About this place
Little Sisters of the Poor, Gwangju Convent, is a women's religious community in Damyang within the Archdiocese of Gwangju. Both the Catholic Church Directory in Korea and the archdiocesan directory identify the community by this name at the same location. The congregation carries forward the spirituality of St. Jeanne Jugan, centering its apostolate on welcoming and caring for elderly people who are poor and have little support.
In the congregation's spirituality, hospitality is more than a form of social service. It means recognizing Christ in the elderly, safeguarding their dignity, and accompanying them with humility and love through the final stages of life. The Damyang community belongs within this same mission, joining prayer and religious community life with service to elderly people in need.
This place is therefore best understood not as an ordinary parish church but as a religious community where consecrated life and an apostolate to the elderly come together. It offers a concrete view of Catholic religious life shaped by hospitality, humility, and service among the poor.
History & origins
The Little Sisters of the Poor began in France through the work of St. Jeanne Jugan, who cared for elderly people who were poor and without support. In Korea, three sisters sent from the French motherhouse began their mission in 1971, and the first Korean community was established in Cheongju in 1973.
The congregation later expanded its apostolate to Suwon, Wanju, Seoul, and other places. In 2001 it opened the House of the Heart of Jesus in Damyang, Jeollanam-do. The Catholic Church Directory in Korea currently registers the community at 9-8 Madu-gil, Damyang-eup as the congregation's Gwangju convent.
The history of the Damyang community is therefore best understood as part of the congregation's Korean mission that began in the early 1970s and took firm local root with the establishment of a center for the care of the elderly in Damyang in 2001.
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Building information
- Passenger elevators: 0
- 3 above-ground floors · 1 below-ground floors
- Approved for use in 2002
- Total floor area: 9,092㎡
Building-register record · · Source
Accessibility information
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Sources and updates
- Information Status
- Official
- Source
- Official source
- Data freshness
- Fresh
- Last updated
- Source
- 한국천주교주교회의 온라인 주소록
Diocese
Gwangju Archdiocese (Archdiocese of Gwangju)
Official website: https://www.gjcatholic.or.kr/
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