Sinwol 1-dong Church

Overview

Sinwol 1-dong Church is a parish belonging to Yangcheon Deanery No. 18, West Seoul Region, Archdiocese of Seoul, whose patron is ‘Mary, Mother of God.’ It was established on September 22, 2005 as a pilot parish for joint pastoral care in the Hwagokbon-dong area, celebrated its first Mass in the new church on December 2011, and held its church dedication ceremony on March 18, 2012 officiated by Cardinal Jeong Jin-seok. Its jurisdiction covers Sinwol 1-dong, Sinwol 3-dong and Sinwol 5-dong in Yangcheon-gu.

History

[Established as a Joint Pastoral Parish (2005)] The parish homepage’s ‘Parish Introduction’ states that Sinwol 1-dong Church was designated on September 22, 2005 as a pilot joint pastoral parish of the Archdiocese of Seoul, and that it started on October 9, 2005 as a joint pastoral church consisting of Hwagokbon-dong Church, Hwagok 6-dong Church and Sinwol 1-dong Church (with a total of 2,698 faithful in 968 households). The chronology records the ‘establishment of Sinwol 1-dong Church in the Hwagokbon-dong joint pastoral area’ on September 22, 2005, the first pastor John the Apostle Jang Hyeok-jun, the regional pastoral center (Sinwol 1-dong, Yangcheon-gu, No. 97-26), and the rectory (No. 361-1, Hwagok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Hwagok Daerim Apartment, Building 5, Unit 1303). On October 9 the joint pastoral inaugural Mass was celebrated at Hwagokbon-dong (Hwagokbon-dong, Gangseo-gu, No. 105-244); with the implementation of joint pastoral care, Hwagokbon-dong, Ujangsan and Sinwol 1-dong, 3 parishes in total, were established, finances and parish registers were divided to form separate parishes, and Archbishop Nicholas Jeong Jin-seok officiated the inaugural Mass. On November 18 the Sinwol 1-dong Church area was organized into 2 districts and 12 zones, on December 4 standing committee members were appointed and the first pastoral council was held, and on December 25 the blessing ceremony for the Sinwol 1-dong Church regional pastoral center was held.

The ‘Parish Introduction’ notes that the distance from the parish to the joint pastoral church was difficult for elderly and infirm people to cover on foot. It lists the first pastor, Fr. Jang Hyeok-jun, as serving from October 9, 2005 to September 5, 2006 (the pastors’ biographies list him as pastor of Sinwol 1-dong from 2005.12 to 2006.10), and states that he cut operating costs to purchase a parish building, moved the rectory into the parish jurisdiction, and sold goods through the women’s district, but after only 1 years he was transferred as pastor of Hwagokbon-dong Church. The chronology for September 2006 records together the appointment of Fr. John the Apostle Jang Hyeok-jun as pastor of Hwagokbon-dong and the appointment of Fr. Gabinus Kim Hwan-su as pastor of Sinwol 1-dong Church (secretary priest for the Hwagokbon-dong joint pastoral care). On September 6 the rectory was moved to Topgeon Winnerville Apartment, Unit 801, Sinwol 1-dong, No. 145-9, and on October 1 operation of the Adoration Chapel in the pastoral center began.

[Preparation for Church Construction (2007~2010)] The No. 2 pastor, Fr. Kim Hwan-su, had served as secretary priest from the early days of joint pastoral care and thus knew the pastoral reality of Sinwol 1-dong Church, and after taking office he gathered opinions from all parishioners and trained volunteers in order to establish the parish’s identity and pursue open ministry. The ‘Parish Introduction’ explains that opinions in favor of constructing a new parish building were steadily raised because of the long distance to the joint pastoral church, the limited space of the pastoral center, and the need to revitalize evangelization. According to the chronology, Sister Agnes Go Seong-mi (of the Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help) arrived as evangelization sister on March 1, 2007, and a Confirmation with 123 recipients was held on October 7. Sister Marischan Jang Pil-seon arrived on February 2008 as Sister Go Seong-mi left, and Sister Mariandre Lee Ok-gyeong arrived on February 21, 2009 as Sister Jang Pil-seon left. Paul Son Tae-jin was ordained deacon on June 27, 2008 (at Jamsil Gymnasium), and the chronology records a priestly ordination on June 26, 2009 (at Olympic Park Gymnasium No. 1) and the first Mass at the pastoral center on June 30. The same homepage’s ‘Priests Ordained from the Parish’ page gives his ordination date as 2009.07.06.

On July 24, 2009 a plan to purchase a site for church construction was reported to the diocesan curia and the purchase was approved, and on October 8 the parish announced a comprehensive plan for church construction. On October 21 a purchase contract for the church site was signed (Sinwol-dong Nos. 99-27~30, 4 lots, 742.5 square meters, 224.6 pyeong). On February 28, 2010 there was a farewell Mass for Hwagok 6-dong Church (Ujangsan Church) in the joint pastoral care, and on March 31 the transfer of ownership of the site was completed (owner: the Seoul Archdiocese Maintenance Foundation). On April 25 a large bazaar to raise funds for church construction was held at Sinwon Elementary School, with Bishop Basil Cho Kyu-man celebrating Mass. On November 4 the construction plan was reported to and approved by the diocese, on November 30 a design service contract was signed with the Lee Seong-u Architect Office, and on December 11 a comprehensive plan for the new church construction was announced.

[New Church Construction and Dedication (2011~2012)] According to the ‘Parish Introduction’ and chronology, on January 23, 2011 the parish began offering 100 ten thousand Rosary prayers for the construction of the new church, and on March 15 signed a construction contract with Samyang Construction Industry Co., Ltd. On March 27 a groundbreaking Mass (officiated by Bishop Basil Cho Kyu-man) was celebrated at the church site, and on March 28 construction of the new church began. A construction briefing was held on July 24, and another briefing was held again on September 18 together with the Parish Day commemorative Mass. On December 18 the parish moved to the new church (Gomdallae-ro 5-gil 52, Sinwol 1-dong No. 99-30), at which time the patron saint is recorded as ‘Mary, Mother of God.’ On December 24 the Christmas Midnight Mass was celebrated as the first entrance Mass in the new church, and on December 28 1,000,878 Rosary prayers for the church construction were offered.

The new church has 1 basement floors and 4 above-ground floors, with a total floor area of 1,586 square meters (497.76 pyeong). Basement floor 1 is a dining hall doubling as an auditorium, floor 1 houses offices, the evangelization sister’s office and the religious goods store, floor 2 houses the rectory and catechesis and meeting rooms, floor 3 is the main church hall, and floor 4 is the infants’ room and choir loft. On January 12, 2012 the rectory, which had been in an apartment, moved to the new church, and on February 21 a certificate of approval for use of the new church was received from the Yangcheon-gu Office. On March 17 a concert commemorating the church dedication was held, and on the afternoon of March 18 at 3 o’clock the church dedication ceremony was celebrated, officiated by Cardinal Nicholas Jeong Jin-seok with Bishop Basil Cho Kyu-man concelebrating. The chronology notes that 1,158,536 Rosaries were offered at that time. To raise construction funds, pastor Fr. Kim Hwan-su and the pastoral council, following the bazaar on April 25, 2010, conducted fundraising appeals from June 2010, starting with Wolgye-dong Church on 19~20th, until November 27, 2011, in 15 churches in the diocese. The places named in the chronology are Wolgye-dong, Sinwol-dong, Apgujeong, Dobong-dong, Yeouido, Jungang-dong and Yangjae-dong (all in 2010) and Hwagokbon-dong, Sindang-dong, Seocho-dong, Irwon-dong, Sindaebang-dong, Dogok-dong, Yangcheon and Daebang-dong (all in 2011) churches. The chronology states that on December 20, 2012 17 hundred million 7 ten million won was borrowed, and that the church debt was repaid in full on December 19, 2023.

[Change of Pastors and Period of Stability (2012~2022)] On August 26, 2012 there was a farewell Mass for Fr. Kim Hwan-su, and on August 28 a welcome ceremony for the No. 3 pastor, Fr. Benedict Lee Gye-ho, was held. On November 11 the parish website (www.swfirst.or.kr) was opened. On December 18 the No. 4 pastor, Fr. John the Baptist Yun Byeong-gil, took office (the ‘Parish Introduction’ records the appointment as dated December 13). The ‘Parish Introduction’ lists the number of faithful as of the end of December 2013 as 1,196 households and 2,949 persons. On March 3, 2013 there was the first Family Mass, offered as a Family Mass at the 11 o’clock Mass on the first Sunday of each month. On January 19, 2014 Bishop Cho Kyu-man visited the parish, and on February 7 John the Baptist Choe Yo-an, ordained from the parish, was ordained priest (at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Arena) and celebrated his first Mass on February 9, and took up his appointment on February 18 at Apgujeong 1-dong Church. On July 6 a Confirmation (181 recipients, officiated by Bishop Jeong Sun-taek) and on September 2 the appointment of associate pastor Fr. Stephen Nam Yeong-u (leaving on February 17, 2015) are recorded.

On May 10, 2015 there was the 10th anniversary Fellowship Day (all-parishioners athletic meeting and Marian Night, at Yongmun Youth Retreat Center, with 506 participants), from August 27 to September 19 the 10th anniversary commemorative chain prayer, on September 1 associate pastor Fr. Francis Han Jeong-il took office, and on September 19 there were the 10th anniversary commemorative Mass and blessing of the rest area. There was a pastoral visitation by Bishop Jeong Sun-taek on May 19, 2016, and on June 25, 2017 a Confirmation (91 recipients). After a farewell Mass for Fr. Yun Byeong-gil and Fr. Han Jeong-il on August 27, 2017, on September 3 the No. 5 pastor Fr. Andrew Kim Dae-geon Son Seok-sik and associate pastor Fr. Peter Yeo Sang-min took office. On September 23, 2018 the blessing ceremony for the parish statue of the Virgin Mary was held. Fr. Yeo Sang-min celebrated a farewell Mass on February 10, 2019 and was dispatched to the Military Diocese. On November 29, 2020 a Confirmation (80 recipients, officiated by Bishop Job Koo Yo-bi) was celebrated, and there were a priestly ordination (Simon Kim Seong-jin) on February 5, 2021 and a new priest’s first Mass on February 7. In the chronology for the COVID-19 period, non-face-to-face broadcast Masses from December 8, 2020, a return to in-person Masses on February 1, 2021, and a return to non-face-to-face Masses on July from 12~25th are recorded.

[Recent (2022~2025)] On August 28, 2022 there was a farewell Mass for the departure of Fr. Son Seok-sik, and on August 31 the No. 6 pastor, Fr. Paul Jeong Ha-sang Park Jae-hong, took office and celebrated a welcome Mass on September 4. In the parish register report on July 2023, the total number of faithful at Sinwol 1-dong Church was counted as 1,916 persons (as of 2023.7.29). The Confirmation on October 14 was officiated by Bishop Son Hui-song. In 2025, marking the 20th anniversary of the parish’s establishment, for the events on March 23~September 21 donations totaling 19,286,200 won were collected, and on September 13 a Confirmation (48 recipients, officiated by Bishop Job Koo Yo-bi), on September 20 a concert commemorating the 20th anniversary of the establishment, and on September 21 the 20th anniversary Parish Day event for the parish establishment were held.

Jurisdiction and Affiliation

The ‘Parish Introduction’ lists the jurisdiction as the Sinwol 1-dong, Sinwol 3-dong and Sinwol 5-dong areas in Yangcheon-gu. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea online directory lists the affiliation as Yangcheon Deanery No. 18, West Seoul Region, the establishment date as 2005.09.22, the patron as Mary, Mother of God, the number of faithful as 1,944, and the number of mission chapels as 0.

Related Places and People

• Hwagokbon-dong Church and Ujangsan Church (Hwagok 6-dong): neighboring parishes that started together in joint pastoral care in 2005. The chronology records a farewell Mass on August 28, 2011 for the departing joint pastoral Hwagokbon-dong pastor Fr. John the Apostle Jang Hyeok-jun, and the appointment of Fr. John the Apostle Kang Mun-il on September 4.
• Former pastors (from the parish homepage’s ‘Parish Prayer’ page, biographies of priests): the first, John the Apostle Jang Hyeok-jun (ordained in 1995); No. 2, Gabinus Kim Hwan-su (ordained in 1997.07.05, 2006.10~2012.08); No. 3, Benedict Lee Gye-ho (ordained in 1996.07.05, 2012.09~12); No. 4, John the Baptist Yun Byeong-gil (ordained in 1995.07.05, 2012.12~2017.07); No. 5, Andrew Kim Dae-geon Son Seok-sik (ordained in 2002.07, 2017.08~2022.10); No. 6, Paul Jeong Ha-sang Park Jae-hong (2022.08.31~).
• Former associate pastors: Stephen Nam Yeong-u (ordained in 2004.07.02), Francis Han Jeong-il (ordained in 2002.07.05), Peter Yeo Sang-min (ordained in 2016.02.05, appointed in 2017.08, dispatched to the Military Diocese in 2019.02.12).
• Priests ordained from the parish (parish homepage): Paul Son Tae-jin (ordained in 2009.07.06), John the Baptist Choe Yo-an (ordained in 2014.02.07), Simon Kim Seong-jin (ordained in 2021.02.05).
• Former parish sisters (from the parish homepage’s ‘Sisters’ in ‘Parish Prayer’): Agnes Go Seong-mi (2007.03~2008.02), Marischan Jang Pil-seon (2008.02~2009.02), Mariandre Lee Ok-gyeong (2009.02~2012.02), Serena Kim Yeong-mi (2012.03~2013.02), Teresa Lee Gi-hwa (2013.02~2015.01), Maria Lee Eun-suk (2015.02~2018.01), Elisabeth Kim Yeong-ok (2018.02~2021.01), Monica Nam Yun-ja (2021.02~2025.01), Veronica Oh (2025.02~ serving as parish evangelization sister).

References and Sources

1. Sinwol 1-dong Church website, “Parish Introduction” (parish overview). Establishment as joint pastoral parish, church construction process, size of new church, dedication ceremony, jurisdiction, number of faithful.
   http://www.swfirst.or.kr/theme/basic/html/about_2.php
2. Sinwol 1-dong Church website, “Parish Chronology” (present to 2021). Parish events and pastoral records by year for 2021~2025.
   http://www.swfirst.or.kr/theme/basic/html/about2.php
3. Sinwol 1-dong Church website, “Parish Chronology” (2020~2011). Groundbreaking, start of construction, move-in and dedication of the new church, fundraising appeals, change of pastors, Confirmations.
   http://www.swfirst.or.kr/theme/basic/html/about2_1.php
4. Sinwol 1-dong Church website, “Parish Chronology” (2010 and earlier). Launch of joint pastoral care in 2005, regional pastoral center, purchase of church site, design contract.
   http://www.swfirst.or.kr/theme/basic/html/about2_2.php
5. Sinwol 1-dong Church website, “Parish Prayer,” former pastors. Ordinations and appointments of former pastors.
   http://www.swfirst.or.kr/theme/basic/html/about5_2.php
6. Sinwol 1-dong Church website, “Parish Prayer,” former associate pastors. Ordinations and appointments of associate pastors.
   http://www.swfirst.or.kr/theme/basic/html/about5_3.php
7. Sinwol 1-dong Church website, “Parish Prayer,” Sisters and priests ordained from the parish. Terms of former parish sisters, ordination dates of ordained priests.
   http://www.swfirst.or.kr/theme/basic/html/about5_4.php
8. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea online directory, “Sinwol 1-dong”. Deanery affiliation, establishment date, patron, number of faithful.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000171&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011