봉산동 성당

History & origins

The Bongsan-dong Catholic community began long before it became an independent parish. It started in 1958 as a mission station under Daeheung-dong Parish and continued for decades as a mission community before being elevated to parish status in 1999.

Even after becoming a parish, it took time to secure a permanent church. Official diocesan reports recall a period when connected shipping containers served as a temporary church. Parishioners raised construction funds in many ways, including making and selling rosaries and other goods, while the pastor personally made crosses for fundraising.

These efforts culminated in the dedication of the new church on April 27, 2013, presided over by Bishop Lazarus You Heung-sik. The building has about 1,713 square meters of total floor area, with one basement level and three floors above ground. It includes a main church seating about 460 people, classrooms, and multipurpose rooms, together with a café intended to foster relationships with local residents.

The history of Bongsan-dong Catholic Church is thus the story of a mission community that grew into a parish, worshiped for a time in a temporary church, and eventually built a permanent home through sustained sacrifice and participation. The close-knit character formed during its mission-station years continued to shape the parish after its elevation.