Beomgye Catholic Church

Overview

Beomgye Church is a church located on Gyeongsu-daero in Dongan-gu, Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, belonging to Anyang District 1, 2 Vicariate, Diocese of Suwon. It was established on August 4, 1998 and was dedicated on June 9, 2002 by Bishop Paul Choi Deok-gi. Its patron is St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon.

History

〔Establishment and dedication〕 The parish overview on the Beomgye Church website records the date of establishment as August 4, 1998, the date of dedication as June 9, 2002, and the presider at the dedication as Bishop Paul Choi Deok-gi. It lists Pyeongchon Church in Anyang District 2 as the mother parish. The directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea likewise lists the establishment date as August 4, 1998, affiliation as Anyang District 1, 2 Vicariate, Diocese of Suwon, and patron as St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon.

〔Successive pastors〕 According to the clergy & religious page on the website, the successive pastors are as follows: the 1 pastor, Fr. Joseph Kim Seong-bae (August 4, 1998–January 27, 2003), the 2 pastor, Fr. Joachim Lee Gi-su (January 28, 2003–September 22, 2005), the 3 pastor, Fr. Germano Gwak Jin-sang (September 23, 2005–September 25, 2006), the 4 pastor, Fr. John Chrysostom Lee Sang-ryong (September 26, 2006–August 31, 2009), the 5 pastor, Fr. Andrew Daegeon Ji Cheol-hyeon (September 1, 2009–August 29, 2011), the 6 pastor, Fr. Peter Lee Hyeong-dong (August 30, 2011–June 21, 2016), the 7 pastor, Fr. Dadu Jeong Gyeong-jin (June 21, 2016–June 14, 2021), the 8 pastor, Fr. John the Baptist Jeong Seong-jin (June 15, 2021–June 15, 2026), and the 9 pastor, Fr. John the Baptist Heo Jeong-hyeon (June 16, 2026–present).

〔Associate pastors and religious〕 The same page lists associate pastors from the first associate pastor, Fr. Simon Choi Yeong-gyun (January 28, 2003–September 30, 2004), to the 11 associate pastor, Fr. Raphael Yun Yeong-hyeon (December 12, 2025–present). As for religious, sisters of the Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help have served as responsible sisters, superior sisters and catechist sisters; the first responsible sister, Sr. Matthew Kim Jae-suk, served from August 22, 1998 to February 24, 2001, and the first catechist sister, Sr. Agnes Go Seong-mi, served from December 23, 1998 to February 24, 2001.

〔Parish history〕 The parish history board on the website confirms that a source titled “Chronology of 25 years (1998–2022)” is posted as a Korean word-processor (hwp) attachment.

Religious significance and context for visiting

The patron-saint page on the website introduces St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon (1821–1845) as the first Korean priest and the patron of Korean clergy, and gives his feast day as July 5. The chronology on this page records his birth in Solmoe, Chungcheong-do (Songsan-ri, Ugang-myeon, Dangjin-gun, Chungnam) on August 21, 1821, his priestly ordination at Jinjiaxiang Church in Shanghai on August 17, 1845, his martyrdom by beheading at Saenamteo on September 16, 1846, his beatification on July 5, 1925, and his canonization on May 6, 1984.

Related places and people

• Pyeongchon Church: the church listed on the website as the mother parish of Beomgye Church.
• Anyang District 1, 2 Vicariate, Diocese of Suwon: the district listed by the Bishops’ Conference directory as the affiliation of this church.
• Bishop Paul Choi Deok-gi: listed on the website as the presider at the dedication ceremony on June 9, 2002.

References and sources

1. Beomgye Church website, parish overview. Date of establishment, date and presider of dedication, mother parish, patron and feast day.
   http://www.beomgye.or.kr/page/sub1_1
2. Beomgye Church website, clergy & religious. Tenures of successive pastors, associate pastors and religious.
   http://www.beomgye.or.kr/myboard/sub1_4
3. Beomgye Church website, patron saint. Life and chronology of St. Andrew Kim Dae-geon.
   http://www.beomgye.or.kr/page/sub1_2
4. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea directory, Beomgye. Affiliated diocese, vicariate and district, establishment date 1998.8.4., patron.
   http://directory.cbck.or.kr/m/catholicInfo.asp?code=201000504&gubun=4