Myeongseo-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Myeongseo-dong Church is a church in Myeongseo-dong, Uichang-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, belonging to the Diocese of Masan. According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, following the decision of the Changwon district priests' meeting on September 1990, it was newly established to commemorate the 25 anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Masan, and on June 28, 1991 it was separated and newly established from Jung-dong Parish and Bansong Parish. Its patron is St. Paul the Apostle (listed as the Holy Family in the Bishops' Conference directory).

History

〔Decision to Establish the Parish and Securing the Site〕 According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, Myeongseo-dong Parish was newly established to commemorate the 25 anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Masan, following the decision of the Changwon district priests' meeting held September 1990. The diocese had already purchased about 690 pyeong of land at the present parish site November 21, 1989. On June 28, 1991 it was separated and newly established from Jung-dong Parish and Bansong Parish.

〔Temporary Church〕 The encyclopedia states that July 15, 1991 after renting a private house at Myeongseo-dong 115-3 (basement 30 pyeong, 1 floor, 40 pyeong) the blessing ceremony for a temporary church was held August 4, but rain leaked, the building had not passed completion inspection, and electricity had to be drawn from another house, making it unsuitable as a temporary church, so relocation was considered. Afterwards, a newly built building at Myeongseo-dong 110-1 owned by a believer (above ground floors 1 to 2, 54 pyeong) was rented, and the basement (39 pyeong) was used free of charge as a church, but inconveniences led to speeding up new church construction.

〔New Church Construction and Annex Facilities〕 According to the encyclopedia, the site prepared by the diocese was designated as kindergarten land rather than religious land, so under a policy to include a kindergarten in the new church, construction began October 1991. 8 months later, on June 7, 1992, the blessing was held with only a total floor area of 462 pyeong, basement 1 floor (church and annex facilities) and above-ground 1 floor (kindergarten) completed. On February 16, 1993 the rectory and convent were completed, and on March 2 Seongmo Kindergarten with 3 classes and a capacity of 90 children was opened.

〔Devotional Groups and Later Plans〕 The encyclopedia notes that although the blessing was held while incomplete, the number of faithful grew markedly and devotional groups were formed. At the time of compilation there were the Holy Spirit Prayer Group, the Marian Association, a gathering of women believers of age groups 50 to 60 supporting vocations and the middle and high school Sunday school, the Altar Society, the Monica Association, a gathering of women believers of age groups 30 to 40 supporting the elementary Sunday school, the Association for the Deceased, 1 curiae (30 praesidia) of the Legion of Mary, the Prison Support Group, the Ecuador Support Group, and the Mira Association supporting persons with Hansen's disease. Funds for church construction were raised by buying goods cheaply from the nearby industrial complex and selling them and donating the proceeds, and construction was at times halted due to ground subsidence caused by adjacent building work. The encyclopedia states that once the church is completed, the church will be moved from the present basement 1 floor to the above-ground 2 floor, and the basement will be lent free of charge when needed for society and neighbours.

〔Church Statistics and Jurisdiction〕 The statistics recorded in the encyclopedia are 1,874 faithful in 1991, 2,506 faithful in 1993, and 2,534 faithful in 1994. The jurisdiction covers Myeongseo 1 and 2-dong, Myeonggok-dong, Bonggok-dong and Daewon-dong. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea directory lists the parish as belonging to Changwon District 2 region, with establishment date June 28, 1991, affiliated sisters the Salesian Sisters, patron the Holy Family, 5,287 faithful, and 0 Catholic mission chapels.

〔Successive Pastors〕 The pastors listed in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia are the first Benedict Jang Byeong-uk (1991.6 to 1995.7) and 2 pastor Thaddeus Hwang Chang-geon (1995.7 to the time of compilation).

Architecture and Space

According to the encyclopedia, construction began October 1991, and 8 months later, on June 7, 1992, the blessing was held with only a total floor area of 462 pyeong, basement 1 floor (church and annex facilities) and above-ground 1 floor (kindergarten) completed. The rectory and convent were completed February 16, 1993, and Seongmo Kindergarten with 3 classes and a capacity of 90 children was opened March 2. As the site prepared by the diocese was designated as kindergarten land, the kindergarten was included in the new church building.

Related Places and People

• Jung-dong Parish and Bansong Parish: On June 28, 1991 Myeongseo-dong Parish was separated and newly established from these two parishes (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Seongmo Kindergarten: Opened March 2, 1993 with 3 classes and a capacity of 90 children (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Changwon district priests' meeting: Decided the establishment of Myeongseo-dong Parish September 1990 (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Research Institute for Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Myeongseo-dong Parish” (Diocese of Masan, vol. 4). Decision to establish parish, securing site, temporary church, 1992 church blessing, Seongmo Kindergarten, devotional groups, statistics, jurisdiction, successive pastors.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/1996
2. Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory “Myeongseo-dong” (Diocese of Masan). Establishment date 1991.06.28, patron Holy Family, Changwon District 2 region, sisters, number of faithful, number of mission chapels.
   http://directory.cbck.or.kr/m/catholicInfo.asp?code=201001053&gubun=4