Yeongdeungpo-dong Church

Overview

Yeongdeungpo-dong Church is a parish in No. 15 Yeongdeungpo-Geumcheon District, West Seoul Region of the Archdiocese of Seoul, located in Yeongdeungpo-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Separated from Dangsan-dong Parish, it was established on May 3, 1973, and its patron is the Oblation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

History

In 1968, Father Park Hui-bong (Isidore), pastor of Dangsan-dong Parish, with support from the diocese, purchased 4 lots of land totaling 422 pyeong at the present site from the City of Seoul, but from July 1969 87 unauthorized buildings appeared on the church site and repeated demands for demolition came to nothing. On May 3, 1973, by decision of the diocesan consultors council, the parish was established and Father Jang Deok-pil (Nicolaus) took office as the first pastor. The first pastor rented a 12-pyeong wooden 2-story building next to the site and used it as the rectory and temporary church, and on June 17, 1973, 35 people celebrated the first Mass in the temporary church.

In 1976, when Father Jang Deok-pil was detained in connection with the '3·1 Day Myeongdong prayer meeting incident,' parishioners held prayer meetings for democratization and for the priest's safety. The 5 pastor, Father Yeom Su-jeong (Andrea), set 'the Eucharist and the family' as the pastoral goal. In the time of the 8 pastor, the 'House of the Oblation of the Blessed Virgin Mary,' a short-term lodging for itinerant patients, was prepared and gave priority to itinerant patients from the nearby Joseph Clinic, and on August 26, 2000, its operation was transferred to the Catholic Social Welfare Society of the Archdiocese of Seoul. On November 21, 1998, to commemorate the 25 anniversary of the parish's founding, the parish published "Catholic Yeongdeungpo-dong Church 25-Year History."

Architecture and Space

Construction of the church began in November 1973 and was completed in June of the following year, and on March 23, 1975, the blessing and confirmation were celebrated with Cardinal Kim Su-hwan presiding. In the time of the 3 pastor, Father Jang Hong-seon, parishioners devoted themselves to the new construction, holding the groundbreaking ceremony on June 27, 1982, and building the present church in 1983, with 1 basement floor and 2 above-ground floors and a total floor area of 354 pyeong, and held the blessing ceremony on April 29, 1984. During the tenure of the 7 pastor, Father Mun Ho-yeong, the Oblation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Hall was built to house the rectory and the convent.

Related Places and People

• Dangsan-dong Parish: the mother parish from which Yeongdeungpo-dong Parish was separated.
• Joseph Clinic: a medical welfare facility in the parish district; the 'House of the Oblation of the Blessed Virgin Mary' gave priority to itinerant patients from this clinic.

References and Sources

1. Institute of Korean Church History, Korean Catholic Encyclopedia, "Yeongdeungpo-dong Parish". The separation and establishment from Dangsan-dong Parish on May 3, 1973, the patron Oblation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the purchase of the site and circumstances of the founding, the construction and blessing of the church, the House of the Oblation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the publication of the 25-year history were confirmed.
   https://encyclopedia.catholic.or.kr/entry/4491
2. Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, Korean Catholic Directory, "Yeongdeungpo-dong". The affiliated district (No. 15 Yeongdeungpo-Geumcheon District), the establishment date 1973.05.03, and the patron Oblation of the Blessed Virgin Mary were confirmed.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/Catholic/DetailInfo.aspx?cgubn=c&char=all&code=201000190&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000011