도안동 성당

History & origins

Doan-dong Parish was established in January 2014 after being separated from Gasuwon Parish. It began as a small community of 69 households and 189 Catholics, initially responsible for parts of the newly developed Doan district and part of Gasuwon-dong. A separate parish was created to respond pastorally to the rapid growth of Catholic families in the expanding apartment-based new town.

At first there was no completed church building. A diocesan record from 2014 describes parishioners securing a future church site, erecting a tent there, and celebrating Sunday Mass inside it while preparing for construction. In the following year the community continued raising funds through sales, increased parish contributions, and other efforts, while the diocese included Doan-dong among the newly established parishes receiving support through a special collection.

The formation of the community was not limited to preparing a building. By 2015, despite being a new parish, it was already operating the “Onyu School” for older parishioners, with programs designed to help seniors who had moved into the new town adapt to both parish and neighborhood life. The early history of Doan-dong is therefore one of a small community beginning in a temporary liturgical space while simultaneously building a church and developing pastoral care for different generations.