Maegok-dong Church

Overview

Maegok-dong Church is a church in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do belonging to the Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju. According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, on April 1, 1975 it was separated and established from Suncheon (present-day Jeojeon-dong) Parish, and its patron is St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon.

History

[Background of foundation] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, as apartment complexes were built around Maegok-dong, located at the gateway from downtown Suncheon toward Gwangju, Mokpo, Busan and other places, from the early 1970s and the resident population grew greatly, Suncheon Parish, which had jurisdiction over the Maegok-dong Catholic mission chapel, proposed the establishment of a new parish to the Archdiocese of Gwangju. The diocese entrusted Fr. Colin of the Guadalupe Foreign Mission Society with building the church, and Fr. Colin purchased the church site with help from benefactors abroad and then began church construction on September 1, 1974.

[Establishment of the parish and dedication of the church] The encyclopedia states that, when formal notice of the parish establishment was received from Archbishop Victorino Yun Gong-hui, head of the Archdiocese of Gwangju, on April 1, 1975 while construction was underway, Suncheon Parish transferred to the jurisdiction of Maegok-dong Parish the area from above the northwest side of Chohung Bank near the former Suncheon Police Station to Juam-myeon, Seungju-gun as the boundary. An office of about 10 pyeong was temporarily leased on the 2 floor of Taegwangsa near Suncheon Medical Center, where about 30 faithful celebrated the first Mass, and the parish pastoral council (chairman Lee Sang-rae) was launched. Before the parish establishment, on January 14, 1975, Sr. Jeong Mun-ja (Avila) of the Pohang Sisters Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was dispatched, set up a temporary convent in a house near Samsan Middle School, and assisted evangelization and pastoral work, and in the same year, on October 28, the church dedication ceremony was held with Archbishop Yun Gong-hui presiding.

[Expansion of facilities] According to the encyclopedia, the rectory was built on May 3, 1976, and ancillary facilities including the convent and offices were constructed on July 15 and blessed on September 26; in 1977, the Seomyeon Catholic mission chapel site of 100 pyeong was purchased, and on June 1978 the church wall construction was completed. After the parish was established, as public offices including Suncheon National University moved into the jurisdiction and apartment complexes were formed and the parish grew rapidly, expansion of the church became unavoidable, so construction began in late 1986 and the church, rectory, convent and ancillary facilities on a site of about 570 pyeong were completed and blessed on June 1988.

[Pastoral organization and activities] The encyclopedia states that the parish pastoral organization is composed of 12 districts and 43 small groups, and that centered on the parish pastoral council there are various groups including 1 curiae of the Legion of Mary with 36 praesidia, the Association for the Deceased, the Altar Society, the St. Cecilia Choir, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Parish pastoral committee members guide small-group meetings, and Cursillistas served not only in re-education of parishioners but also as invited lecturers for retreats of the faithful in Gurye, Gwangyang, Goheung, Beolgyo, Yeocheon parishes and others. In addition, events such as the family renewal movement, catechetical education, charismatic renewal, hospice ministry, blood and rice donation drives, M.E. promotion, and Yeondo contests were held.

[Parish strength, jurisdiction and successive pastors] The jurisdiction recorded in the encyclopedia is Maegok-dong, Yongdang-dong, Gagok-dong, Seokhyeon-dong, Haenggeum-dong and Jungang-dong, Seomyeon and parts of Juam in Seungju-gun, and Suncheon Prison, with affiliated Catholic mission chapels at Seomyeon, Juam and Huimang, 3 in total. Parish strength was 30 in 1974, 767 in 1975, 1,161 in 1978, 1,681 in 1982, 2,650 in 1988, 3,811 in 1992, and 4,034 in 1994. Successive pastors were the first, Fr. Ricardo R. Colin (Gu In-deok) (1975.4~11), the 2 pastor, Fr. Maurilio M. Franco (Kim Gwang-ho) (1975~1976.8), the 3 pastor, Fr. Hector H. Diaz (Won) (1976.8~1977.10), the 4 pastor, Fr. Joseph J.F. Contreras (Go) (1977.10~1978.6), the 5 pastor, Fr. Andrea A. Toussaint (An Du-su) (1978.6~1982.2), the 6 pastor, Fr. Augustino A. Luna (Yun Go-myeong) (1982.2~1987.4), the 7 pastor, Fr. John J. Marquez (Ma) (1987.4~1990.5), the 8 pastor, Fr. Antonio Park Yong-cheol (1990.5~1994.4), the 9 pastor, Fr. Ignacio I. Garza (U Jin-su) (1994.4~1996.4), the 10 pastor, Fr. John J. Rivera (Yi) (1996.4~as of the time of writing). The Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference directory lists the parish as belonging to the Suncheon District, with foundation date April 1, 1975, patron St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon, and affiliated sisters’ congregation the Sisters Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Architecture and Space

According to the encyclopedia, church construction began on September 1, 1974 and the church dedication was held on October 28, 1975. The rectory was built on May 3, 1976, and ancillary facilities including the convent and offices were constructed on July 15 of the same year and blessed on September 26, and the church wall construction was completed on June 1978. The church, rectory, convent and ancillary facilities on a site of about 570 pyeong, begun in late 1986, were blessed on June 1988.

Related Places and Figures

• Suncheon (present-day Jeojeon-dong) Parish: It had jurisdiction over the Maegok-dong Catholic mission chapel and proposed the new parish, and on April 1, 1975 Maegok-dong Parish was separated and established from this parish (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Seomyeon, Juam and Huimang Catholic mission chapels: Catholic mission chapels belonging to Maegok-dong Parish, and in 1977 the Seomyeon Catholic mission chapel site of 100 pyeong was purchased (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Fr. Ricardo R. Colin (Gu In-deok): A member of the Guadalupe Foreign Mission Society, he purchased the church site, began construction, and served as the first pastor of Maegok-dong Parish (1975.4~11) (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Research Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Maegok-dong Parish” (Archdiocese of Gwangju, vol. 4). Background of foundation, establishment and church dedication in 1975, church expansion in 1988, pastoral organization, parish strength, jurisdiction, successive pastors.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/1924
2. Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Korean Catholic Directory “Maegok-dong” (Archdiocese of Gwangju). Foundation date 1975.04.01, patron St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon, Sisters Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Suncheon District.
   http://directory.cbck.or.kr/m/catholicInfo.asp?code=201001143&gubun=4