화곡2동 성당

History & origins

By the late 1970s Hwagokbon-dong Parish covered a large territory and had grown substantially, creating the need for another parish. In 1980 the future Hwagok 2-dong community organized fundraising and a bazaar, and in August secured a site of about 270 pyeong. The Archdiocese of Seoul erected Hwagok 2-dong Parish on September 20.

Before an independent church was completed, parishioners at times used the mother church at Hwagokbon-dong. Full-scale construction began in May 1981, and the basement served as a temporary worship space while work continued. In 1982 a building was acquired for a convent, establishing a base for the ministry of religious sisters.

After about four years of construction, the church was completed and dedicated in May 1985 in a ceremony presided over by Bishop Paul Kim Ok-gyun. Further development included new rectory and convent facilities in 1991 and continued improvements to church and educational spaces. The parish’s history is the story of a rapidly growing local community becoming independent and building its own pastoral base.