Munjeong-dong Church

Overview

Munjeong-dong Church is a parish belonging to No. 10 Songpa District of the East Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, located in Munjeong-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul. It was separated and established from Macheon-dong Parish in 1989, and its patron is the Ascension of the Lord (the Ascension of Jesus). The date of establishment is recorded as October 13, 1989 in the Korean Catholic Directory, and as a separation and establishment on October 29, 1989 in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, while the main text states that the parish was established effective on October 13 and the first pastor took office effective on October 29.

History

As the number of the faithful grew with the rapid development of the pastoral jurisdiction and pastoral difficulties increased, Fr. Martino Park Hang-o, pastor of Macheon-dong Parish who was seeking a division of the parish, secured a site of 641 pyeong at lot 141 in Munjeong-dong, Songpa-gu, in February 1987. He began construction of a prefabricated building in April of the following year, and on May 15, 1988, with Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan presiding, he celebrated the blessing of the temporary church building and the first Mass, thereby formally establishing the 'Munjeong-dong Catholic mission chapel'.

Since the establishment of a parish had been planned from the time the mission chapel was founded, the faithful of the mission chapel worked toward elevation to a parish. On June 15, 1989, with Fr. Park Hang-o presiding, the unveiling ceremony for the statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Virgin Mary was held, and in September, as a temporary rectory, unit A-301 of Gyeongdong Art Villa near the Munjeong-dong mission chapel was purchased. Effective on October 13, Munjeong-dong Parish was established and took over pastoral duties from Macheon-dong Parish, and effective on October 29, the first pastor, Fr. Kim Chung-su, took office. After elevation to a parish, the first baptism ceremony was held at the end of that year, in June of the following year a sports festival for all parishioners was held, and pilgrimages to holy places and choir competitions were carried out. From June 1990, a Sister Evangel sent daily from Macheon-dong Parish assisted in pastoral work, and from around mid-October of the same year, 2 sisters from the 'Sisters of the Good Shepherd' were dispatched to the parish.

As growth in church membership made a new church necessary, construction of a new church began on September 20, 1992, in October a 'Charity Bazaar for the Construction of the New Church' was held to raise funds, and from February 1994 district Masses began to revitalize small Christian communities. 5 years after the founding of the parish, on October 30, 1994, a building with a total floor area of 1,700 pyeong, comprising a church, rectory, convent, catechism classrooms, parking lot and other facilities, with a total site area of 641.1 pyeong and 2 basement floor and 3 above-ground floors, was completed and blessed. In 1995, a Saturday vigil Mass was newly established and from February a 'Bible village school' for parishioners was operated, and formation for members of the Legion of Mary and a 'Great Discussion for the Revitalization of Small Christian Communities' were conducted.

Following the founding of the 'Joseph Group' in September 1990 as part of small community gatherings, lay organizations were launched, so that at the time recorded in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, under the pastoral council, the Legion of Mary with 2 curiae and 43 praesidia, as well as the Association for the Deceased, the Mothers' Group, the Parents' Choir, the Flower Offering Group, the Altar Servers' Mothers' Group, M.E., Ultreya, the Last Farewell Service Group, the Youth Council (Liturgy Department, Choir, Legion of Mary), and the Bible Volunteers' Group were active. There were also the Paul Group, a fellowship group for male faithful aged 50 and older, the Joseph Group composed of middle-aged and older male faithful aged 30 and older who lead major events, and the Marian Association, a fellowship and service group for female faithful aged 30 to 60.

The jurisdiction recorded in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia is Munjeong 1-dong and part of Garak 2-dong. Successive pastors were the first, Boniface Kim Chung-su (October 1989 to September 1995), and the 2 , Peter Kim Taek-am (from September 1995). Church membership was 2,624 in 1989, 4,580 in 1991, 5,716 in 1993, and 6,382 in 1995.

Architecture and Space

In February 1987 a site of 641 pyeong was secured, and on May 15, 1988 a prefabricated temporary church was blessed. The new church, begun on September 20, 1992, was completed and blessed on October 30, 1994, with 2 basement floor and 3 above-ground floors.

Related Places and People

• Macheon-dong Parish: It is the parish from which Munjeong-dong Parish was separated, having promoted the establishment of the Munjeong-dong mission chapel and parish.
• Sisters of the Good Shepherd: It is the religious congregation that dispatched sisters to the parish from around mid-October 1990.

References and Sources

1. Research Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia 'Munjeong-dong Parish'. Confirmed separation and establishment from Macheon-dong Parish in 1989, patron the Ascension of Jesus, establishment of Munjeong-dong mission chapel (May 15, 1988), construction and blessing of the church (October 30, 1994), lay organizations, successive priests and church membership.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/2151
2. Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory 'Munjeong-dong'. Confirmed affiliated district (No. 10 Songpa District of the East Seoul Region), date of establishment 1989.10.13, patron the Ascension of the Lord.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000106&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011