Nayu-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Naun-dong Church is a church in Naun-dong, Gunsan-si, Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, belonging to the Diocese of Jeonju. According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, it was separated and established from Oryong-dong Parish on January 19, 1988, and its first pastor was Father Park Jung-shin (Simon).

History

〔Establishment〕 According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Naun-dong Parish was separated and established from Oryong-dong Parish on January 19, 1988, with jurisdiction over Naun-dong, Sanbuk-dong and Miryong-dong. The number of the faithful was 831 at the time of establishment and 2,938 by the end of 1993. The first pastor was Father Park Jung-shin (Simon) (1988.1~1992.2), and the 2th pastor was Father Oh Hyeon-taek (Casimiro) (1992.2 to the time of writing). The active religious institute was the Caritas Sisters, which opened a branch convent on February 1989.

〔Relocation of the parish and construction of the church〕 The encyclopedia records that on December 4, 1988 the parish moved from a commercial building (with a floor area of 60 pyeong) at Lot 779-9 in Naun-dong to a commercial building (underground 80 pyeong, above ground 30 pyeong) at Lot 843-6 in Naun-dong, and that on December 24, 1990 a prefabricated church was completed at Lot 844-6 in Naun-dong, which the diocese had purchased in advance. The following year, on July 9, it founded the ‘Naun Credit Cooperative’ and sold Lot 844-6 in accordance with a land expropriation order for a land development project. On January 31, 1993, it purchased 1,138 pyeong of land for a new church at Lot 1188 in Naun-dong, and later that year on December 5 held the groundbreaking ceremony for a new church with a total floor area of 612 pyeong.

〔Later〕 According to the encyclopedia, on May 22, 1994 it held the 13th Baptism ceremony, producing 1,303 adult baptism recipients since the establishment of the parish, and on April 5, 1995 it was scheduled to complete a new church at Lot 1188 in Naun-dong and relocate the parish there. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea directory lists the parish as belonging to District 5, as established on January 19, 1988, with the Holy Trinity as patron and the Sisters of Caritas of Jesus as the serving religious institute.

Architecture and Space

According to the encyclopedia, a prefabricated church was completed at Lot 844-6 in Naun-dong on December 24, 1990, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on December 5, 1993 for a new church with a total floor area of 612 pyeong at Lot 1188 in Naun-dong (site 1,138 pyeong), and it was recorded that the new church would be completed and the parish relocated on April 5, 1995.

Related Places and People

• Oryong-dong Parish: The parish from which Naun-dong Parish was separated on January 19, 1988 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Caritas Sisters: The active religious institute that opened a branch convent on February 1989 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Naun Credit Cooperative: Founded on July 9, 1991 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Research Institute for Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Naun-dong Parish” (Diocese of Jeonju, Vol. 2). Separation and establishment from Oryong-dong Parish, parish relocation, prefabricated church, purchase of the new church site and groundbreaking, number of the faithful, successive pastors.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/1017
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory “Naun-dong” (Diocese of Jeonju). Establishment date 1988.1.19, patron Holy Trinity, Sisters of Caritas of Jesus, District 5.
   http://directory.cbck.or.kr/m/catholicInfo.asp?code=201001279&gubun=4