Samdeok Catholic Church

Overview

Samdeok Church is a church in Samdeok-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City, belonging to the Catholic Archdiocese of Daegu. It was established on October 18, 1933 as Samnipjeong Church (Samnipjeong Parish) for the pastoral care of Japanese Catholics, and after Liberation it was converted into a parish for local residents and became Samdeok-dong Parish (Samdeok Catholic Church). On October 1, 2008 it changed its name to Samdeok Youth Church. Its patron is St. Therese of the Child Jesus, and its first pastor was Father Anchen (Hilario).

History

〔Beginning of pastoral care for Japanese Catholics〕 According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, when Japanese Catholics came to live scattered in various places of the Daegu Vicariate after the annexation of Korea by Japan in 1910, Bishop F. Demange invited Father F. Ferrand, who had 22 years of pastoral experience in the Nagasaki Diocese and the Tokyo Diocese in Japan, and appointed him as priest in charge of Japanese Catholics. Father Ferrand first settled in Daecheong-dong, Busan, traveled through various areas for pastoral care from the spring of 1913, purchased 136 pyeong of land at No. 15, 2 Daecheong-dong, and built a rectory on June 18, 1914. It was decided on February 21, 1916 to provide a meeting place for Japanese Catholics in Daegu as well, and on March 5 a wooden house was newly built near the Daegu Parish (now Gyesan-dong Parish) and used as the residence of the Japanese evangelization chairman. In 1920 he sold the building and land in Daecheong-dong, Busan, prepared a new meeting place in Bumin-dong and entrusted it to the evangelization chairman, and on April 30 moved his residence to Daegu. When Father Ferrand died on October 5, 1930, Father Anchen, who had served 28 years in the Hakodate Diocese, was appointed as his successor the following year on March 3.

〔Establishment of Samnipjeong Parish〕 The Encyclopedia states that under the Daegu Vicariate’s plan to establish a Japanese parish, land of 500 pyeong was secured at No. 64, Samnipjeong around 1932, Father Anchen, entrusted with the new church construction, completed the church on June 11, 1933, and in the same year Samnipjeong Parish was established as of October 18 with Father Anchen appointed as first pastor. Samnipjeong Parish was the center of pastoral care for Japanese Catholics until Liberation on 8–15. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia states that Father Pierre Hilarion Anchen, who came to Daegu on March 3, 1931, and Japanese Catholics began construction of a church building and annexes at Samnipjeong 64, a Japanese residential area with many official residences and institutional housing, remodeled them, and on October 18, 1933 it was designated as a church for Japanese Catholics under the name “Samnipjeong Church.” The foundation date October 18, 1933 is also listed in the Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference directory and in the Archdiocese of Daegu parish information with the same date.

〔After Liberation〕 According to the Encyclopedia, with Liberation the name of Samnipjeong Parish was changed to Samdeok-dong Parish, and as Japanese people returned home it was converted into a parish for local people, and on December 15, 1945 Father Shin Sun-gyun came as the first Korean priest. Father Shin died of illness on April 10, 1948 after only about 6 months in 2, and the 3th pastor, Father Yu Heung-mo, also died on November 18 of the same year after only 7 months, so on November Father Jeon Seok-jae came as the 4th pastor. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia states that with Liberation on August 15, 1945 the administrative district name changed from Samnipjeong to Samdeok-dong, so from December 1945 it was renamed Samdeok Catholic Church and became a church overseeing the eastern area bounded by Jungangtong.

〔Growth and facilities〕 According to the Encyclopedia, on April 7, 1952 Samdeok Kindergarten was opened and the Sophia Association (high school student association) was founded, and in 1956 the Eucharistic Association (middle school student association) and in 1959 the Sohwa Club (university student association) were organized. On November 19, 1960 the Samdeok Catholic Culture Center with a floor area of 328 pyeong was completed and provided cultural space for intellectual meetings, the Catholic student federation, J.O.C. and others (the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia states construction began in 1960 and was completed in 1961). The 9th pastor, Father Kim Yeong-ok, as the number of faithful grew, began church construction on May 31, 1963 and in the same year on December 25 completed a church with a total floor area of 1,000 pyeong, and on October 1965 opened a free clinic inside the church. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia states that the Antonio free dispensary was opened in 1953, church expansion work began in 1954 and the blessing ceremony was held in 1955, a Sunday nursery was operated from 1964, the Theresia Credit Union was founded on May 10, 1971, and in 1976 a road was opened on the east side of the church under city planning so the rectory and part of the church were remodeled.

〔Pastoral activities〕 The Encyclopedia states that Father Kim Yeong-ok, who came again as the 13th pastor in 1978, promoted a movement to make all faithful members of the Legion of Mary and actively pursued local mission activities such as opening a market catechism class on June 1980. Father Lee Pan-seok, who came as the 15nd pastor on June 1988, published a booklet titled “Let Me Tell You About Catholicism” and, for the Easter Solemnity on April 15, 1990, began street evangelization for the general public, which received a good response not only from the whole country but also from Korean churches abroad.

〔Daughter parishes and priestly vocations〕 The Encyclopedia states that Samdeok-dong Parish established a total of 7 daughter parishes, including Beomeo-dong Parish separated in 1951, Daebong-dong Parish in 1955, Suseong-dong Parish in 1964, Daean-dong Parish in 1965, Sincheon-dong Parish in 1970, Dongin-dong Parish in 1973, and Oksan Parish in 1983. It also states that it produced more than 20 priests, including Father Park Chun-taek (Peter) and Father Lee Gil-jun (Paul). The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia states that some areas were transferred with the establishment of Beomeo Church in 1951 and the establishment of Daebong Church in 1955.

〔Change of name and pastoral direction〕 According to the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia, on October 1, 2008 the name was changed from Samdeok Church to Samdeok Youth Church. As the area around the church became a downtown commercial district, hollowing out occurred and the number of residents under its jurisdiction decreased, so efforts are being made to convert its function into a special pastoral place in the city center, and the name change was part of those efforts. The Encyclopedia notes the same change.

〔Jurisdiction and present status〕 The jurisdiction is described by the Encyclopedia and the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia as Samdeok-dong 1 and 2, Dongin-dong 1 and 2, and the areas of Gongpyeong-dong, Dongmun-dong, Dongseong-ro, Munhwa-dong, Bongsan-dong, Sail-dong and Wanjeon-dong, while the Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference directory describes it as Samdeok-dong 1 and 2, Dongin-dong 1 and 2, and all of Seongnae 1-dong (Bongsan-dong, Gongpyeong-dong, Dongseong-ro), and lists the sisters’ congregation as the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia states that as of January 2022 the pastor is Won Yu-sul (James), the assistant priest is Je Hyeon-cheol (Peter), and registered faithful number 1,826, and cites the Ecology and Environment Committee’s ecology walk event, the Sunday School’s “Where Are You Going? - Road to Hanti” event, and housing environment improvement projects centered on the Social Welfare Committee. It lists as organizations the Pastoral Council, Lay Council, District Council, Liturgy Committee, Sunday School, Ecology and Environment Committee, St. John Association, St. Yun-il Association, Mountaineering Club, St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon Association, Association for the Deceased and others. The Encyclopedia’s church statistics are 2,450 persons in 1954, 6,473 persons in 1965, 7,609 persons in 1973, 8,068 persons in 1980, 8,685 persons in 1986, 9,129 persons in 1991, and 7,880 persons in 1996.

〔Successive priests〕 The Encyclopedia lists the first Father Anchen Hilario (1933.10–1945.12), 2nd Father Shin Sun-gyun Paul (1945.12–1948.4), 3rd Father Yu Heung-mo Andrea (1948.6–11), 4th Father Jeon Seok-jae Ignatius (1948.11–1949.8), 5th Father Park Sang-tae Ludovico (1949.8–1955.5), 6th Father Lee Cheol-hui Paul (1955.5–9), 7th Father Shin Sang-do Francisco (1955.9–1959.10), 8th Father Lee Myeong-u James (1959.10–1961.12), 9rd Father Kim Yeong-ok John (1962.1–1967.12), 10th Father Kang Chan-hyeong Pascal (1967.12–1972.10), 11th Father Lee Jong-heung Chrysanthus (1972.10–1973.10), 12nd Father Park Byeong-won Philip (1973.10–1978.7), 13th Father Kim Yeong-ok (1978.7–1984.1), 14th Father Jeong Jae-wan Nicolaus (1984.1–1988.6), 15st Father Lee Pan-seok Joseph (1988.6–1992.7), 16th Father Choe Bong-do Francis Xavier (1992.7–1997.9), and 17th Father Heo Yeon-gu Moses (1997.9–time of writing).

〔Patron and significance〕 The patron is listed by the Encyclopedia and the Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference directory as St. Therese of the Child Jesus, and by the Archdiocese of Daegu parish information as St. Therese of the Infant Jesus. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia evaluates Samdeok Church as a Catholic church needed for research on the process of Catholic propagation in the Daegu area during the Japanese occupation, the status and role of Catholicism in the local community, and Japanese Catholicism.

Related Places and Figures

• Daegu Parish (now Gyesan-dong): On March 1916 a wooden house for use as the residence of the Japanese evangelization chairman was newly built near this parish (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Beomeo Church, Daebong Church, Suseong Church, Daean Church, Sincheon-dong Parish, Dongin-dong Parish and Oksan Parish: daughter parishes separated from Samdeok-dong Parish in 1951, 1955, 1964, 1965, 1970, 1973 and 1983 respectively (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Father Anchen (Hilario): first pastor of Samnipjeong Parish (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).
• Father Shin Sun-gyun (Paul): first Korean pastor appointed after Liberation (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Institute for Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Samdeok-dong Parish” (Vol. 6). Beginning of pastoral care for Japanese Catholics, establishment of Samnipjeong Parish in 1933, changes after Liberation, facilities and pastoral activities, daughter parishes, church statistics and successive priests.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/3031
2. Academy of Korean Studies, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia “Samdeok Church.” Establishment and renaming, expansion and facilities, renaming to Samdeok Youth Church in 2008, status and significance as of January 2022.
   https://www.grandculture.net/daegu/toc/GC40004649
3. Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Korean Catholic Directory “Samdeok” (Archdiocese of Daegu). Foundation date 1933.10.18, patron St. Therese of the Child Jesus, sisters’ congregation, jurisdiction.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&gubn=4&gyogu=201000021&code=201000826&gubn2=all&char=all
4. Catholic Archdiocese of Daegu, Parish Information “Samdeok Church.” Date of establishment October 18, 1933, patron St. Therese of the Infant Jesus.
   https://www.daegu-archdiocese.or.kr/page/area.html?menu=c4&number=53&premenu&srl=church_search