the Holy Eucharist of Jeonju to establish a branch. Through a campaign to double the number of believers and other efforts, it became a quasi-parish in July 1978 and was elevated to a parish in December 1979.

[Establishment as a parish] The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that Dongmyeong Parish was separated from Chilgok Parish and established, and the Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia records that it was separated from Chilgok Parish and established in December 1979, with the first Father Jeong Seong-u (Paul) taking office. The Archdiocese of Daegu parish information lists the date of establishment as July 5, 1978. After elevation to a parish, 2 sisters from the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres were dispatched (Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia). The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that in 1984, under the 4th pastor Father Jo Jeong-heon, with the help of Archbishop Seo Jeong-gil, 2 Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres were formally dispatched, and Father Jo Jeong-heon also served as chaplain of Huimangwon, a temporary shelter for homeless people.

[Construction of the church] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, in 1984 part of the site was secured with 1 million won donated by Monsignor Lee Gi-su, and with 2 hundred million 7 ten million won donated by Kim Yeong-min (Peter) for the new church building fund, a groundbreaking ceremony was held in July 1987 and a dedication ceremony was celebrated in May of the following year. On a site of 1,908 pyeong with total floor area of 329 pyeong, in a building with 1 basement floor and 2 floors above ground, a church, rectory, convent, meeting rooms and an underground hall were provided. Prior to this, in June 1983, the Hanti Pilgrims’ House was opened after receiving the donation of Monsignor Lee Gi-su’s private residence (Giseong-dong, Dongmyeong-myeon). The Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia records that with funds contributed by believers the site was purchased and in 1987 the church, rectory, convent and other buildings were blessed (the two sources differ on the year).

[Successive pastors and activities] The successive pastors recorded by the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia are the first Father Jeong Seong-u, Paul (1979.12-1980.5), 2th Father Jeong Chun-seok, Augustine (1980.5-1982.1), 3th Huh Yong, Joseph (1982.1-1984.7), 4th Father Jo Jeong-heon, Patrizio (1984.7-1988.6), interim Jang Hyo-won, Joseph (1988.6-1989.6), 5th Father Kang Chan-hyeong, Pascal (1989.6-1993.10), and 6th Father Yun Gwang-je, David (1993.10-). The first pastor organized the Galantus youth group and built the Marian shrine, the 2th pastor organized young and middle-aged groups, achieving the result that people in their 10-30s accounted for 40% of all believers, and the 3th pastor reorganized groups around the Legion of Mary and in February 1983 founded the catechist council and opened the Sunday school. In 1993, when the Geumhwa mission chapel was demolished due to the Guan national road expansion work, land in Gasan-myeon was bought with the compensation received and a Gasan Catholic mission chapel of 27 pyeong was newly built, and on April 23, 1995 a blessing ceremony was celebrated by Bishop Seo Jeong-deok.

[Present status] The church statistics recorded by the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia are in 1979 272 believers, in 1982 327 believers, in 1985 394 believers, in 1988 472 believers, in 1992 483 believers, and in 1994 609 believers. The Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia records that on February 28, 2006 the 15th Father Lee Gyeong-su (Thomas Aquinas) took office and about 320 households and about 880 believers participate, with jurisdiction over the Geumhwa mission chapel and the Gasan mission chapel. The parish operates the Dongmyeong Daycare Center (Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia).

Related places and people

• Chilgok Parish: the parish from which Dongmyeong Parish was separated (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia).
• Hanti Shrine: the site of the Catholic village in Deukmyeong-dong, Dongmyeong-myeon; the parish is working to develop the nearby Hanti and Heukdari shrines (Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia).
• Hanti Pilgrims’ House: opened in June 1983 after receiving the donation of Monsignor Lee Gi-su’s private residence (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Monsignor Lee Gi-su (James): after retiring in November 1970 he resided at the Dongmyeong mission chapel and contributed to the new church building fund (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia).
• Gasan, Geumhwa and Namwon mission chapels: chapels that Dongmyeong Parish administers or administered (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia).

References and sources

1. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia “Dongmyeong Church”. Hanti believer village, Dongmyeong mission chapel, quasi-parish in 1978 and elevation to parish in 1979, status in 2006.
   https://www.grandculture.net/chilgok/toc/GC02301432
2. Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, “Dongmyeong Parish” (Vol. 3). Formation of Catholic villages, mission chapel history, elevation to parish, church construction (1987-1988), successive pastors, church statistics.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/1458
3. Archdiocese of Daegu, parish information “Dongmyeong Church”. Date of establishment July 5, 1978, patron St. James the Less.
   https://www.daegu-archdiocese.or.kr/page/area.html?menu=c4&number=34&premenu=c1&srl=church_search&y_id=34