Saebanggol Catholic Church

Overview

Saebanggol Church is a church in Sangni-dong, Seo-gu, Daegu, belonging to the Archdiocese of Daegu. Its history began at the Saebanggol Catholic mission chapel on November 1, 1911, and it is known as the first church in Daegu where the French missionary Father Robert (A. P. Robert, Korean name Kim Borok) stayed in 1888. Its patron is Mary conceived without original sin, and on June 13, 2008 its name was changed from Sangni Church to its present name.

History

[Father Robert and the Saebanggol Catholic Village] The Encyclopedia of Daegu History and Culture states that Saebanggol Church began in a thatched house owned by Yi Jang-eon, who was in charge of ministry in the Gyeongsang-do region, after Father Robert moved his residence from Sinnamugol to Saebanggol (Songgol) on November 1888. Father Robert had originally established the first parish in Daegu and Gyeongbuk at the Sinnamugol Shrine in Chilgok, Gyeongsangbuk-do in 1885 and settled there before moving to Saebanggol, and it is said that via Saebanggol Church he later served as the first pastor of Gyesan Cathedral (1898), the symbol of the Church in Daegu.

[Mission Chapel Period] According to the Encyclopedia of Daegu History and Culture, when Gyesan Church was established in 1911, the Saebanggol Catholic village became a Catholic mission chapel under Gyesan Church, and when Bisan Church was established in Nalmoe on November 1, 1927, it became the Sangni Catholic mission chapel under Bisan Church. The chronology in the same entry summarizes this as the establishment of the Saebanggol Catholic mission chapel on November 1, 1911 and the renaming from the Saebanggol Catholic mission chapel to the Sangni Catholic mission chapel on November 1, 1927.

[Elevation to Quasi-Parish and Construction of the Church] The Encyclopedia of Daegu History and Culture states that on November 20, 1963 the faithful of the Sangni Catholic mission chapel brought bricks obtained from dismantling the hall of Bisan Church, tore down the mission chapel building and newly built a church, and the Sangni Catholic mission chapel was elevated to a quasi-parish. The Sangni Quasi-Parish administered the Jukjeon, Gamsan and Secheon Catholic mission chapels, and celebrated the dedication of the church on December 14, 1963.

[Elevation to Parish, Separation, and Renaming] The Encyclopedia of Daegu History and Culture states that it was elevated to Sangni Church in 1978, with Father Gwon Yeong-jo (Marco) as its first pastor. On February 4, 1983 the faithful of the Jukjeon, Gamsan and Secheon Catholic mission chapels under its jurisdiction separated to form Jukjeon Church. On June 13, 2008 with the approval of the diocesan bishop, the name was changed from Sangni Church to Saebanggol Church. The directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea and the parish information of the Archdiocese of Daegu list the date of establishment as November 20, 1963 (the Encyclopedia of Daegu History and Culture distinguishes the elevation to quasi-parish in 1963 from the elevation to parish in 1978).

[Events and Present Status] The Encyclopedia of Daegu History and Culture states that annual events include volunteer service by Sunday school students at Goryeong Seongga House, the “Dear Mother” group, the “Borok Festival” in honor of Father Robert, and a hiking club. As of January 2022, the pastor is Father Kim Hyeong-su (John the Apostle) and there are 348 registered faithful. The directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea lists the jurisdiction as the whole of Sangni-dong.

[Significance] The Encyclopedia of Daegu History and Culture evaluates Saebanggol Church as a Catholic church necessary for studying the process of the spread of Catholicism in Daegu and Seo-gu and the status and role of Catholicism in the local community.

Related Places and Persons

• Father Robert (A. P. Robert, Kim Borok): moved his residence from Sinnamugol to Saebanggol for ministry and later served as the first pastor of Gyesan Cathedral (Encyclopedia of Daegu History and Culture).
• Sinnamugol Shrine: the shrine in Chilgok where Father Robert is said to have established the first parish in Daegu and Gyeongbuk in 1885 and settled (Encyclopedia of Daegu History and Culture).
• Gyesan Church and Bisan Church: the parishes that successively administered the Saebanggol (Sangni) Catholic mission chapel (Encyclopedia of Daegu History and Culture).
• Jukjeon Church: the church established by the separation of the faithful of the Jukjeon, Gamsan and Secheon Catholic mission chapels on February 4, 1983 (Encyclopedia of Daegu History and Culture).

References and Sources

1. Academy of Korean Studies, Encyclopedia of Daegu History and Culture “Saebanggol Church”. Father Robert and the Saebanggol Catholic village, elevation from mission chapel to quasi-parish to parish, construction of the church in 1963, renaming in 2008, activities and present status, significance.
   https://www.grandculture.net/daegu/toc/GC40004651
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory “Saebanggol” (Archdiocese of Daegu). Date of establishment 1963.11.20, patron Mary conceived without original sin, jurisdiction.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&gubn=4&gyogu=201000021&code=201000831&gubn2=all&char=all
3. Catholic Archdiocese of Daegu, parish information “Saebanggol Church”. Date of establishment November 20, 1963.
   https://www.daegu-archdiocese.or.kr/page/area.html?menu=c4&number=55&premenu&srl=church_search