Bupyeong 3-dong Catholic Church

Overview

The Bupyeong 3-dong church is a church in Sipjeong-dong, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon Metropolitan City, belonging to the Diocese of Incheon. According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, February 16, 1982, it was established by dividing parts of the jurisdictions of Sangok-dong Parish, Bupyeong 2-dong Parish, and Juwon Parish, and its patron is the Holy Family.

History

[Parish establishment] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, as urban development took place in the Sinchon area after military units withdrew in the 1970s and the number of believers surged, the diocese planned a new parish, and February 16, 1982, it newly established Bupyeong 3-dong Parish by dividing parts of the jurisdictions of Sangok-dong Parish, Bupyeong 2-dong Parish, and Juwon Parish. The first pastor, Father Benedict Zweber (B. Zweber, Choi), leased 40 pyeong in a 2-story building at lot 174-13, Sipjeong-dong, with diocesan subsidies, using it as a temporary church and office, while launching a preparatory committee for church construction and, from March 28, began fundraising. Father Zweber traveled to the United States several times to seek help and raised most of the church construction funds from American believers.

[Church construction] November 14, 1982, after purchasing 826.5 pyeong for the present church site, construction began, and March 9, 1985, 3 years after groundbreaking, the blessing ceremony was held for the church equipped with 8 catechetical classrooms and 2 small halls. During this period, groups such as the Dongsimhoe and the Youth Group were organized in the parish and helped with the construction, and from February 1982, Sisters of the Society of Divine Providence were dispatched to assist pastoral activities, according to the encyclopedia.

[Pastoral activities] After the church was built, the parish focused on fostering devotion and catechetical education. In 1986–1987, various devotional groups were organized, and catechetical education was offered through Sunday school, First Communion preparation classes, and baptismal catechumenate classes, with annual Lenten special lectures and group retreats. February 1988, the parish opened an attached kindergarten, and September 1990, it provided 5 catechetical classrooms and an audiovisual room of 25 pyeong. The following year, April, all parishioners donated blood for the first time, and 4–June, environmental classes were opened. From 1995, to strengthen unity, a campaign for all parishioners to wear name tags was carried out, and in 1997, campaigns to find lost sheep, to find new sheep, and to enroll 1 people in 1 groups achieved considerable results, according to the encyclopedia. As of 1997, groups active in the parish included the Myeongdohoe, the Youth Catholic Students Association, 23 praesidia of the Legion of Mary, the Vocations Support Association, the John Altar Servers, Ultreya, Dongsimhoe, Anna Association, Marian Association, Dasom Parents Choir, Joseph Association, the Youth Group, and others.

[Catholics and jurisdiction] The numbers of believers recorded in the encyclopedia are 1,462 in 1982, 2,386 in 1985, 3,562 in 1989, 4,291 in 1993, and 4,218 in 1995. The jurisdiction is recorded as the entire area of Bupyeong 3-dong and parts of Bupyeong 2-dong, Sangok-dong, Sipjeong-dong, and Ganseok-dong. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea directory lists the parish as belonging to the Bupyeong District, with founding date February 16, 1982, patron Holy Family, and convent Sisters of Divine Providence.

[Successive pastors] The successive priests recorded in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia are the first, Father Benedict Zweber (B. Zweber, Choi) (1982.2–1986.9), the 2 pastor, Gabriel Lee Deok-jin (1986.9–1991.2), the 3 pastor, Luke Hong Chang-man (1991.2–1995.2), and the 4 pastor, Matthew Lee Geun-il (1995.2–the time of the encyclopedia’s compilation).

Architecture and Space

According to the encyclopedia, February 1982, at the time of founding, the parish leased 40 pyeong in a 2-story building at lot 174-13, Sipjeong-dong, using it as a temporary church and office. November 14, 1982, it purchased 826.5 pyeong for the present church site, and March 9, 1985, 3 years after groundbreaking, it celebrated the blessing of the church equipped with 8 catechetical classrooms and 2 small halls. September 1990, it provided 5 catechetical classrooms and an audiovisual room of 25 pyeong.

Related Places and People

• Sangok-dong Parish, Bupyeong 2-dong Parish, Juwon Parish: the parishes that gave parts of their jurisdictions when Bupyeong 3-dong Parish was established in 1982 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Society of Divine Providence (Sisters of Divine Providence): sisters dispatched from February 1982 to assist pastoral activities, and listed in the Bishops’ Conference directory as the parish convent (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Bishops’ Conference directory).
• Father Zweber (B. Zweber): the first pastor, who raised most of the church construction funds in the United States (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Research Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Bupyeong 3-dong Parish” (Diocese of Incheon, Vol. 6). Parish founding in 1982, church blessing in 1985, pastoral activities and groups, number of believers, jurisdiction, successive priests.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/2700
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory “Bupyeong 3-dong” (Diocese of Incheon). Founding date 1982.2.16, patron Holy Family, convent Sisters of Divine Providence, Bupyeong District.
   http://directory.cbck.or.kr/m/catholicInfo.asp?code=201000367&gubun=4