Guro 1-dong Catholic Church

Overview

The Guro 1-dong Church is a parish belonging to Guro District 16 of the West Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, located in Guro-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul. According to the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, it was separated and established from the Gurobon-dong Parish on February 26, 1993, and its patron is Saint Andrew Kim Dae-geon.

History

[Establishment process] In October 1992, the then Guro 1-dong Parish (now the Gurobon-dong Parish), as the number of faithful grew, applied to the archdiocesan chancery for permission to divide the parish and purchase a building, and purchased No. 501 in the Naduri Shopping Center in Guro 1-dong as the church building. Then, on February 26, 1993, when the diocese separated and newly established the Guro 1-dong Parish, the existing Guro 1-dong Parish was renamed the “Gurobon-dong Parish.”

[Immediately after the founding] Shortly after the founding of the parish, on March 16, 1993, the Saetbyeol Curia was organized with 8 praesidia of the Legion of Mary, and in June, after completing interior repairs of the church, a branch of the Marian Association was established. In 1993, the first year of its founding, a total of 156 people were baptized, including infant baptisms, on two occasions in April and in December. In 1994, retreats and training sessions were held for middle and high school students, middle and high school teachers, chief district leaders, district group leaders, women faithful, men faithful, and all the faithful.

[Church growth and successive pastors] The number of faithful was 1,716 in February 1993 and 2,000 in 1994. The successive pastors are recorded as the first pastor Peter Jeong Byeong-jo (1993. 2~1994. 8) and the 2 pastor Paul Yi Seung-hun (1994. 8~).

Jurisdiction and Affiliation

The jurisdictional area recorded in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia is Guro 1-dong. The Online Directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea lists the affiliated diocese as the Archdiocese of Seoul, the region and district as Guro District 16 of the West Seoul Region, the date of establishment as 1993.02.26, the religious congregation as the Sisters of Jesus, and the patron as Saint Andrew Kim Dae-geon.

Related Places and People

• Gurobon-dong Parish: The mother parish from which the Guro 1-dong Parish was separated; at the time of the division it was renamed from the “Guro 1-dong Parish” to the “Gurobon-dong Parish.”
• Naduri Shopping Center: No. 501 was purchased as the church building.
• Saetbyeol Curia: Organized on March 16, 1993 with 8 praesidia of the Legion of Mary.

References and Sources

1. Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, “Guro 1-dong Parish.” Separated and established from the Gurobon-dong Parish on February 26, 1993, patron, jurisdictional area, establishment process, activities immediately after the founding, church growth, successive pastors.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/625
2. Online Directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, “Guro 1-dong.” Affiliated diocese and district (Guro District 16 of the West Seoul Region), date of establishment 1993.02.26, religious congregation (Sisters of Jesus), patron Saint Andrew Kim Dae-geon.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000047&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011