Manchon 2-dong Church

Overview

Manchon-2-dong Church is a church in Manchon-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City, belonging to the Catholic Archdiocese of Daegu. It was established on August 23, 1983 as part of the project commemorating the 200 anniversary of the founding of the Catholic Church in Korea, and is also written as Manchon Church. Its patron saint is the Apostle Saint Paul, and its first pastor was Father Kim Cheol-jae (Paul).

History

〔Establishment〕 According to the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia, as a project commemorating the 200 anniversary of Catholic mission in Korea, the Archdiocese of Daegu decided from January 1983 to build 16 churches and promoted the establishment of a church in the Manchon-dong area. The Archdiocese of Daegu established Manchon Church on August 23, 1983 and transferred 450 faithful from Beomeo Church, 450 faithful from Hyomok Church, and some faithful from Bokja Church. The establishment date August 23, 1983 is also listed in the address book of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea and in the parish information of the Archdiocese of Daegu.

〔Temporary Church and Blessing〕 According to the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia, at first no church building was available, so a building of about 99.17 ㎡ (30 pyeong) inside Cheonggu Market was rented as a temporary church where Sunday Mass was celebrated. The new church was blessed on December 14, 1983, and the Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help were installed on March 6, 1984.

〔Daughter Parishes〕 The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia states that Manchon Church continued to grow and has so far spun off 4 churches: Gosan Church, Saint Kim Dae-geon Church, Manchon-1-dong Church and Manchon-3-dong Church.

〔Jurisdiction and Status〕 The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia lists the jurisdiction as Beomeo-2-dong, Beomeo-4-dong and Manchon-3-dong in Suseong-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City. The address book of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea lists the pastoral area as all of Manchon-2-dong and parts of Manchon-3-dong and Beomeo-2,4-dong, and the religious congregation as the Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. As of January 2022, the pastor was Father Kim Bong-jin (Andrew) and registered faithful numbered 2,606.

〔Activities〕 The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia states that it held and operated bazaars, the Manchon Church New Year Concert, the Mansan Mountaineering Club, the Hwangsaebawi Martyr Shrine, kimchi-making by the Social Welfare Association, sports festivals commemorating the 25 anniversary of the parish founding, summer faith schools, winter faith schools, elementary school choir contests, middle and high school summer faith schools, and others.

〔Significance〕 The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia evaluates Manchon-2-dong Church as a Catholic church needed for studying the process of Catholic propagation in the Manchon area of Suseong-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City after 1980 and the status and role of Catholicism in the local community.

Related Places and People

• Beomeo Church, Hyomok Church and Bokja Church: the parishes from which faithful transferred at the time of the establishment of Manchon Church in 1983 (Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).
• Gosan Church, Saint Kim Dae-geon Church, Manchon-1-dong Church and Manchon-3-dong Church: parishes spun off from Manchon Church (Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).
• Father Kim Cheol-jae (Paul): the first pastor (Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. The Academy of Korean Studies, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia “Manchon-2-dong Church”. Expansion of churches for the 200 anniversary, establishment in 1983 and transfer of faithful, temporary church, blessing, daughter parishes, jurisdiction, activities and status in 2022.
   https://www.grandculture.net/daegu/toc/GC40004627
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Catholic Address Book “Manchon-2-dong” (Archdiocese of Daegu). Date of establishment 1983.08.23, religious congregation, patron Apostle Saint Paul, pastoral area.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&gubn=4&gyogu=201000021&code=201000803&gubn2=all&char=all
3. Catholic Archdiocese of Daegu, Parish Information “Manchon-2-dong Church”. Date of establishment August 23, 1983.
   https://www.daegu-archdiocese.or.kr/page/area.html?menu=c4&number=42&premenu&srl=church_search