압해도 성당

About this place

Aphaedo Catholic Church is a parish church of the Archdiocese of Gwangju at 53 Bokryong-ro, Aphae-eup, Sinan County, within the Mokpo-Sinan district, with St. Andrew as its patron. Both the Catholic Church Directory in Korea and the current archdiocesan parish page confirm the same address and contact details.

The Catholic community on Aphaedo has roots much older than the present parish structure. Around 1899, as Mokpo Parish expanded missionary work to the islands of Sinan, a mission community was also established on Aphaedo, and island Catholics continued their faith under the pastoral care of successive mother parishes. Current sources, however, give conflicting dates for the establishment of the parish itself, so this introduction does not state a single definitive parish-foundation date.

Aphaedo Catholic Church is therefore significant as the continuation of an island mission tradition dating back to the early twentieth century. Today it remains the local pastoral center for Mass, the sacraments, catechesis, and community life in Aphae-eup.

Official source