Geumho-dong Church

Overview

Geumho-dong Church is a parish belonging to Seongdong-Gwangjin District No. 8 in the East Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, located in Geumho-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. It was separated and established from Sindang-dong Parish on September 8, 1962, and its patron is Pentecost. From around 1954, as a refugee settlement formed in Musumak (present-day Geumho-dong), the growing Catholic mission chapel faithful took the lead in securing land and it was raised to a parish. Haengdang-dong Parish (1969) and Oksu-dong Parish (1973) were separated from this parish.

History

〔Background of foundation〕 From around 1954, a full-scale refugee settlement formed in Musumak (Sucheol-ri, present-day Geumho-dong) and the number of Catholic mission chapel faithful grew, but as the competent Sindang-dong Parish was far away, a new parish needed to be established. In 1959, led by John Jeon Deok-gyu, John Kim Gi-chang, Peter Kim Yong-hui, Martha Kim and others, the Catholic mission chapel faithful repeatedly raised funds, including by selling relief supplies allotted to them, in order to secure land for the parish foundation, and finally purchased 500 pyeong of church land. On September 8, 1962, Geumho-dong Parish was newly established with about 1,800 faithful, and Father Paul Kim Dae-seong became the first pastor. Its jurisdiction was Geumho-dong, Seongdong-gu.

〔Temporary church〕 After the parish foundation, the urgent task was building a new church, but the secured land was a stony slope unsuitable for church construction. This land was sold, and a Jeongyangwon warehouse owned by the Wonho Office was acquired and used as a temporary church. In July 1963, 205 pyeong of land at San 10, Geumho-dong was purchased, and on December 6 of the same year a temporary church of 42 pyeong in floor area made of cement blocks was completed, followed by an office, catechism room and meeting room in a wooden building of 40 pyeong in floor area.

〔Completion and expansion of the church〕 As the number of faithful grew, a ‘Church Construction Committee’ was organized in February 1967, and on November 24 of the following year a church (104 pyeong) designed with a modern sense and with indoor seats arranged in a fan shape centered on the altar was completed. A rectory was built in July 1969, a new rectory and annex in April 1977, and a 3-story hall on the same building in October 1981. To expand the church land, about 70 pyeong of adjacent land was purchased during the tenure of the 9 pastor, Father Luke Ahn Chung-seok, and about 60 pyeong during the tenure of the 10 pastor, Father James Yeom Su-wan. In September 1971, about 86,000 pyeong of woodland in Donggyo-ri, Pocheon-myeon, Pocheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do was purchased as the parish cemetery.

〔Division and support〕 Haengdang-dong Parish was separated on November 22, 1969, and in 1973 pastoral subsidies were given to Munsan Parish of the Diocese of Masan and to the Diocese of Jeju, and Oksu-dong Parish was separated on October 1 of the same year. In 1978, support was given for the construction of the chapel of the Maseok Catholic mission chapel (now Maseok Parish) of about 90 pyeong.

〔Pastoral activities〕 A monthly bulletin was issued in June 1967, and a branch convent of the Sisters of the Blessed Korean Martyrs was opened on October 5. On November 1, 1970, a library for Sunday school children was opened, and on August 1, 1972, each district was reorganized according to administrative district names. In 1978, the Sunday school youth group was expanded and a paid teacher system was introduced, and when the number of faithful approached 5 thousand in 1982, a ‘Greeting Campaign’ was started for fellowship among the faithful, and the Catholic Young Workers group was organized to carry out labor ministry and movements for social justice. In 1987, the 25th anniversary of the parish foundation, events such as a commemorative photo exhibition, art exhibition and sports festival and special lectures by the 7 Association were held, and Catholics with non-Catholic spouses and inactive Catholics were surveyed and reflected in ministry. In March 1988 the monthly 《Musumak News》 was founded, in May the ‘Geumho Senior University’ was established as part of ministry to the elderly, and in March 1989 the 《25-Year History of Geumho-dong Parish》 was published. In February 1994 the old church building was demolished and construction of a new church began on the site, and as described in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia construction was still in progress as of January 1995.

The number of parishioners was 1,800 in 1962, 3,410 in 1967, 4,412 in 1977, 5,423 in 1987, and 4,697 in 1993. The Korean Catholic Directory lists the Sisters of Jesus the Good Shepherd as the parish’s religious congregation.

Successive pastors are the first, Father Paul Kim Dae-seong (1962.9~1963.6), the 2 pastor, Father Benedict Cho Chang-hui (1963.6~1965.8), the 3 pastor, Father Balthasar Kim Yeong-il (1965.8~1967.4), the 4 pastor, Father Joseph Gyeong Gap-ryong (1967.4~1969.4), the 5 pastor, Father Joseph Kim Byeong-il (1969.4~1971.2), the 6 pastor, Father Benedict Choe Ik-cheol (1971.2~1973.5), the 7 pastor, Father Anthony Yi Sa-eung (1973.5~1979.6), the 8 pastor, Father Peter Song Gwang-seop (1979.6~1982.6), acting pastor Emmanuel Im Gyeong-myeong (1982.6~9), the 9 pastor, Father Luke Ahn Chung-seok (1982.9~1985.8), the 10 pastor, Father James Yeom Su-wan (1985.8~1989.2), the 11 pastor, Father Augustine Seo Chun-bae (1989.2~1990.9), the 12 pastor, Father John Jeon Yong-seon (1990.9~1991.9), and the 13 pastor, Father Francis Lee Hae-uk (1991.9~).

Architecture and Space

On December 6, 1963, a temporary cement-block church of 42 pyeong in floor area was completed on 205 pyeong of land at San 10, Geumho-dong. On November 24, 1968, a church (104 pyeong) with seats arranged in a fan shape around the altar was completed, followed in turn by a rectory in July 1969, a new rectory and annex in April 1977, and a 3-story hall in October 1981. From February 1994, the existing church building was demolished and a new church began to be built.

Related Places and People

• Sindang-dong Parish: the parish from which Geumho-dong Parish was separated in September 1962.
• Haengdang-dong Parish: the parish separated from Geumho-dong Parish on November 22, 1969.
• Oksu-dong Parish: the parish separated from Geumho-dong Parish on October 1, 1973.
• Maseok Catholic mission chapel (now Maseok Parish): the Catholic mission chapel whose chapel construction was supported by Geumho-dong Parish in 1978.
• Father Joseph Gyeong Gap-ryong: the 4 pastor of Geumho-dong Parish (1967.4~1969.4).

References and Sources

1. Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Geumho-dong Parish”. Separation and foundation from Sindang-dong Parish on September 8, 1962, patron Pentecost, jurisdiction, statistics, successive priests, background of foundation and temporary church, completion and expansion of the church, parish divisions, and pastoral activities were verified.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/803
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory “Geumho-dong”. Affiliated district (Seongdong-Gwangjin District No. 8 in the East Seoul Region), foundation date 1962.09.08, patron Pentecost, and the Sisters of Jesus the Good Shepherd were verified.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000053&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011