Nongong Church

Overview

Nongong Church is a church belonging to the Archdiocese of Daegu in Nongong-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu Metropolitan City. It began in 1961 as the Nongong Catholic mission chapel belonging to Hwawon Parish and on October 1, 1988 was separated from Hwawon Parish and elevated to a parish, with St. Isidore as patron.

History

[Mission chapel period] According to the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia, in 1961 chairman Kim Jae-bok purchased and remodeled a thatched house of 8 kan that was then the Nongong branch office residence and used it as a mission chapel. The same source records that chairman Kim Jae-bok also donated the present parish site.

[Elevation to parish] The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that on October 1, 1988 it was elevated and separated from a mission chapel belonging to Hwawon Parish into a parish, and gives the location at that time as Noi 1-dong 561, Nongong-myeon, Dalseong-gun, Gyeongbuk. The establishment date October 1, 1988 also appears in the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia, the Korean Catholic Bishops Conference address book, and the Archdiocese of Daegu parish information. The encyclopedia records that, as the church in use at that time was old and small, on June 1994 construction began in Geumpo-dong, Nongong-myeon for a new church with land of 990 pyeong and a 2-story church and rectory, with completion scheduled on December 1995.

[New church and later activities] The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia records that a new church was built and Archbishop Lee Mun-hui consecrated it on November 1995 (the encyclopedia, as of 1994, wrote that completion was expected on December 1995). On May 31, 1997 a Marian garden was created and a statue of Mary was blessed, and in 1996 the Mother of Heavenly Grace Curia was established and Legion activities became active. On May 2003 a sports festival was held for parish day, on May 31, 2005 a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was erected on the church roof and blessed, and on May 2010 the statue of Mary was repainted and a canopy was installed.

[Jurisdiction and church strength] The encyclopedia gives the jurisdiction at establishment as Songchon-dong, Noi 1-dong and 2-dong, Geumpo 1-dong and 2-dong, Samni 1-dong and 2-dong, and Wicheon-dong in Nongong-myeon, and Sindang-dong, Gyohang 1-dong and 2-dong, and Gangnim 1-dong and 2-dong in Okpo-myeon. The Korean Catholic Bishops Conference address book gives all of Dolmi-ro, Geumgye-gil, Gyohang-gil and Sindang-gil in Okpo-eup, Dalseong-gun and parts of Biseul-ro in Nongong-eup and Biseul-ro in Okpo-eup. The encyclopedia figures are 208 people in 1988 and 236 people in 1994, and the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia records about 450 faithful as of 2016.

[Successive priests and chairmen] The encyclopedia lists the first Jo Jeong-heon Patricio (1988.10-1990.7), the 2 Choi Yeong-su John (1990.7-1991.4), interim Lee Jae-myong Paul (1991.4-9), and the 3 Jeong Sam-deok Benedict (1991.9-time of writing). The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia gives the first parish priest as Jo Sang-hyeon and records that since 2010 Father Bang Seon-do John the Baptist has served as parish priest (the two sources give different names for the first priest). The same source records that the first parish chairman was Lee Yong-sul Thomas and Lee Su-seung Peter served as the 13 chairman, and that major groups include the Marian Association, the Altar Society, the Cursillo Association and others, and that volunteer work for elderly people living alone and marginalized groups continues.

[Significance] The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia evaluates Nongong Church as the central church of the Nongong area in Dalseong-gun.

Related Places and People

• Hwawon Church (Hwawon Parish): the mother parish to which the Nongong mission chapel belonged and from which Nongong Parish was separated in 1988 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).
• Kim Jae-bok (chairman): the mission chapel chairman who purchased a thatched house of 8 kan for use as a mission chapel and donated the parish site (Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Korean Church History Research Institute, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Nongong Parish” (vol. 3). Parish elevation in 1988, jurisdiction at that time, new church construction plan, church statistics and early priests.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/1124
2. Korean Studies Central Research Institute, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia “Nongong Church”. Mission chapel beginning in 1961, elevation in 1988, church consecration in 1995, later activities, priests and chairmen.
   https://www.grandculture.net/daegu/toc/GC40081240
3. Korean Catholic Bishops Conference, Korean Catholic Address Book “Nongong” (Archdiocese of Daegu). Establishment date 1988.10.01, patron St. Isidore, jurisdiction.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&gubn=4&gyogu=201000021&code=201000780&gubn2=all&char=all
4. Archdiocese of Daegu, Parish Information “Nongong Church”. Establishment date October 1, 1988, patron St. Isidore.
   https://www.daegu-archdiocese.or.kr/page/area.html?menu=c4&number=16&premenu&srl=church_search