Duryu Catholic Church

Overview

Duryu Church is a church in Duryu-dong, Dalseo-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City, belonging to the Archdiocese of Daegu. It was separated and established from Naedang-dong Parish on November 6, 1979, its patron is the Resurrection of Jesus, and its first pastor was Father Kang Taek-gyu (Jerome). In 1981, a branch house of the Sisters of the Korean Martyrs was established.

History

[Promotion of establishment] According to the Encyclopedia of Korean Catholicism, Naedang-dong Parish decided to divide off this daughter parish in accordance with the diocesan pastoral policy and formed the Duryu Church Construction Promotion Committee. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia writes that in the late 1970s the area around Duryu-dong and Gwangjang Town was developed and the number of the faithful increased, but the distance to Naedang Church was too far, so the need for a new church was raised, and on August 13, 1978 the Duryu Parish Construction Promotion Committee was launched.

[Land and construction] The Encyclopedia writes that of the land at the present parish site, 200 pyeong was donated by promotion committee member Park Gyeong-bun (Benedicta) and 185 pyeong was secured with diocesan support. With a diocesan subsidy of 2,500 ten thousand won and about 2 hundred million won in donations from the faithful, construction began on April 1979 (the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia writes that the groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 1, 1979), and while construction was underway it was established as a parish on November. The establishment date November 6, 1979 is also listed in the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia, the Korean Catholic Directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, and the parish information of the Archdiocese of Daegu.

[Convent and blessing of the church] According to the Encyclopedia, on March 15, 1981 a branch house of the Sisters of the Korean Martyrs was installed, and later that year on May the convent was completed. On June 7 the church and the rectory were completed and the blessing ceremony was held together with the convent. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia writes that in early March 1990 the church extension work was finished and on April 15 a Mass celebrating the completion was offered (the same entry also gives the extension date as March 15, 1990).

[Pastoral activities] The Encyclopedia writes that a pastoral council and lay organizations were formed and various pastoral activities took place. As lay groups it lists the Joseph Society, Peter Society, Paul Society, Resurrection Society, Anna Society, Agnes Society, Franciscan Order, choir, Legion of Mary and others, and writes that the Legion of Mary has held the Acies ceremony every year since 1981 and that as devotional practices pilgrimages to holy places have been made by all the faithful or by groups since 1980. Catechumen classes were divided into an adult class and a high-school division, with the adult class receiving catechism lectures six days a week, and from 1985 Sunday school education was strengthened through retreats, summer Bible schools, and training for catechists. On July 16, 1995 a street evangelization team was formed and its launching ceremony was held, which, it writes, was given concrete form when Father Lee Chang-bae (Andrew), who emphasized that the way of loving one’s neighbor is to spread the Gospel, judged that a parish-level mission organization was urgently needed.

[Publications and follow-up projects] According to the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia, in August 30, 1992 the monthly bulletin “Duru Duru” was first published and in January 7, 2001 the “20-Year History of Duryu Parish” was published. In March 7, 2005 a Bible college for senior citizens was established and in 2012 an orchestral ensemble was founded. It writes that as annual events activities such as special lectures for parents, summer Bible school, winter faith school, pilgrimages to holy places, and clubs are held.

[Jurisdiction] The jurisdiction differs by source. The Encyclopedia of Korean Catholicism gives Duryu 2-dong and 3-dong and parts of Naedang 1-dong and Naedang 4-dong, while the Korean Catholic Directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea gives all of Duryu 2-dong and 3-dong and parts of Naedang 1-dong and 4-dong. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia gives the areas of Nowon-dong 2-ga, Nowon-dong 3-ga and Nogok-dong in Buk-gu and Bisan 7-dong and Bisan 5-dong in Seo-gu.

[Current status and successive pastors] The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia writes that as of January 2022 the pastor was Father An Byeong-gwon (John), the associate pastor was Father Kim Yeong-bin (Gabriel), and there were 2,816 registered faithful, and as organizations it lists the elementary and middle/high-school Sunday schools, youth group, pastoral council and various committees, and within the Parish Association of Lay Apostolate the Anna Society, Marian Association, Little Flower Society, Mothers’ Society, Altar Society, ME Society, Holy Spirit Prayer Group, Vocations Support Group, Ministry for the Dying, Prayer Group for Vocations, Curia and others. The church statistics given in the Encyclopedia are 898 in 1979, 2,079 in 1983, 3,240 in 1988, 3,774 in 1992, and 3,788 in 1994. The successive pastors were the first, Kang Taek-gyu Jerome (1979.11–1984.1), the 2th, Kim Gyu-tae Timothy (1984.1–1988.6), the 3th, Jeong Seong-u Paul (1988.6–1989.6), the 4th, Chae Yeong-hui Joseph (1989.6–1991.1), and the 5rd, Lee Chang-bae Andrew (1991.6–time of writing).

[Significance] The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia evaluates Duryu Church as a Catholic church needed for studying the process of the spread of Catholicism in the Dalseo area of Daegu and the status and role of Catholicism in the local community.

Related Places and People

• Naedang Church (Naedang-dong Parish): the mother parish from which Duryu Church was divided off in 1979 (Encyclopedia of Korean Catholicism, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).
• Park Gyeong-bun (Benedicta): a construction promotion committee member who donated 200 pyeong of church land (Encyclopedia of Korean Catholicism).
• Father Kang Taek-gyu (Jerome): the first pastor (Encyclopedia of Korean Catholicism, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Research Institute of Korean Church History, Encyclopedia of Korean Catholicism “Duryu Parish” (Vol. 3). Establishment by division in 1979, background of land and construction, blessing of convent and church in 1981, pastoral activities, church statistics and successive pastors.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/1496
2. The Academy of Korean Studies, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia “Duryu Church”. Background of establishment, launch of construction promotion committee, extension, publications and projects, status as of January 2022 and significance.
   https://www.grandculture.net/daegu/toc/GC40004623
3. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory “Duryu” (Archdiocese of Daegu). Establishment date 1979.11.06, patron Resurrection of Jesus, religious congregation, jurisdiction.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&gubn=4&gyogu=201000021&code=201000801&gubn2=all&char=all
4. Archdiocese of Daegu, Parish Information “Duryu Church”. Establishment date November 6, 1979, patron Resurrection of Jesus.
   https://www.daegu-archdiocese.or.kr/page/area.html?menu=c4&number=40&premenu&srl=church_search