Gyerim-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Gyerim-dong Church is a church in Gyerim-dong, Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, belonging to the Archdiocese of Gwangju. According to the Digital Gwangju Culture Encyclopedia, it was established in 1964 after being separated from Bukdong Parish, and the Gwangju Culture, Arts and Humanities Story Platform describes it as the third church of the Archdiocese of Gwangju. It is a church connected with the formation of the Jeollanam-do Branch of the Catholic Farmers’ Association in 1973, the start of the compensation movement for the Hampyeong Sweet Potato Incident in 1977, and the Mass for the state of the nation at the time of the 1980 5·18 Democratization Movement.

History

According to the Gyerim-dong Church entry in the Digital Gwangju Culture Encyclopedia, this church was established to spread the Gospel, centered on Dong-gu in Gwangju Metropolitan City, in Gyerim-dong, Sansu-dong, Dongmyeong-dong, Chungjang-dong and Punghyang-dong in Buk-gu. It prepared the church site in October 1959, held the groundbreaking ceremony for a temporary church on March 1, 1964, and the first Mass was celebrated on August 15 of the same year by the first priest, Father Choe Yohan (John McLaughlin). The founding date is recorded as August 1, 1964.

As the number of faithful increased, the parish church was completed in January 1969, and on May 26 the dedication ceremony and Mass were celebrated by Archbishop Harold. With the growth of the parish, 200 faithful were separated to Jisan-dong Parish in November 1970, and 550 faithful to Jungheung-dong Parish in July 1972. Under the diocese’s plan to build churches in newly developed areas, on June 1, 1981, the sale of 1,060 pyeong out of a total site of 2,400 pyeong, excluding the present parish site, was carried out, and the building used as a kindergarten, the early rectory and the convent were demolished and Daemyeong Mansion was built. In 1981, a rectory, convent, kindergarten, offices and others were built as modern buildings. In 1984, the Duam-dong mission chapel was elevated to a parish, and in 1997, when Sansu-dong Parish was established, some faithful were separated to the new parish. On September 17, 2007, an education center was built and is used as a small chapel, catechism rooms, a dining hall, Legion meeting rooms, offices and more.

Gyerim-dong Church opened Francisca Kindergarten on March 1, 1971 for the spread of the Gospel and early childhood education in the area. In April 2014, it carried out a life-sharing movement, in which 126 parishioners donated organs and 22 registered to donate hematopoietic stem cells. As of December 2019, the total number of parishioners was 3,885 people in 2,159 households, and on January 16, 2020, Father Choe Dae-seong (Stephen), the 20 parish priest, took office.

According to the Gwangju Culture, Arts and Humanities Story Platform, on August 20, 1973, the Jeollanam-do Branch of the Catholic Farmers’ Association, quasi-federation in character, was formed at Gyerim-dong Church, and in 1977, under Yushin rule, the compensation movement for the Hampyeong Sweet Potato Incident began at this church. The Digital Gwangju Culture Encyclopedia records that on June 23, 1980, during the 5·18 Democratization Movement, a Mass for the state of the nation was held at Gyerim-dong Church, celebrated by the parish priest Father Jo Cheol-hyeon (Pius), with many clergy, religious and faithful participating. The Gwangju Culture, Arts and Humanities Story Platform introduces Gyerim-dong Church as the place where Father Jo Bio, who was active in the 5·18 Citizens’ Settlement Committee, served.

Religious significance and context for visiting

The Digital Gwangju Culture Encyclopedia evaluates Gyerim-dong Church as significant in that it constantly communicates with the local community and practices the Gospel through the operation of Francisca Kindergarten, active participation in the democratization movement, and more. It records that the pastoral workers include the parish priest, evangelizing sisters, the kindergarten director sister, the pastoral council president, the Association for the Deceased president, and the office manager.

Related places and people

• Bukdong Church - The parish from which Gyerim-dong Church was separated.
• Jisan-dong Parish and Jungheung-dong Parish - Parishes to which faithful from Gyerim-dong Church were separately assigned in November 1970 and July 1972 respectively.
• Duam-dong mission chapel - It was elevated to a parish in 1984.
• Sansu-dong Parish - A parish established in 1997, to which some faithful from Gyerim-dong Church moved.
• Father Choe Yohan (John McLaughlin) - The first priest.
• Father Jo Cheol-hyeon (Pius) - The parish priest who celebrated the Mass for the state of the nation in June 1980, as recorded in the Digital Gwangju Culture Encyclopedia.
• Father Jo Bio - A priest who was active in the 5·18 Citizens’ Settlement Committee and whom the Gwangju Culture, Arts and Humanities Story Platform introduces as having served at Gyerim-dong Church.

References and sources

1. Digital Gwangju Culture Encyclopedia, Gyerim-dong Church. Confirmed the background of establishment and the first Mass, the parish completion and dedication in 1969, the divisions and site sale, the kindergarten, the Mass for the state of the nation in 1980, and the status in 2019.
   https://gwangju.grandculture.net/gwangju/donggu/toc/GC60003262
2. Gwangju Culture, Arts and Humanities Story Platform, Gyerim-dong Church. Confirmed the third church of the Archdiocese of Gwangju, the formation of the Jeonnam Branch of the Catholic Farmers’ Association in 1973, the Hampyeong Sweet Potato Incident compensation movement in 1977, and the service of Father Jo Bio.
   https://dh.aks.ac.kr/~gwangju/wiki/index.php/%EA%B3%84%EB%A6%BC%EB%8F%99%EC%84%B1%EB%8B%B9
3. Gwangju Culture, Arts and Humanities Story Platform, Origin of Gyerim-dong and Gyerim-dong Church (E2024-L023). Confirmed the description that a priest active in the 5·18 Citizens’ Settlement Committee served at Gyerim-dong Church.
   https://dh.aks.ac.kr/~gwangju/wiki/index.php/E2024-L023