Nowon Catholic Church

Overview

Nowon Church is a church of the Archdiocese of Daegu located in Nowon-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City. Through the efforts of Father Lee Sang-ho (Peter) of Bisan Church, it was separated from Bisan Church on February 18, 1976 and established. Its patron saint is Saint Justin, and its first pastor was Father Lee Sang-ho.

History

[Efforts to establish] The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia states that Bisan Church promoted the establishment of Nowon Church because it was difficult for it to minister to all the faithful in the Bisan, Nowon, Sangni, and Pyeongni areas, but financial difficulties made it not easy. After the Bisan Church convent was completed on July 21, 1975, the Bisan Church pastoral council decided to establish Nowon Church and began the work. With donations from other churches in the city and the active cooperation of the faithful of Bisan Church, Father Lee Sang-ho (Peter) purchased a church site of about 1,423.47㎡ (430.6 pyeong) on July 1975 and held a groundbreaking ceremony on August 1975.

[Separation and church completion] According to the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia, it was separated from Bisan Church on February 18, 1976, and completed a church of about 353.72㎡ (107 pyeong) and a rectory and catechism room of about 456.20㎡ (138 pyeong) on April 25, 1976. The establishment date February 18, 1976 also appears in the address directory of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea and in the parish information of the Archdiocese of Daegu.

[Later history] The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia states that the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres established a branch convent on March 17, 1977, launched a credit union on November 10, 1978, expanded the basement on December 21, 1980, and renovated the underground hall on January 1, 1985.

[Jurisdiction and current status] The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia lists the jurisdiction as Nowon-dong 2-ga, Nowon-dong 3-ga, and Nogok-dong in Buk-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City, and Bisan 7-dong and Bisan 5-dong in Seo-gu. The address directory of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea lists the jurisdiction as all of Nogok-dong, Nowon 2,3-dong, and Bisan 7-dong, and part of Bisan 5-dong (Dalseocheon-ro, Paldal-ro). As of January 2022, the pastor is Father Moon Jong-bae (Benedict), and there are 1,494 registered faithful. Annual activities include special lectures for parents, summer Bible school, winter faith school, pilgrimages, and club activities.

[Significance] The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia evaluates Nowon Church as a Catholic Church needed for studying the process of Catholic evangelization in the Buk-gu area of Daegu Metropolitan City and the status and role of Catholicism in the local community.

Related Places and Persons

• Bisan Church: the mother parish from which Nowon Church was separated in 1976 (Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).
• Father Lee Sang-ho (Peter): as a priest of Bisan Church, he led the establishment of Nowon Church as its first pastor (Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. The Academy of Korean Studies, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia “Nowon Church”. Background to the establishment efforts, separation and church completion in 1976, sisters' branch convent and expansion and renovation, jurisdiction, status in 2022.
   https://www.grandculture.net/daegu/toc/GC40004550
2. Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory “Nowon” (Archdiocese of Daegu). Establishment date 1976.02.18, patron Saint Justin, jurisdiction.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&gubn=4&gyogu=201000021&code=201000779&gubn2=all&char=all
3. Archdiocese of Daegu, Parish Information “Nowon Church”. Establishment date February 18, 1976.
   https://www.daegu-archdiocese.or.kr/page/area.html?menu=c4&number=14&premenu&srl=church_search