Sangdong Catholic Church

Overview

Sangdong Church is a church in Sang-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu Metropolitan City, belonging to the Archdiocese of Daegu. On November 8, 1980, it was separated from Suseong-dong Parish, Bongdeok-dong Parish and Daebong-dong Parish and established, and its patron is Christ the King. On April 26, 1981, it celebrated the dedication ceremony for a new 2-story church building.

History

[Establishment] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Suseong-dong Parish, which had planned a parish division to resolve pastoral difficulties caused by its large jurisdiction in the late 1970s, secured 443 pyeong of land for the present church site with the help of Kwak Bun-ok (Maria) and held the groundbreaking ceremony for a new church on April 6, 1980. In the same year, the diocese decided to establish Sangdong Parish effective November 8 and appointed Father Park Byeong-gi as the first pastor. The establishment date, November 8, 1980, is also listed in the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea directory and the Archdiocese of Daegu parish information. The encyclopedia states that it was separated and established from Suseong-dong, Bongdeok-dong and Daebong-dong Parishes.

[Church Dedication and Convent] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, after taking office Father Park Byeong-gi finished the church construction, established a branch house of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in February 14, 1981, and celebrated the dedication ceremony for the new 2-story church (264 pyeong) on April 26. The following year, on June, he established a convent (45 pyeong) in a nearby building and devoted himself to the instruction of catechumens and the re-education of the faithful.

[Later History] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the 2 pastor, Father Kwak Gil-u, conducted a campaign to double the faithful during his tenure and expanded the church on May 29, 1988. The 3 pastor, Father Choe Si-dong, provided free medical care to local residents from November 1990. Father Park Won-chul, the 4 pastor, who had planned an education hall, completed on April 16, 1995 the Joseph Hall (total floor area 286 pyeong), with 1 basement floor and 3 above-ground floors, housing the rectory, convent, offices and other facilities. During the tenure of the 5 pastor, Father Choe Bong-do, in September 3, 1998, Gachang Parish was separated and the parish registers of over 1,100 members were transferred to the new parish.

[Jurisdiction and Church Statistics] The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records the jurisdiction as the whole Sang-dong area and parts of Jung-dong and Pa-dong, and the number of faithful as 1,925 in 1981, 3,641 in 1986, 5,189 in 1991, and 5,604 in 1996. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea directory records the jurisdictional area as all of Sang-dong and parts of Jung-dong and Pa-dong, the number of faithful as 2,696, the affiliated religious congregation as the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and states that there is no Catholic mission chapel.

[Successive Pastors] The pastors listed in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia are the first pastor Park Byeong-gi (Benedict) (1980.11-1985.1), the 2 pastor Kwak Gil-u (Peter) (1985.1-1988.6), the 3 pastor Choe Si-dong (John) (1988.6-1992.3), interim Seo Jeong-deok (Alexander) (1992.3-6), the 4 pastor Park Won-chul (Thomas) (1992.6-1997.9), and the 5 pastor Choe Bong-do (Francis Xavier) (1997.9-at the time the encyclopedia was compiled).

Architecture and Space

According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the groundbreaking ceremony for a new church was held on April 6, 1980, and the new church dedicated on April 26, 1981 was a 2-story building (264 pyeong). The church was expanded on May 29, 1988, and on April 16, 1995 the Joseph Hall (total floor area 286 pyeong) was completed, a building with 1 basement floor and 3 above-ground floors housing the rectory, convent, offices and other facilities.

Related Places and People

• Suseong-dong Church: It planned a parish division and secured the church site, promoting the establishment of Sangdong Parish (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Bongdeok-dong Church and Daebong-dong Church: On November 8, 1980, Sangdong Parish was also separated and established from these parishes (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Gachang Church: On September 3, 1998, it was separated from Sangdong Parish and received the parish registers of over 1,100 members (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Kwak Bun-ok (Maria): She helped secure 443 pyeong for the present church site (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Research Institute for Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Sangdong Parish” (Archdiocese of Daegu). Separated and established from Suseong-dong, Bongdeok-dong and Daebong-dong Parishes in 1980, church groundbreaking and dedication, Joseph Hall, separation of Gachang Parish, church statistics, jurisdiction, successive pastors.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/3074
2. Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory “Sangdong” (Archdiocese of Daegu). Establishment date 1980.11.08, patron Christ the King, number of faithful, religious congregation, jurisdictional area.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&gubn=4&gyogu=201000021&code=201000827&gubn2=all&char=all
3. Archdiocese of Daegu, Parish Information “Sangdong”. Date of establishment November 8, 1980.
   https://www.daegu-archdiocese.or.kr/page/area.html?menu=c4&number=54&premenu&srl=church_search