Ok-su-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Oksudong Church is a parish in No. 8 Seongdong-Gwangjin District of the East Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, located in Oksudong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul. It was established by separation from Geumho-dong Parish, and its establishment date is recorded differently as October 1, 1973 in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia and September 14, 1973 in the Korean Catholic Directory. Its patron is the Resurrection of Jesus. It was promoted and founded by Father Egan (T.R. Egan) of the Maryknoll Mission Society, and the present church was blessed on April 28, 1985 with Cardinal Kim Su-hwan presiding.

History

[Establishment] The creation of Oksudong Parish was promoted by Father Egan of the Maryknoll Mission Society. In early 1973, Father Egan purchased 468 pyeong of land at No. 385 Oksudong with funds provided by the headquarters, and on October 1 of the same year received approval from the Archdiocese of Seoul to separate and establish Oksudong Parish from Geumho-dong Parish, and Father Egan, who had prepared the establishment, was appointed as the first pastor. Its jurisdiction was the entire Oksudong area.

[Early activities] Father Egan built and completed the church and rectory in June 1974 and held the blessing ceremony in September of that year, and in 1976 founded for the first time the Legion of Mary Praesidium 'Queen of the Sea'. Father MacInnis (D. MacInnis), who served temporarily as pastor from April 1976 to December 1977, started the Marriage Encounter (M.E.) movement for the first time in Korea in March 1977. The No. 2 pastor, Father Fleming, opened the Veritas night school for youth in September 1979 and admitted 40 students, and in March 1980 established the senior school 'Bullo' for the elderly in the parish area.

[Relocation and new construction of the church] As relocation of the church became unavoidable due to construction of Subway Line No. 3 and Dongho Bridge, the existing church site was sold in March 1980 and in the following month the present church site (350 pyeong) at No. 511-12 Oksudong was purchased. In May 1984 the groundbreaking Mass for the new church was held with Bishop Gyeong Gap-ryong presiding, and on April 28, 1985 the church with a total floor area of 513 pyeong was completed and the blessing ceremony was celebrated with Cardinal Kim Su-hwan presiding. In September 1984 a branch convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was established to assist pastoral activities.

[After the 1990s] The No. 4 pastor, Father Yi Hong-geun, extended the catechesis classroom building (total floor area 190 pyeong) in July 1992 and completed the completion inspection, installed computers in March 1993 to computerize parish work, and in October of the same year held a sports festival and an outdoor Mass for the 20th anniversary of the parish founding. The No. 5 pastor, Father Song Yeong-jun, held Marian devotion meditation meetings, and at the 'Community Day' event held in October 1998 for the 25th anniversary of the parish founding, Archbishop Jeong Jin-seok celebrated Mass. In April 2000 45.5 pyeong of land was purchased to expand the site, and under the No. 6 pastor, Father Han Yeong-man, construction of a parish annex building began in May 2001 and was completed in September of the same year. The No. 7 pastor, Father Park Seon-yong, led all parishioners to participate in the synod begun for the development and renewal of the diocese in the new millennium and placed the focus of pastoral activities on fellowship among the faithful.

The number of faithful was 945 in 1973, 1,471 in 1978, 2,084 in 1983, 3,270 in 1988, 3,522 in 1993, 3,466 in 1997, and 4,016 in 2000.

Successive pastors are the first, Thomas Egan (Do Myeong-heon) (1973.10~1978.1), the No. 2, James Fleming (Hyeon An-sin) (1978.1~1988.8), the No. 3, Francis Jeong Wol-gi (1988.8~1991.8), the No. 4, Stephen Yi Hong-geun (1991.8~1996.9), the No. 5, Pius Song Yeong-jun (1996.9~2001.2), the No. 6, Stephen Han Yeong-man (2001.2~9), and the No. 7, Joseph Park Seon-yong (2001.9~).

Architecture and Space

In early 1973, 468 pyeong of land at No. 385 Oksudong was purchased and in June 1974 the church and rectory were completed, but as relocation became unavoidable due to construction of Subway Line No. 3 and Dongho Bridge, the existing church site was sold in March 1980 and 350 pyeong of land at No. 511-12 Oksudong was purchased. Here groundbreaking was held in May 1984 and on April 28, 1985 the church with a total floor area of 513 pyeong was blessed, in July 1992 the catechesis classroom building with total floor area of 190 pyeong was extended, and in April 2000 45.5 pyeong of land was additionally purchased and in September 2001 the annex building was completed.

Related Places and People

• Geumho-dong Parish: The parish from which Oksudong Parish was separated.
• Maryknoll Mission Society: The mission society to which Father Egan belonged, which purchased the site for Oksudong Parish with funds provided by the headquarters.
• Father Egan (T.R. Egan): The first pastor of Oksudong Parish (1973.10~1978.1).
• Father MacInnis (D. MacInnis): The temporary pastor (1976.4~1977.12) who started the Marriage Encounter movement for the first time in Korea in March 1977.

References and Sources

1. Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia 'Oksudong Parish'. The separation and establishment from Geumho-dong Parish on October 1, 1973, the patron Resurrection of Jesus, the jurisdiction, the number of faithful, successive priests, and the construction, relocation, new construction and blessing of the church, the sisters' branch convent, and pastoral activities were confirmed.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/4645
2. Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory 'Oksudong'. The affiliated district (No. 8 Seongdong-Gwangjin District of the East Seoul Region), the establishment date 1973.09.14, the patron Resurrection of Jesus, and the Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help were confirmed.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000193&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011