Mannyeondong Catholic Church

History & origins

Mannyeon-dong Parish was established in 2002 after being separated from Wolpyeong-dong Parish in response to the growth of the Catholic population in the new urban district of Seo-gu, Daejeon. The Catholic Times reported that the Diocese of Daejeon established Mannyeon-dong Parish in January 2002 with jurisdiction over Mannyeon-dong and Wolpyeong 2-dong. A later dedication article describes the separation as occurring in early February, so the exact administrative date varies by source, but the sources agree that the parish was separated from Wolpyeong-dong in 2002.

The early community had no church building of its own and used rented commercial premises as its worship space. For a number of years, liturgy and catechesis continued in temporary and rented locations while the parish prepared to obtain an independent church. After a long process, the community entered the new church in September 2013, and construction was completed on December 15 of that year, giving the parish a more stable space for worship and formation.

Even after the building was completed, the community continued spiritual and financial preparation for formal dedication. Parishioners undertook Scripture transcription and the Rosary among other communal practices, and on April 29, 2018, the church was dedicated in a Mass presided over by Bishop Lazarus You Heung-sik. Several years after beginning in rented premises, the parish formally offered its own church for sacred use.

The stained glass in the church, created by artist Jeon Young-shin, was also presented as a prize-winning work in the Catholic Art Awards. This shows that the formation of Mannyeon-dong’s church went beyond completing a building and continued through the addition of sacred art that gives visual expression to the faith and memory of the community.