Sosabon 3(dong) Catholic Church

History & origins

During the 1980s, population and Catholic numbers in Bucheon increased, and the older Sosa Parish could no longer easily serve the enlarged living area on its own. The Diocese of Incheon therefore proceeded with the creation of a new parish in the Sosa area. The Catholic Encyclopedia of Korea records that on January 26, 1985, the community was separated from Sosa Parish and established as “Sosa 1-dong Parish,” with Saint Francis Xavier as its patron. The Digital Encyclopedia of Bucheon likewise explains the separation in the context of population growth and the need to accommodate an increasing number of Catholics.

Immediately after separation, the new parish began community life before a fully independent church facility was in place. According to local historical material, a joint Lunar New Year Mass was celebrated in a temporary church on February 19, 1985, marking the practical beginning of the new parish’s liturgical life. The parish then developed its own organization and facilities and became established as a separate pastoral unit in the Sosa area.

The Catholic Encyclopedia of Korea records that the parish was renamed “Sosa 3-dong Parish” on September 30, 1988. Following later changes in administrative and local place names, the current Catholic Church directory lists it as “Sosabon 3-dong” Parish. Its history can therefore be understood as a process that began with the growth of Sosa Parish, continued through separation as an independent parish, and developed into the present community amid changes in local administration and living patterns.