Cheonho-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Cheonho-dong Church is the deanery-seat parish of the 9 Gangdong Deanery in the East Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, located in Cheonho-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul. It was elevated and established as a parish on July 8, 1958 from a Catholic mission chapel under the jurisdiction of Sindang-dong Parish, and the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia lists its patron saints as St. Anna and St. Antonio Kim Seong-u. It began in an area settled in the early 1950s by refugees from Cheorwon, and is a mother parish that separated the Amsa-dong, Dunchon-dong, Gil-dong, Godeok-dong, Myeongil-dong, and Pungnap-dong parishes.

History

[From Mission Chapel to Parish] The Cheonho-dong area was a settlement for refugees from the Cheorwon area in the early 1950s and had greater potential for growth than other mission chapels. The Cheonho-dong mission chapel was formally established in spring 1955 when Kang Jin-seok (Joseph) brought the parish priest from Sindang-dong Parish and began mission-chapel rites. Once the mission chapel was settled, parishioners in Cheonho-dong as well as Bangi-dong, Ogeum-dong, Gwangjang-dong, Gil-dong, and Seongnae-dong, finding it difficult to attend Sunday Mass because Sindang-dong Parish was far away, proposed establishing a new parish. Starting in 1958, about 600 pyeong of land was purchased, and with funds raised by parishioners and a subsidy from Bishop Noh Gi-nam, head of the diocese, construction of a church began; in July 1958 the parish was established, Father Park Go-an was appointed as the first parish priest, and a church dedication ceremony was held. As Father Park’s chronic illness worsened, he left for Germany in November, and thereafter priests of the Maryknoll Mission Society took turns in pastoral care. In early 1959, parishioners completed a brick, tile-roofed rectory of about 20 pyeong.

[New Church Building and Early Growth] Father Im Jong-guk, who became the 2 parish priest in May 1959, donated all his personal funds to the church-site purchase fund, resulting in additional purchases of, in 1959, more than 2,000 pyeong, and in 1960, 400 pyeong. Construction of a new church proceeded, and in September 1962 the present church of 198 pyeong and a rectory of 82 pyeong were completed and dedicated with Bishop Noh Gi-nam officiating. Father Im Jong-gu, the 3 parish priest, held ward leaders’ meetings every week. At parishioners’ request, Father Im Jong-guk returned as the 4 parish priest, and in July 1965 completed a convent (25 pyeong) and in November established a branch of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres. When Father Im Jong-guk was hospitalized, Fathers Kim Mong-eun and Lee Mun-geun temporarily took charge of the parish, and in June 1968 Father Kim Dae-seong was formally appointed as the 5 parish priest; in November of the same year he established the Hyomyeong Kindergarten Division, the predecessor of the present Hyomyeong Kindergarten, and devoted attention to the Geoyeo-dong and Garak-dong mission chapels. Father Jo In-hwan, the 6 parish priest, formed a “group presidium system.”

Father Lee Sam-bok, the 7 parish priest, held the inaugural general meeting of the parish steering committee in July 1971, completed new kindergarten classrooms in October 1972 and received formal approval from the City of Seoul in November, and in November 1975 added about 20 pyeong of catechesis rooms between the rectory and the church. Father Kim Byeong-il, the 8 parish priest, abolished the steering committee and organized a lay apostolate council, and in October 1978 completed a new rectory (2 stories, 63 pyeong) and a kindergarten-cum-catechesis building (2 stories, 120 pyeong), and in May 1981 an education hall (600 pyeong). Father Nam Yeong-hui, the 9 parish priest, emphasized ties with the local community through a senior school, kindergarten, credit union, and other activities, began a major interior renovation of the church in October 1982, and in October 1984 completed the present rectory and the Isidol Education Hall.

[Growth and Deanery-Seat Parish] Father Oh Tae-sun, the 10 parish priest, conducted a baseline survey and set “a church that serves and accompanies the local community” as the pastoral direction, and marking the 30 anniversary of the parish’s founding, launched a memorial-hall building campaign in April 1988 and in May 1990 held a blessing ceremony for the “Gangdong Catholic Cultural Center” officiated by Bishop Kim Ok-gyun. Father Lee Jong-nam, the 11 parish priest, carried out a major church repair project in early 1996 and held a dedication ceremony officiated by Cardinal Kim Su-hwan in December of the same year. Father Go Myeong-cheol, the 12 parish priest, in March 1998 formed a committee to publish the “History of Cheonho-dong Parish over 40 Years” to mark the 40 anniversary of its founding. Archbishop Jeong Jin-seok, effective September 25, 1998, established 1 deanery-seat parishes, one for each of the 15 deaneries (Decree No. 98-2 of the Archbishop of Seoul), and Cheonho-dong Parish was designated as the deanery-seat parish of the 9 Deanery, with Father Choe Chang-hwa appointed as the 13 parish priest and first dean. Father Choe set up a deanery office on the 1 floor of the Gangdong Catholic Hall, and Father Choe Jun-ung, the 14 parish priest, in July 2002 completed construction of a basement small chapel and multipurpose hall in the Gangdong Catholic Hall.

From the late 1970s, large apartment complexes were built around Cheonho-dong across the Songpa and Gangdong areas, causing a rapid population increase, and the parish was divided several times. The separated parishes were Amsa-dong Parish and Dunchon-dong Parish in January 1981, Gil-dong Parish in August 1985, Godeok-dong Parish in February 1986, Myeongil-dong Parish in August 1987, and Pungnap-dong Parish in February 1989.

The jurisdictional area recorded in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia covers all of Cheonho 1-dong, 2-dong, 3-dong, and 4-dong and part of Gil 1-dong. Church statistics list, in 1960, 1,316 members, in 1966, 1,617 members, in 1973, 3,176 members, in 1979, 6,520 members, in 1985, 12,440 members, in 1990, 6,044 members, in 1995, 7,068 members, and in 2001, 7,707 members. Successive parish priests are the first, Francis Park Go-an (1958.7–11), the 2, Paul Im Jong-guk (1959.5–1962.9), the 3, Paul Im Jong-gu (1962.9–1963.6), the 4, Im Jong-guk (1963.6–1967.4), the 5, Paul Kim Dae-seong (1968.6–1970.1), the 6, Peter Jo In-hwan (1970.1–1971.5), the 7, John Lee Sam-bok (1971.5–1976.5), the 8, Joseph Kim Byeong-il (1976.5–1981.8), the 9, Isidore Nam Yeong-hui (1981.8–1986.8), the 10, Thomas Oh Tae-sun (1986.8–1992.9), the 11, Raimundo Lee Jong-nam (1992.9–1997.9), the 12, Augustine Go Myeong-cheol (1997.9–1998.9), the 13, Thomas Aquinas Choe Chang-hwa (1998.9–1999.11), and the 14, Barnabas Choe Jun-ung (1999.11–).

Architecture and Space

With the establishment of the parish in July 1958, a church dedication ceremony was held, and in September 1962 the present church of 198 pyeong and a rectory of 82 pyeong were completed and dedicated. In October 1978 a new rectory and a kindergarten-cum-catechesis building were completed, in May 1981 an education hall (600 pyeong) was completed, in October 1984 the present rectory and the Isidol Education Hall were completed, and in May 1990 a blessing ceremony for the Gangdong Catholic Cultural Center was held. In 1996, the church underwent major repairs and a dedication ceremony was held in December, and in July 2002 construction of the basement small chapel and multipurpose hall in the Gangdong Catholic Hall was completed.

Religious Significance and Visiting Context

According to the Korean Catholic Directory, the parish’s sisters’ congregation is the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Cheonho Kindergarten belongs to the parish. The patron saint is listed in the directory as “Blessed Virgin Mary Conceived without Original Sin (St. Antonio Kim Seong-u),” which differs from the encyclopedia’s listing.

Related Places and People

• Sindang-dong Parish: the parent parish from which Cheonho-dong Parish was elevated and established in July 1958.
• Amsa-dong and Dunchon-dong Parishes (January 1981), Gil-dong Parish (August 1985), Godeok-dong Parish (February 1986), Myeongil-dong Parish (August 1987), and Pungnap-dong Parish (February 1989): parishes separated from Cheonho-dong Parish.
• Gangdong Catholic Cultural Center: the facility for which a blessing ceremony was held in May 1990 following a memorial-hall building campaign marking the 30 anniversary of the parish’s founding.
• Gangdong Catholic Hall: the parish office and the deanery office are on the 1 floor, with a small chapel and multipurpose hall in the basement.
• Hyomyeong Kindergarten: the parish kindergarten originating from the Hyomyeong Kindergarten Division established in November 1968.

References and Sources

1. Research Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, “Cheonho-dong Parish (Gangdong).” Verified the parish elevation and establishment on July 8, 1958, patron saints, jurisdictional area, mission-chapel period and church construction, designation as the deanery-seat parish of the 9 Deanery, separated parishes, successive parish priests, and church statistics.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/5943
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory, “Cheonho-dong (Ji).” Verified the affiliated deanery (East Seoul Region 9 Gangdong Deanery), establishment date 1958.07.08, Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Cheonho Kindergarten.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000230&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011