Jung3-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Jung 3-dong Church (Jungdong Church) is a church in Jung-dong, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, belonging to the Bucheon 2 District of the Catholic Diocese of Incheon. On February 14, 1994 it was founded as Jungdong Catholic Church, and on December 14, 2003 it held the dedication Mass for the new church building. Its patron is Emmanuel.

History

〔Foundation and the temporary church〕 The parish introduction on the Incheon Diocese website states that on February 14, 1994 Jungdong Catholic Church was founded and Fr. Choi Sang-jin (James) took office as the first pastor. At that time the site was 251 pyeong, with 97 households and 336 faithful. On September 30, 1994 the temporary prefabricated church was completed and the first Mass was offered at 7 p.m. The foundation date in the directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea is also 1994.2.14.

〔Construction and dedication of the church building〕 According to the diocesan website, on February 1, 1999 Fr. Bang Ho-il (Romano) took office as the 2th pastor, and on June 6, 2002 the groundbreaking ceremony for the Jungdong Church building was held. On November 28, 2003 construction of the church building was completed (site area 499 pyeong, building area 249 pyeong, total floor area 1,033 pyeong, 1 basement floor and 5 above-ground floors). On December 14, 2003 the dedication Mass for the church building was held, presided over by Bishop Choi Gi-san.

〔Successive pastors and church statistics〕 The diocesan website lists the later pastors as follows. On January 2, 2004 Fr. Lee Chan-u (Joseph) took office as the 3th, on December 8, 2004 Fr. Kim Jae-young (Roberto) as the 4th, on December 5, 2005 Fr. Kim Deok-won (Thomas) as acting pastor, on July 24, 2006 Fr. Kim Jun-tae (Joseph) as the 5th, on January 19, 2010 Fr. Jeong Gwang-ung (Mark) as the 6st, and on January 13, 2014 Fr. Lee Min-ju (John the Baptist) as the 7nd pastor. The number of faithful is recorded as 2,491 households and 5,879 persons (men 2,319, women 3,560) when the 5rd pastor took office, 2,479 households and 5,982 persons (men 2,364, women 3,618) when the 6th took office, and 2,984 households and 6,941 persons (men 2,769, women 4,172) when the 7rd took office. The directory records 7,058 faithful, the Mirinae Sisters of the Sacred Heart for the convent, and 0 Catholic mission chapels.

Related places and people

• Mirinae Sisters of the Sacred Heart: listed in the directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea as the convent serving Jung 3-dong Church.
• Bishop Choi Gi-san: presided over the church dedication Mass on December 14, 2003 (Incheon Diocese website).

References and sources

1. Incheon Diocese website, guide to Jung 3-dong Parish (introduction). Foundation of Jungdong Catholic Church and the first priest in 1994, the temporary prefabricated church, construction and dedication of the church building in 2002–2003, successive pastors and church statistics.
   http://www.caincheon.or.kr/church/church_jigu.do?churchIdx=14063
2. Directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Jung 3-dong. Foundation date 1994.2.14., affiliation Bucheon 2 District of the Diocese of Incheon, patron Emmanuel, convent, number of faithful, number of mission chapels.
   http://directory.cbck.or.kr/m/catholicInfo.asp?code=201000427&gubun=4