Songnim-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Songnim-dong Church is a church in Songnim-dong, Dong-gu, Incheon, belonging to the Diocese of Incheon. The Korean Catholic Encyclopedia states that the church was separated and established from Dapdong Parish on September 11, 1955, with the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary as its patron. The church homepage introduces it as a historic church completed in 1956, built by Lee Hui-tae, a 1-generation Korean architect.

History

〔Background to foundation and construction〕 According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Songnim-dong, located at the very center of Incheon, saw growth of the Church from the early 1950s, and Fr. Jong-guk Im (Paul), then pastor of Dapdong Parish with jurisdiction over the area, decided to divide the parish as pastoral difficulties increased because of its wide jurisdiction. On October 30, 1954 it organized a building committee for the new church, and a month later, on November 30, it purchased 540 pyeong of the present church site. In the following year construction began on April 12, and on September 11 it completed a 2-story church with a total of 305 pyeong and held the blessing ceremony; on that day Songnim-dong Parish was established and Fr. Deok-jin Jeong (Luke) was appointed as first pastor. The Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference directory lists the establishment date as September 19, 1955, which differs from the encyclopedia.

〔Expansion and daughter parishes〕 The encyclopedia states that on June 30, 1959 an additional 193 pyeong of land was purchased to provide a rectory and convent. As parishioners increased, Songnim-dong Parish divided off Dohwa-dong Parish on July 17, 1960, Hwasu-dong Parish on September 16, 1962, Yeongjong Parish on June 30, 1965, Seoknam-dong Parish on October 6, 1974, Songhyeon-dong Parish on September 18, 1976, and Daebu Parish on October 15, 1992. In November 1, 1970 Seogot Catholic mission chapel came under the parish, and in the following year, on April 15, Daebudo Catholic mission chapel was incorporated into the parish.

〔Parish activities〕 The activities recorded in the encyclopedia are as follows. Organization of the ‘Songnim Credit Union’ on July 11, 1964, opening of ‘Saessak Kindergarten’ on March 7, 1967 (closed on March 1989), a campaign from September 1977 to send the parish bulletin to enlisted men and parishioners living elsewhere to inform them of pastoral policy, operation of the ‘Seohae Night School’ for working youth in 1979, foundation of the Legion of Mary ‘Mother of Christ’ Curia on August 5, 1985, the 1 Youth Festival on September 6, 1987 under the theme ‘Parish Community and the Urban Poor’, provision of a Eucharistic adoration chapel on February 13, 1990, a 8-week Life Seminar for charismatic renewal on October 10 of the same year, and foundation of the ‘Hansori Youth Group’ on May 29, 1994. In 1995, marking the 40th anniversary of its foundation, it raised funds for Korean-Chinese faithful in the Mudanjiang region and provided a church there, and in 1997, through the ‘Finding Lost Sheep Campaign’ in the first half and the ‘Finding New Sheep Campaign’ in the second half, it brought about 150 people to enter the Church.

〔Church strength and jurisdiction〕 The encyclopedia’s statistics are 3,109 members in 1956, 4,134 members in 1963, 3,922 members in 1969, 5,360 members in 1975, 4,119 members in 1981, 5,822 members in 1987, 7,045 members in 1993, and 4,484 members in 1998. Its jurisdiction covered Geumchang-dong and parts of Songnim 1 and 2-dong and parts of Songhyeon 1 and 3-dong in Dong-gu. The encyclopedia notes that parts of its jurisdiction and the Geumchang-dong area were subject to or slated for redevelopment.

〔Successive pastors〕 The successive pastors listed in the encyclopedia are: the first, Fr. Deok-jin Jeong, Luke (September 1955–November 1959); the 2 pastor, Fr. Henrico Sullivan (H. Sullivan, 薛立案) (November 1959–June 1962); the 3 pastor, Fr. Joseph Paquet (J. Paquet) (June 1962–March 1966); the 4 pastor, Fr. Hilario Kang Uiseon (March 1966–April 1968); the 5 pastor, Fr. Simon Kang Yong-un (April 1968–April 1970); the 6 pastor, Fr. Matthew Kang Seong-uk (April 1970–September 1973); the 7 pastor, Fr. Martino Lowery (M. Lowery) (September 1973–December 1976); the 8 pastor, Fr. Michael Kang Geun-sin (December 1976–February 1980); the 9 pastor, Fr. John Chrysostom Jo Seong-gyo (February 1980–March 1984); the 10 pastor, Fr. Joseph Park Bok-nam (March 1984–February 1989); the 11 pastor, Fr. Gervasio Lee Su-il (February 1989–January 1991); the 12 pastor, Fr. Paul Kim Jong-hak (1991, 1–March); the 13 pastor, Fr. James Choi Sang-jin (March 1991–February 1994); the 14 pastor, Fr. John the Baptist Lee Yong-gil (February 1994–January 1997); and the 15 pastor, Fr. Paul Bae Hyo-sik (January 1997–).

Architecture and Space

The parish-history page ‘Parish History’ on the church homepage states that Songnim-dong Church was completed in 1956 and was built by Lee Hui-tae, a well-known 1-generation Korean architect. Through Myeongsu Cathedral (1954), Hyehwa-dong Church (1960) and others, Lee pursued cubic modern church architecture, and the homepage explains that his buildings accorded with the spirit of the 2 Vatican Council (1962–1965), which brought change to church architecture. Songnim-dong Church has a distinctive composition with bell tower and church hall separated, and, apparently mindful of the hanok around the church at the time of construction, it applied rhythmic window design and different materials to a modern wall to heighten the effect of articulation. The homepage recounts that after the 6–25 War, the Catholic relief agency sent relief supplies such as flour and secondhand clothing, and many ‘flour believers’ who came to the church to receive them attended.

Related Places and People

• Dapdong Parish: the mother parish from which Songnim-dong Parish was separated and established in 1955 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Dohwa-dong, Hwasu-dong, Yeongjong, Seoknam-dong, Songhyeon-dong and Daebu Parishes: parishes separated from Songnim-dong Parish (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Fr. Jong-guk Im (Paul): then pastor of Dapdong Parish who decided the parish division (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Fr. Deok-jin Jeong, Luke: first pastor of Songnim-dong Parish (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Monsignor Byeong-sang Kim: introduced as the ‘1 priest of Songnim-dong Church’ in a news post on the church homepage.

References and Sources

1. Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Songnim-dong Parish. Established September 11, 1955, background to foundation and construction, daughter parishes, parish activities, Church strength, successive pastors.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/3654
2. Songnim-dong Church homepage, Parish History. Completed in 1956, architect Lee Hui-tae, separated bell tower and church hall, relief supplies and ‘flour believers’.
   http://songlim70.com/19
3. Songnim-dong Church homepage, Parish News & History. Post introducing Monsignor Byeong-sang Kim as the ‘1 priest of Songnim-dong Church’.
   http://songlim70.com/53
4. Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference directory, Songnim-dong. Establishment date 1955.9.19., patron Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
   http://directory.cbck.or.kr/m/catholicInfo.asp?code=201000386&gubun=4