Geumdandong Catholic Church

Overview

Geomdan-dong Church is a church in the Geomdan District of the Incheon Diocese. It was split from Oryu-dong Church on July 18, 2000 and established, used the former Geumgok Catholic mission chapel as its parish church, moved on July 2002 to the new church on the present site, and held its dedication ceremony on March 2, 2003. Its patron is the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel.

History

〔Establishment〕 The parish introduction on the Incheon Diocese website states that Geomdan-dong Church began on July 18, 2000 when it was split from Oryu-dong Church to take charge of parts of Majeon-dong, Dangha-dong, Daegok-dong, Geumgok-dong and Wanggil-dong, and that it used the former Geumgok Catholic mission chapel as its parish church. According to the history, on July 18, 2000 the first pastor, Father Kim In-hwan (Peter), took office and celebrated the first Mass at the Geumgok mission chapel, attended by 110 people. On July 28 Kim Yeong-guk (James) was elected council president, and on July 29 the Parish Lay Apostolate Council was launched (first president Han Won-hui Joseph). On July 30 a noodle feast for all parishioners was held to celebrate the parish establishment, and on October 22 the 1th parish sports festival and an outdoor Mass were held at the athletic field of Army Unit 7325, and on December 17 Bishop Choi Gi-san made a pastoral visit and administered Confirmation to 49 people. The directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea also records the establishment date as July 18, 2000.

〔Church construction〕 According to the history, on January 7, 2001 the 2th collection for the church building fund began, and on May 17 reclamation work on the church site began. On February 17, 2002 the groundbreaking Mass was celebrated by Bishop Choi Gi-san (attended by 200 people), and on July 27–28 the parish moved into the church under construction and celebrated its first Mass there. In the same year, work to expand the choir loft began on November 22. On March 2, 2003 the church dedication ceremony was celebrated by Bishop Choi Gi-san. The parish introduction states that on July 2002 the church was built on the present site and the move took place, and that the church blessing ceremony was held on March 2003. In 2003, on May 4 the Joseph Association was founded (president Han Won-hui Joseph), on May 18 a sisterhood relationship was formed with the nearby Army Unit 7325, and on July 17 a 15-passenger van was purchased.

〔Division of the Majeon-dong Parish〕 According to the history, on March 31, 2004 a contract was signed for the purchase of land (Majeon-dong 16 Block 2 Lot), and on November 24 parish registers for 453 households and 1,290 people (566 men and 724 women) were transferred through the division of the daughter parish, ‘Majeon-dong Parish.’ The parish introduction states that on December 2004 Majeon-dong Church was divided off and the parish came to take charge of part of Majeon-dong, Geumgok-dong and part of Wanggil-dong. In the same year, on January 26 the 2rd pastor, Father No Hyeong-ho (Silverio), took office.

〔2005–2011〕 According to the history, on January 25, 2005 the 4th pastoral council members were appointed, on April 7–15 landscaping work was done at the church, on July 17 a 5th anniversary event for Parish Day was held and on July 31 a youth group was founded (15 members). On October 16 all parishioners made a pilgrimage to the Mirinae Shrine (378 people). On January 29, 2006 a fire broke out in the copying room during the Lunar New Year combined Requiem Mass, and on November 20 the 3th pastor, Father Jo Ho-dong (Paul), took office. On March 3, 2007 a fence was installed at the old church (Geumgok mission chapel). On April 5, 2008 a branch of the Sisters of the Holy Trinity was established and the first branch superior, Sister Lee Yeong-ran (Mary Magdalene), took office. On July 3, 2009 the first assistant priest, Father Kim Jong-min (John the Baptist), took office, and the rectory groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 21 and the rectory blessing ceremony on November 22. On January 12, 2010 the 2th assistant priest, Father Eom Jeong-hwan (Luciano), took office, and on July 18 a Mass commemorating the 10st anniversary of the parish establishment was celebrated followed by a noodle feast, and on October 10 the 10nd anniversary sports festival was held at the Neungnae Elementary School athletic field. On January 24, 2011 the 3rd assistant priest, Father Yang Jeong-hwan (Andrew Kim Dae-geon), took office, painting work on the church was done on April 16, and a thanksgiving Mass for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Incheon Diocese was celebrated on June 7 (about 300 people attended).

〔2012–2019〕 According to the history, on January 22, 2012 the 4th pastor, Father Yang Seong-il (Simeon), took office. On February 3, 2013 the St. Anne Association was founded, and from June 23 to August 2 a rest area in the church yard (parking lot, fence and pergola) was installed. On January 12, 2015 the 5st pastor, Father Park Hui-jung (Andrew), took office. On January 9, 2017 assistant priest Father Lee Jun-seong (Cyril) took office, and on April 2 the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel was blessed, and on December 18 and the 24th the ordination of Brother Kim Seon-u (Benedict) as a priest and his first Mass took place. On January 15, 2018 Father Park Hui-jung left and Father Kim Sang-in (Philip) took office, on August 19 the parish received the grand prize at the Youth Liturgical Band Festival, and on October 14 all parishioners made a pilgrimage to the Baeti Shrine. On January 29, 2019 there was a 700nd meeting of the Gate of Heaven Pr. (Presidium).

〔Parish status and affiliation〕 The parish introduction states that as of October 2019 there are 9 zones and 1,561 households with 3,850 faithful. The directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea lists Geomdan-dong Church as a parish in the Geomdan District of the Incheon Diocese, with its patron as the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and its current pastor as Father Kim Dong-cheol (Thomas).

Related places and people

• Oryu-dong Church: the mother parish from which Geomdan-dong Church was split on July 18, 2000 (Incheon Diocese website).
• Geumgok mission chapel: the former church used as the parish church in the early days of the parish. On March 3, 2007 a fence was installed at this former church (history on the Incheon Diocese website).
• Majeon-dong Church: the daughter parish established in 2004 through the division of part of Geomdan-dong Church’s territory (parish registers for 453 households and 1,290 people) (Incheon Diocese website).
• Past pastors: the first Kim In-hwan (Peter), the 2nd No Hyeong-ho (Silverio), the 3rd Jo Ho-dong (Paul), the 4th Yang Seong-il (Simeon), the 5th Park Hui-jung (Andrew), and later Kim Sang-in (Philip) appear in the history. The current pastor in the directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea is Kim Dong-cheol (Thomas).

References and sources

1. Incheon Diocese website, Geomdan-dong Parish guide (parish introduction and history). Establishment (2000.7.18), mother parish, Geumgok mission chapel, church construction and dedication, division of the Majeon-dong Parish, appointments of pastors and assistants, yearly history, church statistics for 2019.
   http://www.caincheon.or.kr/church/church_jigu.do?churchIdx=14079
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea directory, Geomdan-dong. Establishment date 2000.7.18., affiliation with the Geomdan District of the Incheon Diocese, patron, current pastor.
   http://directory.cbck.or.kr/m/catholicInfo.asp?code=201000333&gubun=4