Ssangmun-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Ssangmun-dong Church is a parish belonging to the 6 Dobong-Gangbuk District of the Central Seoul Region of the Seoul Archdiocese, and its patron is the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On February 18, 1999, it was established under the name ‘Ssangmun 2-dong Church’ with Chang-dong Church as its parent parish, changed its parish name to Ssangmun-dong in September 2004, and celebrated its church dedication Mass in April 2005.

The directory of the Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference lists the Ssangmun-dong parish as belonging to the 6 Dobong-Gangbuk District of the Central Seoul Region, with date of establishment 1999.02.18, patron Sacred Heart of Jesus, 3,082 faithful, and 0 Catholic mission chapels. The congregation of sisters serving the parish is the Servants of Mary Sisters, and the pastor is listed as Fr. Paul Lee Seung-hun and the associate pastor as Fr. Peter Kim Du-jung.

History

[Mission Chapel and Establishment] According to the church introduction on page 1 of the Seoul Bulletin dated February 24, 2019, Ssangmun-dong Church (formerly Ssangmun 2-dong Church) began as a Catholic mission chapel in 1998 when some of the faithful were separated following the growth of Chang-dong Church, and later purchased the Seoam Building located in Ssangmun 2-dong, Dobong-gu (2 floor, 3 floor) and used it as church, education hall, and catechesis rooms. In February 1999, it received approval for establishment as Ssangmun 2-dong Church, with Chang-dong Church as its parent parish. The “Chang-dong Parish” entry in the Korean Catholic Encyclopedia records that in February 1999 the Ssangmun 2-dong parish was separated and established, and 1,397 households and 3,869 faithful were transferred to the new parish. The directory of the Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference gives the date of establishment as 1999.02.18.

[District Adjustment and Name Change] According to the Seoul Bulletin introduction, through a district division adjustment in February 2001, parts of the territory including Jugong Apartment Complex 1 (part of Chang 5-dong, Dobong-gu) were divided to the Chang 4-dong Parish (now Chang 5-dong Church). In September 2004, the parish name was changed from Ssangmun 2-dong Church to Ssangmun-dong, and in April 2005 the church dedication Mass was celebrated.

Related Places and People

• Chang-dong Church: It is the parent parish of Ssangmun-dong Church. According to the encyclopedia, in February 1999, at the time of the separation of the Ssangmun 2-dong parish, 1,397 households and 3,869 faithful were transferred.
• Chang 5-dong Church (formerly Chang 4-dong Parish): Through the district division adjustment in February 2001, it received parts of the territory of Ssangmun 2-dong Church, including Jugong Apartment Complex 1 and others.
• Servants of Mary Sisters: It is listed in the Bishops’ Conference directory as the sisters’ congregation for the Ssangmun-dong parish.

References and Sources

1. Good News parish information “Ssangmun-dong” page (including the church introduction on page 1 of the Seoul Bulletin dated February 24, 2019). Former Ssangmun 2-dong Church, start as a Catholic mission chapel in 1998, purchase of the Seoam Building, approval for establishment in February 1999 and parent parish, district division adjustment in 2001, name change in September 2004, church dedication Mass in April 2005.
   https://maria.catholic.or.kr/mobile/church/bondang_view.asp?orgnum=850
2. Research Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, “Chang-dong Parish.” Separation and establishment of the Ssangmun 2-dong parish in February 1999 and the number of transferred faithful.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/5884
3. Online directory of the Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference, “Ssangmun-dong.” District affiliation, date of establishment, patron, number of faithful, number of mission chapels, sisters’ congregation, pastor and associate pastor.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000175&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011