Donam-dong Church

Overview

Donam-dong Parish is a parish of the Archdiocese of Seoul in Donam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. It was established on October 18, 1955 by separating from Hyehwa-dong Parish, and its patron saint is St. Patrick. For about 15 years in the early period after its foundation, the Missionary Society of St. Columban was in charge of pastoral care.

History

According to the parish history, the place name Donam-dong derives from ‘Doenomi-gogae (Mia-ri-gogae)’, and the first baptized person in this area is presumed to have appeared around 1929. In the 1930s, 4–5 people from Donam-ri were baptized each year at Hyehwa-dong Parish, and after the Korean War, on October 18, 1955, Donam-dong Parish was born by separating from Hyehwa-dong Parish.

With the purchase of the present church site in 1954 by the Missionary Society of St. Columban, the foundation of the parish gained momentum. The parish overview records the start of construction on December 26, 1954 and the blessing day on October 18, 1955. The Archdiocese of Seoul and the Missionary Society of St. Columban agreed that the Missionary Society of St. Columban would have jurisdiction over Donam-dong Parish from 1955 to 1970, for 15 years, and the first parish priest was Father Patricio Son. Jurisdiction was transferred to the Archdiocese of Seoul on April 12, 1969, earlier than the agreed period. The number of the faithful at the time of the parish foundation in 1955 was 900.

Reconstruction of the church building began in May 1999, and the dedication ceremony for the rebuilt church was held in October 2000. On October 16, 2005, Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan celebrated Mass for the 50th anniversary of the parish foundation, and in November the 『History of Donam-dong Parish for 50 Years』 was compiled. Later, as the number of the faithful increased, Bomun-dong Parish separated from Donam-dong Parish on August 5, 2010.

Architecture and Space

Culture and tourism materials of the Seongbuk-gu Office introduce Donam-dong Parish as a Gothic-style religious facility built in 1955, and explain that it is regarded as the most accomplished in exterior detailing among the stone churches founded by the Missionary Society of St. Columban.

Related Places and People

• Hyehwa-dong Parish: It is the mother parish of Donam-dong Parish.
• Bomun-dong Parish: It was established on August 5, 2010 by separating from Donam-dong Parish.

References and Sources

1. Donam-dong Parish, Parish History. Confirms separation from Hyehwa-dong Parish on October 18, 1955, pastoral care by the Missionary Society of St. Columban and transfer of jurisdiction in 1969, dedication of the rebuilt church in 2000, in 2005 the 50th anniversary, and separation of Bomun-dong Parish in 2010.
   https://donam.org/history
2. Donam-dong Parish, Parish Overview. Confirms start of construction (December 26, 1954) and blessing (October 18, 1955), patron saint St. Patrick, and mother parish Hyehwa-dong Parish.
   https://donam.org/about
3. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Catholic Directory of Korea (Donam-dong). Confirms belonging to the Seongbuk District of the Archdiocese of Seoul, foundation date October 18, 1955, and patron St. Patrick.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000082&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011
4. Seongbuk-gu Office, Culture and Tourism 「Donam-dong Church」. Confirms Gothic-style building built in 1955, and the evaluation of exterior decoration among the stone churches founded by the Missionary Society of St. Columban.
   https://www.sb.go.kr/tour/contents.do?key=7686