Seongsan Church

Overview

Seongsan Church is a church belonging to the Archdiocese of Daegu, located in Seongsan-ri, Hwawon-eup, Dalseong-gun, Daegu Metropolitan City. For the convenience of the faithful, whose numbers had grown with population growth, it was established on June 28, 2002 as a branch from Hwawon Parish. Its patron is St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon, and its first pastor was Fr. Matthias Lee Chang-gyu.

History

〔Founding〕 The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia states that Seongsan Church is the church of the Seongsan area created in 2002 as a branch from Hwawon Parish, and that it was founded for the convenience of religious life of the faithful who had increased along with population growth in the Seongsan area. The founding date June 28, 2002 is also listed in the directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea and in the parish information of the Archdiocese of Daegu. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia names Fr. Matthias Lee Chang-gyu as the first pastor and Joseph Yun Seong-su as the first parish president.

〔Dedication of the church building and the Marian shrine〕 According to the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia, Seongsan Church used a remodeled factory building as its church building and then dedicated it on November 2002. In 2003, a bell tower and a Marian shrine with the statue of Our Lady of Banneux, Virgin of the Poor, were installed on the outer side of the church building, and a blessing ceremony was held on December 7. Fr. John Kim Du-sin, who took office on September 2004 as the 2th pastor, demolished the factory building acquired in 2 stages and carried out repair work on the church building, giving the church its present appearance.

〔Pastors and present status〕 The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia lists Fr. Andrew Kim Bong-jin as pastor, and states that as of 2018, Fr. Ambrose Jeon Jae-cheon was serving as pastor. Its major groups include the Association for the Deceased, the Marian Association, the Hasang Baroo Association, and the Queen of Apostles Praesidium. The directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea gives its jurisdiction as all of Seolhwa-ri in Hwawon-eup and parts of Myeonggok-ri, Seongsan-ri and Okpo-eup, and the number of faithful as 887. The Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia evaluates Seongsan Church as a newly built church following population growth in the Seongsan area and as a case that symbolically shows the change and development of the area.

Architecture and Space

According to the Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia, the church building of Seongsan Church was a remodeled factory building, dedicated on November 2002, with a bell tower and Marian shrine added on the outer side in 2003, and it attained its present appearance after repair work following 2004.

Related Places and People

• Hwawon Church: in 2002, Seongsan Church was founded as a branch from this parish (Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia).
• Okpo Catholic mission chapel: a Catholic mission chapel established by Hwawon Church, which has become a Catholic mission chapel belonging to Seongsan Church (Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia “Hwawon Church”).

References and Sources

1. Academy of Korean Studies, Daegu History and Culture Encyclopedia “Seongsan Church”. Branch-founding from Hwawon Parish in 2002, remodeled factory church building and dedication, Marian shrine, successive pastors, status.
   https://www.grandculture.net/daegu/toc/GC40081236
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory “Seongsan” (Archdiocese of Daegu). Founding date 2002.6.28, patron St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon, number of faithful, jurisdiction.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&gubn=4&gyogu=201000021&code=201000843&gubn2=all&char=all
3. Catholic Archdiocese of Daegu, Parish Information “Seongsan Church”. Date of establishment June 28, 2002, patron St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon.
   https://www.daegu-archdiocese.or.kr/page/area.html?menu=c4&number=135&premenu&srl=church_search