Galsandong Catholic Church

Overview

Galsan-dong Church is a church in Samsan-dong, Bupyeong-gu, Incheon Metropolitan City, belonging to the Diocese of Incheon. According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, on December 26, 1976 it was separated and established from Bupyeong 1-dong Parish, its patron is Saint Clare, and it is notable in that the church was built with funds from the Korean branch of the Conventual Franciscans.

History

[Background of establishment] According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the establishment of Galsan-dong Parish was directly caused by development in the area and growth in the number of the faithful, but it is distinctive in that the church was built with funds from the Korean branch of the Conventual Franciscans. In 1975, Bishop William McNaughton (William McNaughton, Na Guglielmo), head of the Diocese of Incheon, decided in consultation with the order to build a church in Galsan-dong, and in the same year on March the Korean branch of the order purchased land at the present site with its own funds and then additionally purchased surrounding land.

[Parish establishment and church construction] On December 26, 1976 the diocese entrusted Friar Priest Daniel No Gyeongsam with responsibility for building the new church and had him reside at Bupyeong 1-dong Parish to complete it, thereby establishing the parish. The parish started a church-building campaign, held the groundbreaking ceremony on May the following year, and held the dedication ceremony on October. The encyclopedia records that the Conventual Franciscans provided most of the construction costs, the Holy See gave partial aid, and the faithful gathered offerings for interior furnishings as construction was nearing completion.

[Later activities] On October 1979 the faithful newly built a convent and welcomed the Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help the following year, and on September 1980 founded a credit union. From March 1983, during the tenure of the 2 parish priest, Father Cipollone, the Sisters of Notre Dame assisted parish ministry. On March 1981, as the Gyesan-dong Catholic mission chapel grew and was established as a parish, of the total 1,500-odd faithful, about 800 transferred to the new parish. On July 1984 retaining-wall work in the church yard and exterior wall painting were carried out, construction of an education hall was begun and dedicated on August 1985, and on January 1987 the Conventual Franciscans opened a nursing home called Joseph’s House behind the convent.

[Numbers and jurisdiction] The numbers recorded in the encyclopedia are in 1976 960 persons, in 1980 1,475 persons, in 1985 1,297 persons, in 1988 1,759 persons, and in 1993 2,910 persons. The jurisdiction is recorded as Samsan-dong, the Galsan-dong apartment area, and part of Jakjeon-dong. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea directory lists the parish as belonging to the Bupyeong District, the sisters as the Sisters of Notre Dame, the patron as Saint Clare, and the establishment date as October 4, 1976, which differs from the encyclopedia’s December 26, 1976.

[Successive pastors] The successive priests recorded in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia are the first, Daniel No Gyeongsam (1976.12–1982.1), the 2 pastor, Roco Cipollone (Roco Cipollone, Ji Seam) Roco (1982.2–1985), the 3 pastor, Carolo Paladani (Gian Carolo Faladani, Jang Jaho) Carolo (1985.1–1990.11), the 4 pastor, Dido Yun Jong-il (1990.11–1994.2), and the 5 pastor, Mari Joseph Lee Tae-yeong (1994.2–present at the time the encyclopedia was compiled).

Architecture and space

According to the encyclopedia, the church was built on land purchased by the Korean branch of the Conventual Franciscans on March 1975. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on May 1977 and the dedication ceremony was held on October, and a convent was newly built on October 1979. On July 1984 retaining-wall work in the church yard and exterior wall painting were carried out, and on August 1985 an education hall was dedicated. On January 1987 a nursing home, Joseph’s House, was opened behind the convent.

Related places and persons

• Korean branch of the Conventual Franciscans: it provided most of the funds for church construction and opened the Joseph’s House nursing home on January 1987 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Bupyeong 1-dong Parish: in 1976 Galsan-dong Parish was separated from this parish, and Father No Gyeongsam resided at this parish while in charge of church construction (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Gyesan-dong Parish: as the Gyesan-dong Catholic mission chapel was established as a parish on March 1981, 800-odd faithful of Galsan-dong Parish transferred (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Bishop McNaughton (William McNaughton): in 1975, as head of the Diocese of Incheon, he decided in consultation with the order to build the Galsan-dong church (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

References and sources

1. Research Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Galsan-dong Parish” (Diocese of Incheon, volume 1). Background of church construction, parish establishment in 1976, dedication in 1977, convent and education hall, division of Gyesan-dong Parish, numbers, jurisdiction, successive priests.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/192
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory “Galsan-dong” (Diocese of Incheon). Establishment date 1976.10.04, patron Saint Clare, sisters Sisters of Notre Dame, Bupyeong District.
   http://directory.cbck.or.kr/m/catholicInfo.asp?code=201000331&gubun=4