Changdong Catholic Church

Overview

Changdong Church is a parish in Dobong-Gangbuk District No. 6 in the Central Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, located in Chang-dong, Dobong-gu, Seoul. Established in 1975 after separation from Suyu-dong Parish and Dobong-dong Parish, its patron is Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus. The founding pastor was Father John Brajil (Sean Brajil, Jin) of the Missionary Society of St. Columban. The date of establishment is recorded as January 9, 1975 in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia and as February 1, 1975 in the Korean Catholic Directory, respectively.

History

The jurisdiction of Changdong Parish, established in January 1975, covered all of Ssangmun 3-dong and parts of Chang 1 and 2-dong. The founding pastor, Father Brajil, used the basement Saemaul hall in Changdong Market at No. 658-24 in Chang 1-dong as a temporary church and celebrated Mass every week. In March he purchased the land for the present parish site and began the 1 phase of construction of the 1-story church, completing it in October with a floor area of 143 pyeong and celebrating the blessing ceremony. In October 1976 he completed the 2 phase, the construction of the 2 story, bringing the total floor area to 312 pyeong, and in May 1978 he completed the basement catechism rooms and the convent. The 2 pastor, Father James Du-gan (Hong), established a credit union in the parish in November 1979.

As the number of the faithful grew in the 1980s, division of the parish was discussed, and in March 1982 land of 404 pyeong for the future Beon-dong Parish was purchased, and the 3 pastor, Father Joseph Jeong Gwang-ung, separated and established Beon-dong Parish in August 1983, transferring 450 households and 1,242 faithful to the new parish. In April 1988, during the tenure of the 4 pastor, Father Matthias Choe Yeong-sik, a fire destroyed the entire 2 story of the church except for the sacristy, and the hall on the 1 floor was used as a temporary church while efforts were made for reconstruction. The 5 pastor, Father Gabriel Kim Se-jin, began reconstruction in May 1989 and in August purchased 53 pyeong at No. 659-35 in Chang 1-dong as the site for the rectory, and in November carried out the rectory reconstruction. The present church was completed in January 1990 and the rectory in June, and in September Banghak-dong Parish was separated and established, with 372 households and 998 persons transferred.

The 6 pastor, Father Paul Kim Chang-hun, celebrated the dedication of the church in May 1991 and in August separated and established Chang 4-dong Parish, transferring 1,029 households and 2,860 persons. The 7 pastor, Father Stephen Nam Hak-hyeon, purchased 189 pyeong for an education hall in May 1993 and completed it in September as a prefabricated building, and in May 1994 expanded the office, installed a nursery and built a disabled access ramp, and held events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the parish foundation from August to October. In February 1999 Ssangmun 2-dong Parish was separated and established, with 1,397 households and 3,869 persons transferred to the new parish. The 9 pastor, Father Joseph Song Myeong-eun, made a train pilgrimage to Nabawi Shrine in June 1999 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the parish foundation. The 10 pastor, Father John Chrysostom O Gi-o, operated the Eucharistic Adoration room from June 2000, and in October 2001 incorporated part of Chang 1 and 2-dong from the jurisdiction of Beon-dong Parish, receiving 224 households and 553 persons, and in May 2002 sold the rectory at No. 659-35 and moved to No. 659-4.

The number of the faithful was 2,208 in 1976, 4,195 in 1981, 6,936 in 1988, 7,716 in 1994, and 3,667 in 2001. The 8 pastor is Father Valentine Song Jin (September 1997–February 1999).

Architecture and Space

The 2 story of the church was completely destroyed by fire in April 1988 except for the sacristy, reconstruction began in May 1989, the present church was completed in January 1990, and the dedication of the church was celebrated in May 1991.

Related Places and People

• Suyu-dong Parish and Dobong-dong Parish: the mother parishes from which Changdong Parish was separated.
• Beon-dong Parish (1983), Banghak-dong Parish (1990), Chang 4-dong Parish (1991), Ssangmun 2-dong Parish (1999): parishes separated and established from Changdong Parish.
• Father John Brajil (Jin): the founding pastor who served from January 1975 to March 1978.

References and Sources

1. Research Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Changdong Parish”. The separation and establishment from Suyu-dong and Dobong-dong Parishes on January 9, 1975, the patron Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, the construction of the church and its reconstruction after the fire (1988~1991), the branching process, and the successive pastors and statistics were confirmed.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/5884
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory “Changdong”. The affiliated district (Dobong-Gangbuk District No. 6 in the Central Seoul Region), the date of establishment 1975.02.01, and the patron Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus were confirmed.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000228&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011