Eucharistic Pilgrimage Shrine

Overview

The Eucharistic Pilgrimage Shrine (Old Gimpo Church) is a shrine of the Incheon Diocese located on the grounds of Gimpo Church in Bukbyeon-dong, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do. It is the old stone church that became the cradle of Catholicism in the Gimpo area, designated in 2013 as modern cultural heritage Registered Cultural Heritage No. 542, and on November 1, 2015 the Incheon Diocese proclaimed it as an ‘Eucharistic Shrine,’ the first in the Korean Church.

History

According to the Good News shrine introduction, the history of evangelization in the Gimpo area began around 1900, and in 1910 the Haengju Parish Geolpo-ri Catholic mission chapel was established in Geolpo-ri, Gimpo-eup. Separated from Haengju Parish in November 1946, it was raised to Geolpo-ri Parish, and a church site was secured in Gimpo-eup to begin church construction, but the work was interrupted by the 6·25 War. In December 1956, through the efforts of Father Shin In-sik and the faithful, the stone church was completed and blessed. The parish name was changed from Geolpo-ri to Gimpo in 1949.

In 1961, with the establishment of the Incheon Vicariate, the Maryknoll Foreign Mission Society took charge of pastoral ministry. Later, as the number of the faithful increased, a new church was built below the stone church in 1999 to commemorate the 50 anniversary of the parish establishment, so that the old and new churches stand together. In 2006, to commemorate the 60 anniversary, an education center was newly built and the old stone church was extensively repaired and arranged as a retreat space, while the Stations of the Cross were newly created in the outdoor garden. In 2013, it was designated as modern cultural heritage Registered Cultural Heritage No. 542 in recognition of its value as the cradle of Catholicism in the Gimpo area and as a representative stone church building constructed after the Korean War.

According to the Catholic Newspaper (November 1, 2015 issue), the Incheon Diocese announced through an official notice dated October 16 the pastoral letter of the diocesan bishop dated November 1, ‘On the Occasion of Proclaiming the Eucharistic Shrine,’ and proclaimed the old Gimpo church as a Eucharistic Shrine, appointing Father Na Byeong-sik (preparing the establishment of Tae-ri Parish) concurrently as the resident priest effective October 26. The diocese explained that the reason the old Gimpo church was designated is that, together with Dapdong Church, the old Gimpo church is “a place of great significance, like the cradle of faith in the Incheon Diocese,” and it was reported that the proclamation ceremony would be held at 2 p.m. on November 1 at the old Gimpo church, presided over by Bishop Choi Gi-san.

Religious Significance and Visiting Context

According to the pastoral letter of the diocesan bishop dated November 1, 2015 published on the Incheon Diocese website, Pope Benedict 16 in the apostolic exhortation “Sacrament of Charity” appealed to bishops and priests for continuing Eucharistic adoration, and the Congregation for the Clergy on December 8, 2007 proposed that a dedicated priest could be appointed and an ‘Eucharistic Shrine’ fostering special love for the Eucharist could be established to encourage Eucharistic adoration. Realizing that the old Gimpo church could become a suitable Eucharistic Shrine, the Incheon Diocese proclaimed it as a Eucharistic Shrine. The pastoral letter stated that the Eucharistic Shrine would become a place where a resident priest is appointed, Mass is celebrated, and the history of Eucharistic miracles around the world can be learned.

The Catholic Newspaper also reports that the Congregation for the Clergy announced in December 2007 that a dedicated priest could be appointed and a Eucharistic Shrine could be established to encourage Eucharistic adoration. Good News writes that, together with the proclamation of the Eucharistic Shrine, a dedicated priest in charge of Mass and education was assigned.

References and Sources

1. Incheon Diocese, diocesan shrine ‘Eucharistic Shrine’. The contents of the pastoral letter of the diocesan bishop dated November 1, 2015 ‘On the Occasion of Proclaiming the Eucharistic Shrine’ (purpose of the proclamation, proposal of the Congregation for the Clergy) were confirmed.
   http://www.caincheon.or.kr/intro/shirine_06.jsp
2. Good News (Catholic Internet of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea), Shrines and Historic Sites ‘Eucharistic Pilgrimage Shrine (Old Gimpo Church)’. The history of evangelization in the Gimpo area, completion of the stone church, new church in 1999, designation as Registered Cultural Heritage in 2013, and proclamation as Eucharistic Shrine in 2015 were confirmed.
   https://m.catholic.or.kr/web/holyplace/?seq=4220
3. Catholic Newspaper, Incheon Diocese’s Old Gimpo Church Proclaimed as Korea’s First ‘Eucharistic Shrine’ (November 1, 2015 issue). The background of the proclamation, appointment of the resident priest, and reason and ceremony were confirmed.
   https://www.catholictimes.org/270251