Jungri Catholic Church

Overview

Jungni Church is a church belonging to the Archdiocese of Daegu of the Catholic Church, located in Jung-ri, Seokjeok-eup, Chilgok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do. On October 1, 2001, it was separated and established from Indong Church, and its patron saint is St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. The first pastor was Fr. Park Byeong-rae (Antonio).

History

[Background of the foundation] The Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia states that although the Seokjeok area belonged to Chilgok-gun, it was adjacent to the industrial city of Gumi and its population was growing rapidly, and since the neighboring Indong Church had reached its limit in ministering to the growing number of believers, a new church was separated and established in Jung-ri, Seokjeok-eup. The Indong Parish entry in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia states that the growth of the church under the 6 pastor, Fr. Lee Hyeong-mun, led to plans for the separation.

[Establishment of the parish] The Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia states that on October 1, 2001, owing to population growth in the Indong area and the Jung-ri area of Seokjeok-eup, it was separated and established from Indong Church of the Archdiocese of Daegu, and Jungni Church began with the appointment of the first Fr. Park Byeong-rae (Antonio). The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia states that under the 7 pastor, Fr. Lee Jae-won, on October 1, 2001, Jungni Parish was separated and established from Indong Parish. The parish information of the Archdiocese of Daegu also records the date of establishment as October 1, 2001.

[Successive pastors and present situation] According to the Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia, the 2 Fr. Si Seong-bok (Paul) ministered, and the 3 Fr. Chae Hong-rak (Simon) took office on September 5, 2008 and assumed pastoral care. The same source states that the number of households of believers was 275 households and the number of believers was over 800 and continued to grow, and that as a new church it was devoting itself to building its foundation. As active organizations, it lists lay apostolic groups including the Family Committee, Social Service Committee, Mission Committee, Facilities Committee, Women’s Committee, Liturgy Committee, Youth Education Committee and Environment Committee, as well as the choir, altar servers, catechists’ association, altar linen society, Curia, Mothers’ Association, Theresian Association, Marian Association, Association for the Deceased, Franciscan group, Benedictine group and Matthew group.

Related places and people

• Indong Church: It is the mother parish from which Jungni Parish was separated (Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Fr. Park Byeong-rae (Antonio): He is the first pastor of Jungni Church (Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia).

References and sources

1. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia “Jungni Church”. Separation and establishment from Indong Church, the first Fr. Park Byeong-rae, successive pastors, status of believers, and apostolic groups.
   https://www.grandculture.net/chilgok/toc/GC02301442
2. Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, “Indong Parish” (Vol. 9). Circumstances in which Jungni Parish was separated and established from Indong Parish on October 1, 2001.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/5201
3. Catholic Archdiocese of Daegu, parish information “Jungni Church”. Date of establishment October 1, 2001, and patron saint St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus.
   https://www.daegu-archdiocese.or.kr/page/area.html?menu=c4&number=131&premenu=c1&srl=church_search&y_id=131