신천동 성당

History & origins

The roots of Sincheon-dong Parish lie in the Catholic community that formed as the Jamsil area was developed and its population grew during the 1970s. According to Archdiocese of Seoul materials, after missionary footholds in the area and the Jamsil parish community had expanded, a new parish was separated from Jamsil Catholic Church in May 1981 under the name “Dongjamsil Parish.” The community was recorded as having 1,544 faithful at its establishment, reflecting the rapid growth of both the new urban district and the parish.

After becoming an independent parish, the community continued the work of securing its own church. In October 1985, a blessing Mass for the church was celebrated by Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan. This marked an important stage in the community’s transition from its early provisional period to a parish firmly rooted in the neighborhood.

From 1998 the parish began using the name “Sincheon-dong Parish,” reflecting changes in the local name and living area. Its path from a Catholic community formed during the development of Jamsil, through Dongjamsil Parish, to the present Sincheon-dong Parish illustrates the history of a parish that grew and settled alongside the urban expansion of southeastern Seoul.