Segyeomjeong Catholic Church

Overview

Segeomjeong Church is a parish in the 4 Jongno District of the Central Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, located in Sinyeong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Its patron is the Holy Family, and it was established on September 23, 1968, separated from Sejongno Parish.

History

Until the mid-1960s, the more than 300 faithful living in the Gugi-dong and Pyeongchang-dong area, now under the jurisdiction of Segeomjeong Parish, suffered inconvenience because Sejongno Parish was far away. The area had a good living environment and was likely to develop into a housing district, and Sejongno Parish, which was planning to divide the parish, proposed this to the diocese. As a result, on September 23, 1968, Segeomjeong Parish was established and Father Park Gwi-hun (John) was appointed as the first pastor.

Father Park Gwi-hun purchased a private house at 338-40 Buam-dong, converted it into a temporary church, and celebrated the first Mass on October 20. However, because it was on high ground and very inconvenient, he celebrated Mass at the house of Chairman Byeon Dae-gyu (Joseph) while promoting the construction of a new church.

In 1975, the Pyeongchang-dong Catholic mission chapel was established at 105-21 Sinyeong-dong, but it was closed on April 1, 1979, and this former mission chapel was sold in October 1997. On March 7, 1979, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus were invited.

Architecture and Space

The first church, whose groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 17, 1971, was completed on September 3 of that year with a land area of 223 pyeong and a building area of 136 pyeong, and its blessing ceremony was held. As the number of the faithful continued to grow, an additional 307 pyeong of nearby land was purchased on September 16, 1984, a temporary convent was prepared in Buam-dong in June 1991, and a temporary rectory was prepared on February 25, 1992.

Father Yang Gwon-sik, the 7th pastor, promoted the expansion and relocation of the church, purchasing 1,027 pyeong of the present church site in March 1993 and then moving the convent and rectory in turn. The new construction, which began on January 16, 1995, was completed, the first Mass was celebrated in the new church on May 31, 1998, and the blessing ceremony was held on October 27, presided over by Archbishop Jeong Jin-seok (Nicholas), head of the archdiocese. That year, marking the 30th anniversary of its establishment, the parish published a commemorative collection of materials.

Related Places and People

• Sejongno Church: It is the parish from which Segeomjeong Parish was separated.

References and Sources

1. Research Institute for Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia 「Segeomjeong Parish」. The separation and establishment from Sejongno Parish on September 23, 1968, the temporary church and first Mass, and the history of new construction and relocation of the church were confirmed.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/3524
2. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory 「Segeomjeong」. The affiliated district (4 Jongno District), date of establishment 1968.09.23, patron Holy Family, and religious sisters were confirmed.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000149&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011