Jindo Church

Overview

Jindo Church is a church in Jindo-eup, Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do, belonging to the Archdiocese of Gwangju. In November 1954 it was separated from Sanjeong-dong Parish to become a parish, and its first pastor was Father Jang Ok-seok Lucio. According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, its patron is Queen of Heaven and Earth, and in January 2002 Jingil Parish was separated from Jindo Parish.

History

〔Introduction of the Gospel to Jindo〕 The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that the introduction of the Gospel to the Jindo region began around 1870 when a French priest in charge of mission in Jeju met a storm while sailing to Mokpo and landed at Donggu-ri, Jodo to evangelize. As a result of evangelization, from 1900 to 1904 3 Catholic mission chapels were established in the areas of Jodo and Inji-ri, Jisan-myeon, the early chapels used purchased private houses, and all were administered by Mokpo Parish (now Sanjeong-dong). The Digital Jindo Culture Encyclopedia records that this French priest settled in Donggu-ri, Sangjodo, and 30 years later, in 1900-1904, Donggu-ri Chapel, Changyu-ri Chapel and Inji-ri Chapel opened in succession, and the first pastor of Mokpo Sanjeong-dong Parish, Father Deae (Jo Yu-do), administered 3 chapels until 1909 and began baptisms and catechumen instruction.

〔Period under Mokpo Parish〕 The encyclopedia records that when the pastor of generation 4 of Mokpo Parish, Father Cannell (Gan Hong-mo), was mobilized for World War 1 (1914-1918) and returned to his home country, Father Lacru (Gu Ma-seul) of Jeju Parish temporarily took charge of Mokpo Parish for more than 1 years, and although this absence of the pastor also affected the chapels under its jurisdiction, after 1915 priests were again dispatched to Mokpo Parish and faith activities became active. The pastor of generation 11 of Mokpo Parish, Father Choe Deok-hong (John), began evangelization in the Sindong area of Dunjeon-ri, Gunnae-myeon, this area became a chapel under Mokpo Parish in August 1951, and the chapel building was blessed by Bishop Henry in August 1952. The Digital Jindo Culture Encyclopedia records that in August 1951 Sindong Chapel in Gunnae-myeon was opened as the fourth chapel under Sanjeong-dong Parish.

〔Preparation for elevation to parish〕 According to the Digital Jindo Culture Encyclopedia, in September 1951 Father An (Thomas Moran) of Sanjeong-dong Parish dispatched Go Gwang-min (Peter) as Jindo evangelization president and purchased a hanok at the site of the present Jindo Church. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that the pastor of generation 14 of Sanjeong-dong Parish, Father Moran, purchased a hanok at 586 Namdong-ri, Jindo-eup in September 1952 in preparation for parish division and purchased a hanok in Sopo-ri, Jisan-myeon to open a chapel, and the pastor of generation 16, Father Savage (Won), also opened a chapel in Wolga-ri, Gunnae-myeon. The Digital Jindo Culture Encyclopedia records that Go Gwang-min purchased a hanok in Sopo-ri, Jisan-myeon to open a chapel and appointed Kim Benedict as first chapel president and worked for evangelization together with O Gi-seop (Peter), father of Father O Yo-han from present Sopo-ri.

〔Establishment of the parish〕 Bishop Henry, head of the Gwangju Diocese, separated all chapels in Jindo-gun from Sanjeong-dong Parish in November 1954, elevated them to Jindo Parish, and appointed Father Jang Ok-seok as first pastor (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia). The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia gives the date of establishment as November 7, 1954, and the Digital Jindo Culture Encyclopedia gives the date of elevation as November 17, 1954, differing by source. The Digital Jindo Culture Encyclopedia records that at that time there were 52 parish faithful, 53 chapel faithful, and more than 1 hundred catechumens.

〔New church construction and early chapels〕 Father Jang Ok-seok built a 52-pyeong church on the site already purchased by Father Moran and held the dedication ceremony in October 1956 (the Digital Jindo Culture Encyclopedia gives the date as October 18, 1956). During his tenure he carried out charitable work for poor local residents with relief grain from American aid, Osan, Nari, Myeonggeum and Jeongjari Chapels were opened in 1957, and Sopo and Wolga-ri Chapels were newly built in 1958 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia). The Digital Jindo Culture Encyclopedia records that in this period chapels were opened in Osan-ri, Gogun-myeon, Nari, Jeongjari and Wolga-ri, Gunnae-myeon, Sopo-ri, Jisan-myeon, and Myeonggeum-ri, Uisin-myeon.

〔Late 1950-1970〕 The pastor of generation 2, Father Cotter (Ju) Jeremiah, opened Sindong Chapel and Eungdeok Chapel in Uisin-myeon and, along with relief work, aided the Sindong reclamation project with much skim milk powder and distributed the newly created farmland to poor farmers. The pastor of generation 3, Father Muldoon (Jo) Patricio, worked for the revitalization of the chapels and completed a rectory of 50 pyeong in 1959. The pastor of generation 5, Father Lee Sang-cheol Hilario, prepared a parish site of 1,200 pyeong at Sindong Chapel in 1966 and laid the foundation for a chapel self-support fund. The pastor of generation 6, Father Lee Cheon-su Lazaro, prepared the parish bier, and the pastor of generation 7, Father Seo Sang-chae Justino, designated November 5 as Parish Day to promote friendship and unity among all faithful in the county (all Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

〔1980-2000〕 The pastor of generation 10, Father Choe Hyeong-rak Paul, promoted the construction of a convent to assist the pastoral care of the parish and 12 chapels, completed the convent building (20 pyeong) in June 1980, and established a branch of the Society of the Holy Word. The pastor of generation 11, Father Jo Cheol-hyeon Pio, built the parish bell tower, repaired the rectory, and erected a statue of Mary at Sindong Chapel. The pastor of generation 12, Father Jang Ji-gwon John, completed the Seokgyo Chapel hall in October 1985, repaired the rectory, and purchased the altar of the church. The pastor of generation 15, Father Kim Jong-bok Ignatius, completed a 3-story church (322 square meters) in July 1995 and held the dedication ceremony. The pastor of generation 16, Father Kim Jeong-hyeon John, completed the rectory and the convent in April 2000 and held the blessing ceremony, and the pastor of generation 17, Father Kim Jong-ju Luke, separated and established Jingil Parish in January 2002 (all Korean Catholic Encyclopedia). The Digital Jindo Culture Encyclopedia records that the pastor of generation 11, Father Jo Hyeon-cheol, opened Seokgyo Chapel in Imhoe-myeon in 1985, and on January 22, 2002 Yu Jingil Parish was separated from Jindo Parish and Father Lee Jun-han took office as first pastor. Afterwards, Uisin Chapel in Donji-ri, Uisin-myeon and Gagye Chapel in Gogun-myeon were opened (Digital Jindo Culture Encyclopedia).

〔Present situation〕 The Digital Jindo Culture Encyclopedia records that the chapels, which had grown to 2 parishes and 14 chapels under them, gradually faced difficulties due to population decline, aging and economic hardship in Jindo, the number of faithful decreased, and the need to restore old buildings was raised. As of 2006, Jindo Parish administers 3 places, Seokgyo Chapel, Inji Chapel and Sopo Chapel, and Yu Jingil Parish administers 9 chapels, Nari, Sindong, Osan, Gagye, Yeonju, Donji, Myeonggeum, Changyu and Donggu.

〔Church statistics and successive pastors〕 The church statistics recorded by the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia are 2,197 persons in 1973, 2,400 persons in 1978, 2,695 persons in 1983, 3,023 persons in 1988, 3,146 persons in 1992, 2,913 persons in 1996, and 2,307 persons in 2001. The jurisdictional area is all areas of Jindo-eup, Imhoe-myeon and Jisan-myeon. The successive priests are the first Father Jang Ok-seok Lucio (1954.11-1959.6), generation 2 Father Cotter (Ju) Jeremiah (1959.6-10), generation 3 Father Muldoon (Jo) Patricio (1959.10-1965.5), generation 4 Father Raban (Sim) Laurentius (1965.11-1966.10), generation 5 Father Lee Sang-cheol Hilario (1966.10-1968.6), generation 6 Father Lee Cheon-su Lazaro (1968.6-1970.11), generation 7 Father Seo Sang-chae Justino (1970.11-1973.6), generation 8 Father Park Yeong-ung Gabriel (1973.6-1975.9), generation 9 Father Song Hyeon-seop Peter (1975.9-1978.2), generation 10 Father Choe Hyeong-rak Paul (1978.2-1981.8), generation 11 Father Jo Cheol-hyeon Pio (1981.8-1984.1), generation 12 Father Jang Ji-gwon John (1984.1-1987.1), generation 13 Father Park Hui-dong John (1987.1-1991.2), generation 14 Father Seo Seong-rae Augustinus (1991.2-1994.2), generation 15 Father Kim Jong-bok Ignatius (1994.2-1998.1), generation 16 Father Kim Jeong-hyeon John (1998.1-2001.1), and generation 17 Father Kim Jong-ju Luke (2001.1-) (as of the time of writing of the encyclopedia).

Architecture and Space

The 52-pyeong church dedicated in October 1956 and the 50-pyeong rectory completed in 1959 are the early buildings. In July 1995 a church of 3 stories (322 square meters) was completed and the dedication ceremony was held (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia). In June 1980 the convent building (20 pyeong) was completed, and in April 2000 the rectory and the convent were newly completed.

Related Places and People

• Sanjeong-dong Parish (Mokpo): the mother parish that administered the chapels in the Jindo area until November 1954 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Jingil Parish (Yu Jingil Parish): the parish separated from Jindo Parish in January 2002, and the Digital Jindo Culture Encyclopedia records that it administers Nari, Sindong, Osan, Gagye, Yeonju, Donji, Myeonggeum, Changyu and Donggu Chapels.
• Seokgyo, Inji and Sopo Chapels: the chapels administered by Jindo Parish as of 2006 (Digital Jindo Culture Encyclopedia). The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia also records 3 chapels, Seokgyo, Inji and Sopo, as chapels under its jurisdiction.
• Father Jang Ok-seok (Lucio): the first pastor of Jindo Parish who built the church in 1956 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Digital Jindo Culture Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Institute for Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Jindo Parish” (Vol. 10). Separated and established from Sanjeong-dong Parish on November 7, 1954, introduction of the Gospel and formation of chapels, new church construction, projects by pastor, church statistics, jurisdictional area and chapels, successive priests.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/5842
2. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Jindo Culture Encyclopedia “Church”. Introduction of Catholicism to Jindo, Sindong Chapel and purchase of hanok, elevation to parish in 1954, new church construction in 1956, opening of chapels, separation of Yu Jingil Parish in 2002, present situation in 2006.
   https://www.grandculture.net/jindo/toc/GC00501766