Mansu 1-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Mansu 1 Church is a church in Mansu-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon Metropolitan City, belonging to the Namdong District of the Incheon Diocese. On January 1988, it was established as ‘Namdong Church’ after splitting from Mansu-dong Church (now Mansu 3 Church), and on January 26, 1993 it changed its name to Mansu 1. Its patron is the Holy Trinity, and its first pastor is Father Bernard Ok.

History

[Establishment] The parish introduction on the Incheon Diocese website states that Namdong Church was established after splitting from Mansu-dong Church (now Mansu 3 Church) on January 11, 1988 and later changed its name to Mansu 1 Church. The chronology records that Namdong Church was newly established on January 10, 1988, with Father Bernard Ok as the first pastor; at the time there were 485 households, 625 men and 862 women faithful, 1,487 in total, and 9 districts with 51 groups. The foundation-date entry on the diocesan website is 1988-01-11, and the foundation date in the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea directory is 1988.1.10. According to the chronology, the first Mass was offered on January 17, 1988, a temporary tent church was completed on February 1, and the first Mass was offered in the temporary church on February 15. On March 6, the first sister (Teresa Lee) served on temporary assignment.

[New church construction and dedication] According to the chronology, on August 30, 1988 a 599-pyeong site for the new church was purchased. In 1989, there was a groundbreaking and site-blessing ceremony for the new church on April 2, and construction began on May 3 (the chronology lists the two entries in this order). It moved to the new sanctuary on April 13, 1990, and the church was completed on August 24. At completion the site area was 599 pyeong (1,980 m²), the church building 870.6 pyeong (2,878.3 m²), and the rectory 90.7 pyeong (300.1 m²). The church dedication ceremony was held on May 18, 1991.

[Arrival of sisters and convent] According to the chronology, on January 28, 1991 Sisters Seonhui Lee (Teresa of the Child Jesus) and Yeongsuk Oh (Sara) arrived as the first parish sisters. On August 19, 1993 a convent site (site area 118.45 pyeong) was purchased, construction began on October 22, and on May 1, 1994 the convent completion ceremony was held and they moved in (floor area 139.6 pyeong, 461.6 m²). The directory lists the Daughters of Mary as the convent congregation.

[Change of name] The chronology states that on January 26, 1993 the parish name was changed from ‘Namdong Catholic Church’ to ‘Mansu 1 Church’.

[Pastors] According to the chronology, on February 22, 1993 the 2 pastor, Father Philip Kim Byeongsang, arrived, on February 9, 1999 the 3 pastor, Father John the Apostle Park Chanyong, and on January 20, 2003 the 4 pastor, Father Benedict Park Seonggyu, arrived. On January 10, 2002, as the parish’s first priestly ordinations, Father James Kim Bokgi and Father Augustine Kim Hakseon were ordained.

[Assistant priests] The assistant-priest appointments recorded in the chronology are as follows. February 22, 1993 the first, Simon Han Seman, February 14, 1994 the 2 Matthew Lee Geunil, February 6, 1995 the 3 Romano Bang Hoil, February 5, 1996 the 4 Paul Bae Hyosik, February 17, 1997 the 5 Anthimus Lee Jaehak, February 10, 1998 the 6 Benigno Jeong Bong, February 9, 1999 the 7 Seja John Jeong Seongil, February 14, 2000 the 8 Dominic Kwon Sunki, January 26, 2001 the 9 Thomas Aquinas Kim Jihun, January 20, 2003 the 10 Thomas Lee Gyeongil, January 26, 2004 the 11 Peter Kim Juhyeon, December 15, 2004 the 12 Peter Park Jinyang, December 10, 2005 the 13 Noel Go Donghyeon.

[Parish size and affiliation] The parish introduction lists 8,630 faithful and 3,528 households. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea directory lists Mansu 1 Church as a parish in the Namdong District of the Incheon Diocese with 7,746 faithful, and the current pastor is Father Joseph Jeong Yunseop.

Related places and people

• Mansu-dong Church (now Mansu 3 Church): the mother parish from which Namdong Church (now Mansu 1 Church) was split in 1988 (Incheon Diocese website).
• Father Bernard Ok: the first pastor of Namdong Church (chronology on the Incheon Diocese website).
• Daughters of Mary: the congregation of the parish convent (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea directory).

References and sources

1. Incheon Diocese website, Mansu 1 Parish guide (parish introduction and chronology). Establishment of Namdong Church in 1988, new church construction, completion and dedication, convent, name change, arrival of pastors and assistant priests (1988–2005).
   http://www.caincheon.or.kr/church/church_jigu.do?churchIdx=14014
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea directory, Mansu 1. Foundation date 1988.1.10., affiliation Namdong District of Incheon Diocese, patron Holy Trinity, congregation, current pastor.
   http://directory.cbck.or.kr/m/catholicInfo.asp?code=201000356&gubun=4