Deungchon 1-dong (ji) Catholic Church

Overview

Deungchon 1-dong Parish is a parish belonging to Gangseo District No. 17 in the West Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, located in Deungchon-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul. According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, it was separated and established from Deungchon-dong Parish on August 16, 1986, and is a parish entrusted to the Missionary Society of St. Columban.

History

[Background of foundation] As redevelopment and apartment construction continued in the Yeomchang-dong, Deungchon 1-dong, and Gayang-dong areas and the number of faithful grew rapidly, a plan was established in 1984 to separate a church in the Yeomchang area. In October 1985, a factory building with a site of 268 pyeong and a total floor area of 148 pyeong at the present church site was purchased, and in June of the following year repair work on the factory building was carried out. On August 24 of that year, the dedication ceremony of the church was held.

[Later history] On September 24, 1992, Gayang-dong Catholic mission chapel, which had been under the jurisdiction of this parish, was elevated and established as a parish. As the number of faithful increased and a larger church became necessary, by 1995 a total floor area of 640 pyeong had been secured in four stages, and the encyclopedia notes that parishioners hoped for a new sanctuary to be built.

[Pastoral activities and church statistics] Missionary Carmelite Sisters were dispatched to the parish to assist in ministry, and during Advent and Lent outside lecturers were invited to offer faith courses. The annual parish day event in May and assistance to neighbors in need centered on the Society of St. Vincent de Paul also continued. The number of faithful was, in 1986, 1,727; in 1990, 3,164; and in 1994, 4,757.

[Former pastors] It is recorded as the first pastor, Burke (M. Bourke, Bu Seon-yong) Martino (1986. 8~1989. 7), the 2th pastor, Tierney (P. Tierney, Ji) Peter (1989. 7~1993. 3), and the 3th pastor, McGonagle (D. McGonagle, Yu) Dennis (1993. 3~).

Jurisdiction and Affiliation

The jurisdictional area recorded in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia is Deungchon 1-dong and parts of Yeomchang-dong, Hwagok-dong, and Gayang-dong. The online directory of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea lists the affiliated diocese as the Archdiocese of Seoul, the region-district as West Seoul Region, Gangseo District No. 17, the date of establishment as 1986.08.16, the religious congregation as the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Service, and the patron as St. Augustine Yi Gwang-heon.

Related Places and People

• Deungchon-dong Parish: The mother parish from which Deungchon 1-dong Parish was separated.
• Gayang-dong Parish: On September 24, 1992, Gayang-dong Catholic mission chapel under the jurisdiction of Deungchon 1-dong Parish was elevated to a parish.
• Missionary Society of St. Columban: The encyclopedia describes this parish as a parish entrusted to the Missionary Society of St. Columban.

References and Sources

1. Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, "Deungchon 1-dong Parish". Separation and establishment from Deungchon-dong Parish on August 16, 1986, patron, jurisdictional area, founding process, elevation of Gayang-dong mission chapel to a parish, pastoral activities, church statistics, former pastors.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/1527
2. Online directory of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, "Deungchon 1-dong (Ji)". Affiliated diocese and district (West Seoul Region, Gangseo District No. 17), date of establishment 1986.08.16, congregation (Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Service), patron St. Augustine Yi Gwang-heon.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000087&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011