Sangam-dong Church

Overview

Sangam-dong Parish is a parish belonging to the 2 Seodaemun-Mapo District in the Central Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, whose patron is ‘Queen of Peace’ (feast day July 9). It was newly established on February 11, 2010, separating from Susaek Parish. The first pastor, Father Paul Namgung-eun, took office on February 23, 2010, entered the new church building in April 2012, and celebrated the dedication of the church on November 9, 2014, in a liturgy celebrated by Cardinal Yeom Soo-jung.

History

[Establishment (2010)] The parish website’s ‘Brief Parish History and Chronology’ records that it was newly established on February 11, 2010, separating from its mother parish, Susaek Parish, with 1,462 parishioners and 561 households at that time. On February 23, 2010, the first pastor, Father Paul Namgung-eun, took office and celebrated the first Mass in a container, attended by 298 people. On February 28, the first Sunday Mass was celebrated in the auditorium of Sangji Elementary School.

[Construction of the Church (2010-2012)] According to the chronology, on June 30, 2010, the parish applied to the diocese for building approval, and on July 12 the transfer of ownership of the church site was completed. On October 24 it held its first fundraising bazaar for the new church building. On January 11, 2011, at 11:30 a.m., Cardinal Yeom Soo-jung attended the groundbreaking ceremony, on May 29 it held a Hanmaeum sports festival, and on October 9 it held a 2th fundraising bazaar for the church building fund. On April 19, 2012, completion of the new church building and permission for its use were granted, and on April 21, after celebrating the entrance Mass in the new church, the parish moved into the new church and carried out a major cleaning.

[Dedication of the Church and Early Growth (2013-2014)] On April 6, 2013, there was the inaugural Mass for the Sunday School (elementary division), on April 13 a one-day retreat for all parishioners, and on October 26 the sacrament of Confirmation (85 people) was celebrated in a liturgy presided over by Cardinal Jeong Jin-seok. On June 22, 2014, the first First Communion ceremony (33 people) was held, and on November 9 the dedication of the church was celebrated in a liturgy presided over by Cardinal Yeom Soo-jung.

[2th Pastor James Jeon Dae-gyu’s Term (2015-2020)] On February 15, 2015, there was a farewell Mass and farewell ceremony for Pastor Father Paul Namgung-eun (noted in the chronology as 2010.02.23-2015.02.16), and on February 17 Father James Jeon Dae-gyu was newly appointed. At Mass at 7 p.m. on February 21, Bishop Jo Gyu-man celebrated Mass and presented the letter of appointment, and on February 25 a welcome Mass and welcome ceremony were held. Recorded are a pastoral visit on March 26 (report on the parish situation and sharing of current issues after Mass at 10 a.m., attended by Bishop Jo Gyu-man) and a Parish Day event on October 9 (all-parish train trip to Samtan Resort, attended by 450 people). In 2016, there were a parish administrative inspection on March 17, the establishment and first meeting of the Jabu Association on June 11 (reported in the Peace Newspaper), and an Advent special lecture by Monsignor Park Sin-eon on December 11. On June 10, 2017, the parish’s first wedding Mass was celebrated, and on July 23 a celebration for Father Jeon Dae-gyu’s name day was held.

In September 2018, from 8 to the 9th, there were fundraising Masses for the reconstruction of Yeomni-dong Parish, and the December Advent special lectures were given by Monsignor Park Sin-eon (December 2), Father Kim Gwang-seo (December 9), and Bishop Gu Yobi (December 16), and on December 26 a rice-cake soup sharing feast for all parishioners was held to celebrate Christmas. On February 24, 2019, there was a Yut-nori tournament between districts for the first full moon of the lunar year, on June 16 an all-parish outdoor Mass at Muchangpo Beach, and on July 21 a name-day event.

[3rd Pastor Paul Lee Tae-gyu’s Term (2020-2025)] On February 16, 2020, there was a farewell Mass for Father James Jeon Dae-gyu, and on February 18 a welcome Mass for Father Paul Lee Tae-gyu was held. Recorded are a pastoral visit by Monsignor Park Sin-eon on May 6 (report on the current situation after Mass at 10 a.m.) and a parish administrative inspection on November 13. In 2022, there were a First Communion ceremony on January 22 (32 people), a First Communion ceremony on October 15 (13 people), district (household) Masses for Districts 6, 7, 9, and 14 from November 1 to 30, and the sacrament of Confirmation on November 27 (41 people, presided over by Bishop Son Hee-song). In 2023, there were a Lenten special lecture to prepare for Easter on March 28 (Father Andrea Kim Deok-jae), a Parish Day event and Mass on May 28 (Yongmun Youth Training Center), a First Communion ceremony on July 15 (17 people), and a training trip to Jeju Island for district and cell leaders of the Women’s General District from October 11 to 13. In 2024, recorded are a Yut-nori tournament between districts on March 3, street evangelization by district from May 20 to 24, a pastoral visit to the parish by Bishop Gu Yobi on July 10, a First Communion ceremony on July 28 (13 people), an appointment ceremony for the 6rd pastoral council on August 18, an enrollment ceremony for the altar servers on October 20 (31 people), and the sacrament of Confirmation on October 27 (28 people, presided over by Father Henrico Choe Seong-gi, dean of District 2).

[4th Pastor Stephen Jo Yeong-hun’s Term (2025-)] On February 16, 2025, there was a farewell Mass and farewell ceremony for Father Paul Lee Tae-gyu, and on February 18 the first Mass after taking office by Father Stephen Jo Yeong-hun and on February 23 a welcome Mass were held. Listed in the chronology are a Lenten special lecture on March 18 (Father John Lee Han-seok), a bazaar hosted by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul on June 15, a First Communion ceremony (15 people) and Baptism (6 people) on July 27, and a Parish Day event on November 9 (all-parish walk to Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Shrine, outdoor Mass at 11 a.m.).

[Patron Saint Queen of Peace] The parish website’s ‘Patron Saint’ guide states that the patron of Sangam-dong Parish is Queen of Peace and that the feast day is July 9. Queen of Peace (Regina Pacis) is a title for the Virgin Mary, emphasizing that Mary intercedes for God’s peace. The guide explains that Pope Benedict 15 formalized it by adding ‘Queen of Peace’ to the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary and prayed for peace amid the turmoil of World War 1, and introduces the passage in Pope St. Paul 6’s exhortation on devotion to Mary connecting the meaning of January 1, the ‘World Day of Peace,’ with the Queen of Peace, along with the peace prayers of various popes.

Jurisdiction and Affiliation

The parish website’s ‘Facility Guide’ lists the church land (land for religious use) as 298 pyeong (983.5㎡) and the church building as 132 pyeong (437.76㎡), both recorded as registered on April 19, 2012. The parish jurisdiction is the 1 area (Districts 1 to 15). The parish website introduces the number of parishioners as 2,472 people and 882 households, while the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea online directory lists 2,837 parishioners, 0 mission chapels, establishment date 2010.02.11, and patron Queen of Peace. The parishioner numbers in the two places differ.

Related Places and People

• Susaek Parish: the mother parish from which Sangam-dong Parish separated on February 11, 2010.
• Successive pastors (parish website ‘Introduction of Clergy’): 1st Paul Namgung-eun (2010.02.23-2015.02.17, ordained in 1993.07.16), 2nd James Jeon Dae-gyu (2015.02.17-2020.02.18, ordained in 1997.07.05), 3rd Paul Lee Tae-gyu (2020.02.18-2025.02.16, ordained in 1998.07.03), 4th Stephen Jo Yeong-hun (2025.02.18-, ordained in 2007.07.06). The chronology records Father Namgung-eun’s term as 2010.02.23-2015.02.16.
• Cardinal Yeom Soo-jung: attended the groundbreaking ceremony in 2011 and presided over the liturgy of the church dedication on November 9, 2014.

References and Sources

1. Sangam-dong Parish website, “Current Status and History” (Brief Parish History and Chronology). Overview, separation in 2010 and first Masses, church construction and dedication, appointments and departures of pastors, Confirmation and pastoral visits, and other yearly records.
   https://www.sangamdong.or.kr/sub01/sub01
2. Sangam-dong Parish website, “Introduction of Clergy”. Terms of office and years of ordination of successive pastors.
   https://www.sangamdong.or.kr/sub01/sub01_2
3. Sangam-dong Parish website, “Facility Guide”. Area of the church land and building and date of registration.
   https://www.sangamdong.or.kr/sub01/sub02
4. Sangam-dong Parish website, “Patron Saint”. Patron saint Queen of Peace and feast day.
   https://www.sangamdong.or.kr/sub01/sub04
5. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea online directory, “Sangam-dong”. District of affiliation, date of establishment, patron, number of parishioners.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000132&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011