Hongje-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Hongjedong Church is a church in Hongje-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, belonging to the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul. On September 13, 1949 it was elevated to parish status, and according to the parish history its predecessor was the Hongjewon Catholic mission chapel founded under the Jungnim-dong (Yakhyeon) parish in 1940. Its patron is Christ the King, and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea directory records it as belonging to the Central Seoul Region, No. 2 Seodaemun-Mapo District.

History

The history of Hongjedong Church states that it began with the founding of the Hongjewon Catholic mission chapel of the Jungnim-dong (Yakhyeon) parish in 1940. This Catholic mission chapel opened with Assistant Priest Kim Je-geun (Thomas) of Jungnim-dong celebrating the first sacraments at the house of the faithful Choi I-yong (Magdalena), and in 1944 a new Catholic mission chapel was prepared. On September 13, 1949 it was elevated to Hongje-dong Parish and Father Han Do-jun (Matthew) took office as the first parish priest, with 150 faithful at that time. Its jurisdiction is said to have extended eastward from within Mount Bukhan through the inside and outside of Jahamun and along the Hongjecheon Stream road to 10-ri, and northward to Nokbeon-dong, Eungam-dong, Sinmyeong-dong, Yeokchon-dong and Gupabal, and to the Samhwa-ri Catholic mission chapel in Goyang-gun.

During the Korean War, from 1950 to 1956, the parish buildings were destroyed and the faithful attended Mass at Jungnim-dong Church, and in 1956 the parish was restored. On March 1958 Father Park Byeong-yun (Thomas), the No. 2 pastor, took office, and the history states that between March 1958 and August the patron was established as Christ the King and the Hongje-dong parish site was purchased. On January 1961 the present church site, 880 pyeong of land in Hongje-dong, was purchased and a church was built as a Quonset building (known as the Quonset Church). On May 7, 1964 the Nokbeon-dong and Gupabal areas were incorporated into the newly established Bulgwang-dong Church.

On September 22, 1967 the groundbreaking ceremony for the church and kindergarten was held, and after completion on December 17, 1969 the first Mass was celebrated and the parish patron was chosen and proclaimed as St. Benedict. The parish history notes that this decision was made without knowing that Christ the King had already been venerated as patron. On January 18, 1970 the old Quonset church was demolished, and on March 21, 1970, after completion of the church, the first patronal Mass was celebrated and a bell made by the Paris Foreign Missions Society was blessed. On September 14, 1981 the patron was corrected to Christ the King, established in 1958, and in the same year on November 21 the No. 1 Feast of Christ the King celebration was held.

The parish history records that on September 21, 1980 a funeral hall was installed for the first time in the Korean Catholic Church (closed in 1986), and that on November 21, 1999 a thanksgiving Mass for the No. 50 anniversary of the parish founding was offered. On September 16, 2003 Hongje 4-dong Church was newly established after separating from the parish, and on February 19, 2004 Hongeun-dong Church was newly established after separating from the parish. On November 24, 2019 a Mass commemorating the No. 70 anniversary, celebrated by Bishop Gu Yo-bi (Job), was held, and on November 24, 2024 the No. 75 anniversary of the parish founding was commemorated.

Spiritual Significance and Context for Visiting

The directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea lists the patron of Hongjedong Church as Christ the King and the religious congregation in charge as the Sisters of St. Benedict. The parish history records the No. 1 Feast of Christ the King event on November 21, 1981, and notes that the No. 75 anniversary celebration of the parish founding on November 24, 2024 was held to coincide with the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

Related Places and People

• Jungnim-dong Yakhyeon Church: the mother parish that established the Hongjewon Catholic mission chapel in 1940
• Bulgwang-dong Church: the parish into which the Nokbeon-dong and Gupabal areas were incorporated in 1964
• Hongje 4-dong Church (separated in 2003) and Hongeun-dong Church (separated in 2004): parishes separated from Hongjedong Church
• Father Han Do-jun (Matthew): first parish priest in 1949

References and Sources

1. Hongjedong Church, Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul, History of Hongjedong Church. Confirms the founding of the Hongjewon Catholic mission chapel in 1940, parish elevation and the first priest on September 13, 1949, loss and restoration during the Korean War, the present church site in 1961, church completion in 1969–1970, change and restoration of the patron, separations (in 2003 and 2004), and the No. 70 and No. 75 anniversary events.
   https://hongje.catholic.or.kr/history.html
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Catholic Directory of Korea (Hongje-dong). Confirms belonging to the Central Seoul Region, No. 2 Seodaemun-Mapo District of the Archdiocese of Seoul, establishment date September 13, 1949, patron Christ the King, and the Sisters of St. Benedict.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000248&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011