Magoosumyeongsan Church

Overview

Magok-Sumyeongsan Church is a parish in Gangseo District No. 17 of the West Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, whose patron is Saints Peter and Paul. Separated from Balsandong Church in February 2010, it celebrated its first Mass in a temporary church in March and held a Thanksgiving Mass for the dedication of the new church in January 2011.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea directory lists the Magok-Sumyeongsan Parish as belonging to Gangseo District No. 17 of the West Seoul Region, with the date of establishment as 2010.02.11, the patron as Saints Peter and Paul, the number of faithful as 1,882 and the number of mission chapels as 0, and names Father Thomas Lee Dong-uk as pastor.

History

[Separation and temporary church] According to the parish profile on page 1 of the Seoul Bulletin dated January 5, 2020, Magok-Sumyeongsan Church was separated from Balsandong Church in February 2010 and celebrated its first Mass in March in a temporary church (at 190 Naebalsan-dong). The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea directory gives the date of establishment as 2010.02.11.

[Site change and church construction] According to the same Seoul Bulletin profile, the area first purchased as the church site (in Oebalsan-dong 225-8) lay in the middle of a residential area with a high risk of civil complaints and was skewed toward the outskirts of the assigned territory, so the parish proposed to the diocese a change of site and moved to its present location. It purchased the site in July 2010, celebrated a groundbreaking Mass for the construction in October, and held a Thanksgiving Mass for the dedication of the new church in January 2011, thereby preparing a base for mission in the area.

Architecture and Space

The Seoul Bulletin profile notes that thanks to the change of site, a quiet and modest church could be established amid the beautiful backdrop of nearby parks and Mount Sumyeong.

Related Places and People

• Balsandong Church: The parish from which Magok-Sumyeongsan Church was separated in February 2010.
• Mount Sumyeong: The mountain mentioned in the Seoul Bulletin profile as the backdrop of the church.

References and Sources

1. Good News parish information “Magok-Sumyeongsan” page (containing the parish profile on page 1 of the Seoul Bulletin dated January 5, 2020). Separation from Balsandong Church in February 2010, first Mass in the temporary church in March, site purchase in July, groundbreaking Mass in October, Thanksgiving Mass for the dedication of the new church in January 2011, and background to the site change.
   https://maria.catholic.or.kr/mobile/church/bondang_view.asp?orgnum=2824
2. Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea online directory, “Magok-Sumyeongsan”. District affiliation, date of establishment, patron, number of faithful, number of mission chapels, pastor.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000089&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011