Daegot Catholic Church

Overview

Daegot Church is a church in Daegot-myeon, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, belonging to the Gimpo District of the Incheon Diocese. On December 5, 2005, the Daegot Catholic mission chapel separated from Yanggok Church and was elevated to a parish, and its patron is St. Paul. The Incheon Diocese website introduces this church as a small rural church where unpretentious but generous and affectionate people gather to live.

History

〔Elevation to Parish〕 The history on the Incheon Diocese website states that on December 5, 2005 it was ‘separated from Yanggok Church and elevated to a parish 42 years after the establishment of the Daegot Catholic mission chapel.’ The first pastor was Father O Byeong-su (Stefano). The establishment date in the directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea is also 2005.12.5.

〔Early Activities〕 According to the history, on February 5, 2006 the Daegeon Association, the Marian Association, and the Anjeon Association were organized, on July 2 the first Baptism (6 persons), on July 16 the first First Communion (children 10 persons) took place, and on July 23 the first parish pastoral council was launched (pastoral council president Yi U-sang, Dominic). On July 12 a contract was signed to purchase the parish site. On April 14, 2007 there were the first Confirmation and the bishop’s pastoral visit (total 31 persons), and on June 10 the parish Curia ‘Queen of Apostles Curia’ was established.

〔Preparation for Church Building〕 According to the history, on July 13, 2007 approval for church construction was received from the Incheon Diocesan Office. To raise the building fund, on May 12 sweet potatoes were planted, on June 3 beans were planted, and on September 15 sweet potatoes and on October 21 beans were harvested. Starting with the No. 1 mobile bazaar (Yanggok Church) on August 26, the No. 2 (parish), No. 3 (Tongjin Church), No. 4 (Gimpo Church), and No. 5 (Bullo-dong Church) mobile bazaars were held. On November 16 a parish building briefing was held and MAD General Construction Co., Ltd. was selected as the builder. The history writes the establishment of the building committee and the first building committee meeting as ‘2008. 8. 4,’ but the surrounding entries are from the year 2007, so the year notations do not match each other.

〔The year 2008〕 According to the history, on January 8, 2008 demolition of the existing building began, and during that time Mass was offered at the Seokjeong Catholic mission chapel and the rectory was used at the Claret Convent. On January 20 the groundbreaking ceremony was held and on March 16 the Seonjong Service Association (president Sim Han-seop, Michael) was established. On April 1 potatoes were planted to raise the building fund, on April 20 there were Confirmation and the vicar general’s pastoral visit (3 persons), and on April 27 a parish bazaar was held in the yard of the Daegot-myeon Office. The history on the Incheon Diocese website ends with this entry.

〔Current Status〕 The directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea lists Daegot Church as belonging to the Gimpo District of the Incheon Diocese, its patron as St. Paul, and the number of Catholic mission chapels as 1. The Incheon Diocese website lists the Seokjeong Catholic mission chapel as a subordinate Catholic mission chapel. The number of believers is 665 in both sources.

Related Places and People

• Yanggok Church: the mother parish to which the Daegot Catholic mission chapel had belonged until it was separated at the elevation to parish in the year 2005 (history on the Incheon Diocese website).
• Seokjeong Catholic mission chapel: the Catholic mission chapel under Daegot Church’s jurisdiction, where Mass was offered during the church demolition period on January 2008 (Incheon Diocese website).
• Claret Convent: the place used as the rectory during the church demolition period on January 2008 (history on the Incheon Diocese website).

References and Sources

1. Incheon Diocese website, Guide to Daegot Parish (Introduction and History). Elevation to parish in the year 2005 and first priest, early activities and church building preparation and groundbreaking in the years 2006 to 2008, patronal name, and Catholic mission chapel.
   http://www.caincheon.or.kr/church/church_jigu.do?churchIdx=14100
2. Directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Daegot. Establishment date 2005.12.5., affiliation Gimpo District of Incheon Diocese, patron St. Paul, number of Catholic mission chapels 1.
   http://directory.cbck.or.kr/m/catholicInfo.asp?code=201000346&gubun=4