Namji Church

Overview

Namji Church is a church in Namji-eup, Changnyeong-gun, South Gyeongsang Province, belonging to the Masan Diocese. According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the Namji Catholic mission chapel established October 10, 1954 was separated from Changnyeong Parish December 28, 1977 and elevated to a parish. Its patron is the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

History

〔From a Catholic Mission Chapel to a Parish〕 According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, the Namji Catholic mission chapel, the origin of Namji Parish, was established October 10, 1954 and steadily developed, and was separated from Changnyeong Parish December 28, 1977 and elevated to a parish. After its elevation to a parish, it began to work for the renewal of the faith community by founding various organizations.

〔Parish Activities〕 The encyclopedia states that a Holy Spirit Seminar and Bible study were held for the re-education of the faithful, and that most events consisted of participation in Masan Diocese district events rather than being organized by the parish itself, but lay organizations including the Legion of Mary remained active. In particular, the Bridget praesidium attended a diocesan-level bazaar and used the proceeds to support the Sunday school.

〔Construction of the New Church Building〕 The encyclopedia states that a new church building was erected on the site of the church that had been a converted Catholic mission chapel, and its dedication ceremony was held December 24, 1987. The building, with a site area of 1,070 pyeong and a floor area of 205 pyeong, was built with offices, meeting rooms and an auditorium on the 1 floor, the church on the 2 floor, and the choir loft on the 3 floor. Although it was a difficult project as a rural parish with about 300 faithful at the time, it was accomplished through the voluntary labor of the faithful, bazaars, and support from parishes of the Masan Diocese and from Germany and the United States. July 1992, the landscaping of the Marian garden was completed solely through the voluntary labor of the faithful.

〔Parish Conditions and Plans〕 According to the encyclopedia, at the time of writing, most of the jurisdiction of Namji Parish was a rural area with strong shamanistic beliefs, the faithful were mainly elderly, many had moved to cities, and finances were poor so it was receiving support from the diocese. Despite these circumstances, starting in 1994, it began a campaign to double Sunday offerings and was planning financial self-sufficiency in 1996. It also states that the 200 ten thousand-pyeong Chilseo Industrial Complex was scheduled to be established in an adjacent area, and that it was striving to form a parish community strengthened by faith in hope that this would provide an occasion for active evangelization.

〔Statistics and Jurisdiction〕 The statistics recorded in the encyclopedia are 50 faithful in 1977, 503 faithful in 1988, and 437 faithful in 1993. Its jurisdiction is all of Namji-eup, Changnyeong-gun, Docheon-myeon, Jangma-myeon, and Chilseo-myeon, Haman-gun. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea directory lists the parish as belonging to Region 3 of the Masan District, with a foundation date of December 28, 1977, 953 faithful, and 1 Catholic mission chapels.

〔Former Pastors〕 The former pastors listed in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia are the first pastor, Joseph Kim Deok-sin (1977.12–1982.1), the 2th pastor, Philip Yi Yun-ho (1982.1–1983.1), the 3th pastor, Peter Kim Seok-jwa (1983.1–1984.1), the 4th pastor, Anselmo Kim Yong-ho (1984.1–1986.2), the 5th pastor, Andrea Cho Myeong-rae (1986.2–1988.6), the 6th pastor, Simon Mun Yeong-su (1988.6–1990.2), the 7th pastor, Ananias Cho Yeong-hui (1990.4–1992.11), the 8th pastor, John Park Yeong-man (1992.11–1994.8), and the 9th pastor, Bartholomew Yi Jong-chang (1994.8–the time of writing of the encyclopedia).

Architecture and Space

According to the encyclopedia, a new church building was erected on the site that had been used as a converted Catholic mission chapel, and was dedicated December 24, 1987. With a site area of 1,070 pyeong and a floor area of 205 pyeong, offices, meeting rooms and an auditorium are on the 1 floor, the church is on the 2 floor, and the choir loft was built on the 3 floor. July 1992, the landscaping of the Marian garden was completed.

Related Places and People

• Changnyeong Parish: December 28, 1977 Namji Parish was separated from this parish and established (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Marian Garden: July 1992 its landscaping was completed solely through the voluntary labor of the faithful (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).
• Chilseo Industrial Complex: an industrial complex that, at the time of writing of the encyclopedia, was scheduled to be established on a scale of 200 ten thousand pyeong in an adjacent area (Korean Catholic Encyclopedia).

References and Sources

1. Research Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, “Namji Parish” (Masan Diocese, Vol. 2). Mission chapel establishment in 1954, parish elevation in 1977, new church dedication in 1987, parish activities, statistics, jurisdiction, former pastors.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/1052
2. Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, Catholic Directory in Korea, “Namji” (Masan Diocese). Foundation date 1977.12.28, patron Immaculate Heart of Mary, Masan District Region 3, number of faithful, number of mission chapels.
   http://directory.cbck.or.kr/m/catholicInfo.asp?code=201001046&gubun=4