Samgakji Catholic Church

Overview

Samgakji Church is a parish belonging to Junggu-Yongsan District No. 1 in the Central Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, located on Hangang-ro in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Its patron is the Sacred Heart of Mary, and in 1949 it was separated from Jungnim-dong Parish and founded as ‘Sinyongsan Parish,’ changing to its present name around 1960.

History

The faithful in the Samgakji area had to travel to the distant Jungnim-dong Church to attend Sunday Mass. At their request, Father Choi Seok-ho (Paul), then assistant pastor of Jungnim-dong Parish, celebrated Sunday Mass from around 1947 at the house of Kim Gi-ryeon (Peter) at No. 29, 2-ga, Hangang-ro. As believers who had come south from North Korea and catechumens increased and the local Church grew rapidly, the diocese established Sinyongsan Parish in March 1949 and appointed Father Lee Gye-gwang (John) as its first pastor. Immediately after taking office, Father Lee purchased the house of Kim Gi-ryeon and used it as the church.

The founding date differs according to the source. The directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea gives the founding date as 1948.12.25, while the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that it was separated from Jungnim-dong Parish and founded in March 1949.

Soon after the 2 pastor, Father Gu Cheon-u, took office, the Korean War broke out, leaving the pastorate vacant for about 3 years, and the faithful attended Mass at Jungnim-dong Parish or Myeongdong Parish. Later, the 3 pastor, Father Bong Hui-man, and the 4 pastor, Father Hwang Jeong-su, devoted themselves to rebuilding the devastated church and to evangelization, stabilizing the parish. Under the 5 pastor, Father Kim Chang-rin, in 1958 a branch convent of the Seoul Seongga Sobi Sisters was established, and under the 6 pastor, Father Im Eung-seung, in August 1963 the Cheongpa-dong quasi-parish was established.

On December 18, 1970, as the Ichon-dong apartment complex was formed and the number of faithful grew, the parish transferred the registers of about 150 households and 620 parishioners, separating Hangang Parish, and on August 21, 1981, with the creation of Saenamteo Parish, part of Hangang-ro 3-ga also separated from the parish.

Architecture and Space

The 7 pastor, Father Hwang In-guk, promoted the construction of a new church while in November 1968 preparing a temporary church in a wooden building at No. 187, 1-ga, Hangang-ro. The church, rectory, and convent building with a total floor area of 190 pyeong, whose groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 11, 1971, was completed on November 29, only 7 months after the start of construction, and its dedication ceremony was held. The following May, the Seoul Seongga Sobi Sisters withdrew and a branch convent of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres was opened.

The 9 pastor, Father Han Hui-dong, carried out interior and landscaping work on the new church, and the 11 pastor, Father Hong Seong-man, newly built the rectory and convent on June 9, 1984. In July 1996, the parish purchased the land and building at No. 206-7, 1-ga, Hangang-ro and prepared an education hall (14 pyeong), and on June 29, 1997, newly built an office (7 pyeong).

Religious Significance and Visiting Context

In May 1991, through a readjustment of its jurisdiction, the parish was entrusted by Yongsan Parish with the administration of the Dangogae Shrine (No. 8, 2-ga, Wonhyo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul). That year, on September 29, the parish prepared 14 Stations in the shrine, and held the blessing ceremony for the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 21, 1992, and the blessing Mass for the statues of the martyrs on October 3, 1996.

Related Places and People

• Jungnim-dong Yakhyeon Church: The parish from which Samgakji Parish was separated.
• Dangogae Martyrs’ Shrine: The shrine whose administration was entrusted to Samgakji Parish in 1991.
• Hangang Church: Separated and founded from Samgakji Parish in 1970.
• Saenamteo Church: When it was newly established in 1981, part of Samgakji Parish’s territory (Hangang-ro 3-ga) was separated into this parish.
• Cheongpa-dong Church: Established as a quasi-parish under Samgakji Parish’s pastoral care in August 1963.

References and Sources

1. Institute for Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia “Samgakji Parish.” Verified the separation and founding from Jungnim-dong Parish in March 1949, the renaming from Sinyongsan Parish to Samgakji Parish, the founding and settlement, the separated parishes and architectural history, and the administration of Dangogae Shrine.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/3027
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory “Samgakji.” Verified the affiliated district (Junggu-Yongsan District No. 1), the founding date 1948.12.25, and the patron Sacred Heart of Mary.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000124&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011