Seokjeon Catholic Church

Overview

Seokjeon Church is a church in Seokjeon-ri, Waegwan-eup, Chilgok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, belonging to the Archdiocese of Daegu. It was separated and established from Waegwan Parish on May 21, 1979, and its patron saint is Saint Joseph. Father Min Gong-do (Aloysius) of the Benedictine Waegwan Monastery took office as the first priest.

History

[Background of the Division] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, in the early 1960s, as the number of believers grew, Father Kim Yeong-geun (Beda), pastor of Waegwan Parish, proposed the division of the parish to Abbot Vitelli, the vicar forane. As of 1965, Abbot Vitelli had secured 1,492 pyeong of parish land but did not press ahead with building a church, and his successor, Abbot Haas, also deferred building a parish. In the meantime, believers in Seokjeon-dong sought ways to expand the Church, including opening a children's catechism class on April 28, 1968. In early 1978, when Gumi was raised to city status, the Benedictines founded Sinpyeong Parish and Indong Parish in Gumi and moved to establish the 2 parish in Waegwan. The parish history of Waegwan Church records that the division of Waegwan Parish and the establishment of Seokjeon Parish were decided on July 14, 1978, and the Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia states that when the number of believers exceeded 5 thousand in 1965, a new church was built in Seokjeon-ri, Waegwan-eup and Seokjeon Church was newly established and separated.

[Course of the Establishment] According to the Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia, a committee to promote the new Seokjeon Parish was formed in Waegwan Parish on October 15, 1978, a committee for the new parish was organized on October 29, and a meeting was held at the Benedictine Waegwan Monastery on November 3. Construction of the church began on October 23, 1978. On January 21, 1979, Father Min Gong-do (Aloysius), designated as the first priest, was welcomed and the leadership of the pastoral council to serve for 1 years was elected. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia states that construction of the church and annex buildings began in October 1978, the Seokjeon-dong Parish was established on May 21 of the following year, and the new church construction was finished at the end of May.

[Establishment of the Parish and the First Mass] The Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia states that on May 21, 1979, 419 households and 1,313 people in the entire Gisan-myeon area, Waegwan 1-3-ri, Bangye-ri in Seokjeok-eup, Gwanho 2-ri in Yangmok-myeon and nearby areas were separated from Waegwan Parish, and Seokjeon Parish was established at 34-7 Seokjeon-ro, Waegwan-eup (Seokjeon 4-ri 730-1). On June 3, 1979, the first Mass was celebrated with Abbot Lee Dong-ho (Placidus) of the Benedictine Waegwan Monastery presiding. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia states that on the same day the parish naming ceremony and commemorative Mass were held with Abbot Lee Dong-ho (Placidus) presiding, and the blessing ceremony was held on November 11.

[Growth] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the parish founded its parish bulletin in January 1980, built a 1-story small chapel and a Legion of Mary meeting room in June 1983, expanded a 2-story hall in June 1985, and invited the Sisters of Saint Paul of Chartres in November. It held an unveiling ceremony for the statue of Saint Joseph on March 18, 1989, and a grotto blessing ceremony commemorating the 10 anniversary of the parish on May 10 of the same year. From 1986 onward it steadily promoted the small-community movement and the movement to double the number of believers, and on May 23, 1998 it created a playground for children in its jurisdiction. The Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia states that it was beautified through refurbishment and expansion, the unveiling of a statue of Mary, and landscaping work, and that in 2009, marking the 30 anniversary of its establishment, it made a fresh start through a renewed parish and the revitalization of all groups.

[Past Priests and the Present] The Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia states that after the first Father Min Gong-do (Aloysius), the 2 Father Jin Mun-do (Thomas), the 3 Father Lee Seok-jin (Gregory), and the 4 Father Seo Gyeong-yun (Alberto) served pastorally, the 5 Father Kim Tae-gyu (Joseph) took office on August 10, 2004, and as of July 2011 his successor, Father In Yeong-gyun (Clemens), had taken office. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia lists the first Seuferling (A. Seuferling) Aloysius (1979.5-1985.9), the 2 Timpte (T. Timpte) Thomas (1985.9-1987.4), the 3 Lee Seok-jin Gregory (1987.4-1997.9), and the 4 Seo Gyeong-yun Alberto (1997.9-), and gives the Church strength as 1,394 people in 1979, 1,583 people in 1983, 1,910 people in 1987, 2,254 people in 1991, 2,453 people in 1994, and 2,467 people in 1997. The Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia states that about 650 households and about 1,500 believers belong to it. The jurisdiction given by the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia is Waegwan 1 and 3-dong and Seokjeon 1 and 5-ri in Waegwan-eup, Gisan-myeon, Gwanho-ri in Yangmok-myeon, the entire Dogeok-ri, Agok-ri, Jungji-ri, Ponam-ri and Mangjeong-ri in Seokjeok-myeon, and parts of Waegwan 2 and 10-ri and Mullim-ri in Yangmok-myeon.

Related Places and People

• Waegwan Church: the mother parish from which Seokjeon Parish was separated (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia).
• Benedictine Waegwan Monastery: Father Min Gong-do (Aloysius) of this monastery took office as the first priest (Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia).
• Sinpyeong Parish and Indong Parish: parishes in Gumi founded by the Benedictines in early 1978 when Gumi was raised to city status (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Abbot Lee Dong-ho (Placidus): presided at the first Mass and naming ceremony of Seokjeon Church on June 3, 1979 (Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Chilgok Culture Encyclopedia “Seokjeon Church”. Course of establishment, first Mass, past priests, the 30 anniversary in 2009 and the state of believers.
   https://www.grandculture.net/chilgok/toc/GC02301433
2. Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, “Seokjeon-dong Parish” (volume 7). Background of division, establishment, new church construction and blessing, past priests, statistics on Church strength, jurisdiction.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/3209
3. Archdiocese of Daegu, parish information “Seokjeon Church”. Date of establishment May 21, 1979, patron saint Saint Joseph.
   https://www.daegu-archdiocese.or.kr/page/area.html?menu=c4&number=87&premenu=c1&srl=church_search&y_id=87
4. Waegwan Church, parish history. Record of the decision to establish Seokjeon Parish on July 14, 1978.
   https://www.wgc.or.kr/history.php