Doma-dong Church

Overview

Domadong Church is a church in Seo-gu, Daejeon Metropolitan City, belonging to the Diocese of Daejeon. According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, it was separated and established from Yucheon-dong Parish on September 5, 1980, and its patron is the Holy Family.

History

[Establishment] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Domadong Parish was separated and established from Yucheon-dong Parish on September 5, 1980, and its jurisdiction was Doma 1 and 2-dong. In the early period after its establishment, it leased a building (65 pyeong) at 66-12 Doma 1-dong and used it as a temporary church, office, rectory, and other facilities. The first pastor was Father John Jo Seong-ok (1980.9–1984.3), followed by the 2th Father Paul Yun Yeo-hong (1984.3–1985.3), the 3th Father Paul Kim Byeong-jae (1985.3–1990.8), and the 4th Father Benedict Lee In-ha (1990.8–present at the time of writing).

[Church construction and facilities] According to the encyclopedia, on April 1981 construction began on a brick slab-roof church with a total floor area of 400 pyeong on the present site of 680 pyeong, and it was blessed on November 20, 1983. The following year, on December an office was prepared, and on December 1986 the Hanguk Apartment (25 pyeong) at 103-1 Doma 2-dong was purchased and used as a convent, with a branch of the Sisters of the Virgin established there. In 1988, rooms in the basement catechism classroom were divided and the basement assistant priest's room was renovated into a convent, and on June 1995 renovation work was carried out, including the altar, the church floor, and interior and exterior painting.

[Division] The encyclopedia states that it divided and made independent Byeondong Parish on August 28, 1986 and Jeongnim-dong Parish on August 1, 1994.

[Pastoral care and activities] According to the encyclopedia, the first pastor, Father Jo Seong-ok, focused on building the church while organizing a women's association, youth group, mothers' association, prison ministry group, and others. The 2th Father Yun Yeo-hong organized a women's choir, a recitation group, the Holy Family Association, and others, reorganized the pastoral council into the Lay Apostolate Council, and continuously helped neighbors in need through the Holy Family Association. Under the 3th Father Kim Byeong-jae, the Hana Group, the Vocations Support Group, the youth choir, and others were launched, and the M.E. movement was introduced. After the 4th Father Lee In-ha took office, district and small-group meetings were revitalized, and at the time of writing the parish carried out Holy Communion for the sick 1 times a week, special lectures in Lent and Advent, revitalization of the Legion of Mary (2 curiae and 31 praesidia), and the campaign of “offering 1 catechumens by 1 believers.” Church membership was 582 in 1980, 2,370 in 1985, 3,125 in 1990, and 2,670 in 1995.

[Directory record] The directory of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea lists Domadong Parish as belonging to the South Daejeon Deanery, with the date of establishment as August 27, 1980, the patron as the Holy Family, and the affiliated religious congregation as the Congregation of Jesus. The date of establishment differs from that in the encyclopedia (September 5, 1980).

Architecture and Space

According to the encyclopedia, on April 1981 construction began on a brick slab-roof church with a total floor area of 400 pyeong on the present site of 680 pyeong, and it was blessed on November 20, 1983.

Related Places and People

• Yucheon-dong Parish: the mother parish from which Domadong Parish was separated and established in 1980 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Byeondong Parish and Jeongnim-dong Parish: each divided and made independent from Domadong Parish on August 28, 1986 and August 1, 1994 respectively (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Father John Jo Seong-ok: the first pastor of Domadong Parish (1980.9–1984.3) (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Research Institute for Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Domadong Parish” (Diocese of Daejeon, vol. 3). Establishment in 1980, church construction and blessing, convent, division of Byeondong and Jeongnim-dong, successive priests, church statistics.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/1389
2. Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, Catholic Directory of Korea “Domadong” (Diocese of Daejeon). Date of establishment 1980.8.27, patron Holy Family, Congregation of Jesus, South Daejeon Deanery.
   http://directory.cbck.or.kr/m/catholicInfo.asp?code=201000671&gubun=4