Yunil Catholic Church

History & origins

The beginnings of Yoonil Parish are connected with the Archdiocese of Daegu's program of establishing new parishes in preparation for the bicentenary of the Catholic Church in Korea. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that on November 7, 1982, territory was separated from Pyeongni, Naedang, and Bisan parishes to create “Old Pyeongni Parish.” The archdiocese's current parish directory, however, gives August 23, 1983 as the foundation date; that date corresponds to the appointment of Father Kim Gyeong-hwan Thomas of Gyesan-dong as priest in charge concurrently.

The community soon began preparing a church of its own. Land was purchased in October 1983, construction began in March 1984, and in November of that year Catholics transferred from the Pyeongni, Naedang, and Bisan areas celebrated the first Mass in the new church. A rectory, convent, and catechetical rooms were also completed, giving the new parish the physical base needed for community life.

In 1985, the parish held a contest to replace the name “Old Pyeongni,” and on May 19 it was officially named Yoonil after Saint John Yi Yun-il, who had been martyred in Daegu. Bishop Paul Ri Moun-hi presided at the dedication of the church on January 21, 1986. On September 9, 1987, an altar containing relics of Saint John Yi Yun-il was consecrated. The name of the parish and the sacred space of the church were thus directly joined to the veneration of the local martyr.

Construction of an education center began in 1992 and was completed the following year, further expanding the parish's pastoral facilities. Yoonil's history is distinctive because the practical work of establishing a new parish and building its church developed together with the decision to place the name and relics of a local martyr at the center of the community's identity.