Huam-dong Church

Overview

Huam-dong Church is a parish belonging to Junggu-Yongsan District No. 1 in the Jung Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, located in Huam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Its patron is the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and it was established in 1949 after being separated from Yakhyeon parish (now Jungnim-dong).

History

After liberation, Catholics in the Huam-dong area had to go to the distant Yakhyeon parish to attend Mass. Fr. Choi Seok-ho (Paul), then assistant priest of Yakhyeon parish, sometimes visited Catholics’ homes on weekdays to celebrate Mass. In March 1949, Catholics formed a committee to build Huam Church, first established a Catholic mission chapel in Dongja-dong at the entrance to Huam-dong, and celebrated the first Mass on August 15, celebrated by Fr. Choi Seok-ho. In September of the same year, it was raised to a parish, and Fr. Im Hwa-gil (Andrea) was appointed as the first pastor.

Sources give different dates for its establishment. Parish information from the Archdiocese of Seoul and the directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea give the establishment date as August 15, 1949, while the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that it was separated and established from Yakhyeon parish in September 1949. Seen together with the Encyclopedia’s account that the first Mass at the Dongja-dong mission chapel was on August 15 and the elevation to parish was in September, the two records appear to refer to different moments.

Fr. Im Hwa-gil purchased and repaired a former Japanese-owned house lot of 300 pyeong at Dongja-dong 19-12, and held the dedication ceremony in December 1949, celebrated by Bishop Paul No Gi-nam. During the Korean War the church collapsed, and Catholics who returned after the recapture of Seoul in 1953 temporarily celebrated Mass in a nearby Catholic’s home. Fr. Kim Hyo-sin, the 3 pastor, rebuilt the church with building-material support and fundraising, and held the dedication ceremony on January 24, 1954, celebrated by Bishop No Gi-nam.

In November 1954, Fr. Bang Yu-ryong, the 4 pastor, exchanged the church in Dongja-dong for the nursing-home building at lot 38 in Huam-dong, and the parish thus moved from Dongja-dong to its present location in Huam-dong. Bogja Kindergarten also moved into the church at this time.

Architecture and Space

In March 1955, a committee was formed to demolish the old wooden church and build a new modern church. Under Fr. Jang Dae-ik, the 8 pastor, the groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 11, 1963, the first Mass was celebrated on the Solemnity of the Assumption, August 15, 1964, the following year, and the dedication ceremony was held on December 22, jointly celebrated by Archbishop No Gi-nam and Msgr. Carroll.

In 1969, the old kindergarten building was demolished and a concrete brick building was completed on July 31, with the 1 floor used as the kindergarten and the 2 floor as the convent. In July 1973, a single-story slab parish hall was completed, and on June 20, 1976, a new rectory was completed.

Religious Significance and Visiting Context

On February 15, 1956, the parish’s first women’s group, the Sacred Heart Marian Women’s Association, was organized and operated a soup kitchen and knitting school for refugees. Between 1958 and 1960, Legion of Mary praesidia were established one after another. Beginning on October 26, 1984, a Mass in honor of the 103 Korean Martyr Saints has been celebrated every Friday. The Encyclopedia records that the parish strives to help neighbors in need in the local community, including by taking part in meal service for homeless people at Seoul Station.

Related Places and People

• Yakhyeon Church in Jungnim-dong: The parish from which Huam-dong parish was separated.
• Bogja Kindergarten: The parish-affiliated kindergarten that moved into the church in 1954.

References and Sources

1. Korean Church History Research Institute, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, “Huam-dong Parish.” Confirmed the separation and establishment from Yakhyeon parish in 1949, the process from mission chapel to parish elevation, and the history of rebuilding, relocation, and new construction of the church and group activities.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/7084
2. Archdiocese of Seoul, Huam-dong Parish Information. Confirmed the affiliated district (Junggu-Yongsan District No. 1), the establishment date 1949-08-15, and the parish patron the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
   https://aos.catholic.or.kr/aboutInfo/803
3. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory, “Huam-dong.” Confirmed the establishment date 1949.08.15, the patron the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the English name.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000252&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011