Bora-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Boradong Church is a church in Bora-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, belonging to the Giheung District of the Suwon Diocese. On January 29, 2002, it was established by division from its mother parish, Singal Church, and its patron is Saint Joseph, model of the Holy Family. The present church building broke ground on November 30, 2013, was entered on June 20, 2015, and was dedicated on October 23, 2016.

History

[Preparation for establishment] The parish history on the Boradong Church website records that on February 16, 2001 it purchased lot 395-1 in Bora-ri and 4 other parcels for 1,722,000,000 won, and on December 30, 2001 it leased the 2 floor of Gohyangchon at 6-12 in Singal-li as an assembly place.

[Division and establishment] On January 29, 2002, the provisionally named Borari Church was newly established by division from its mother parish, Singal Church. At that time there were 1,102 faithful in 340 households, the church site was at 395-1 in Bora-ri, Giheung-eup, Yongin-si, the temporary church was on the 2 floor of Gohyangchon at 6-12 in Singal-li, Giheung-eup, Yongin-si, and the first parish priest was Father Seo Myeong-seok (Andrea). Its jurisdiction covered all of Sanggal-li, Bora-ri, Jigok-ri, Gongse-ri and Gomae-ri in Giheung-eup, Yongin-si. The establishment date in the Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference directory is also 2002.01.29. On April 21, 2002, the Bora district was reorganized into three districts: Samjeong District (Samjeong Apartment and the general housing area in Bora-ri), Samsung District (the Samsung Apartment complex) and Jigok District (the general housing area in Jigok-ri).

[First Mass at the church site and the first church] On May 19, 2002, the first Mass was celebrated at the church site at 395-1 in Bora-ri, on June 1 it withdrew from the temporary church at Gohyangchon and celebrated Mass at the new church construction site, and on June 7 the groundbreaking ceremony for the new church was held. On July 16, 2003, the diocesan bishop made a pastoral visit, and on July 31 the church entrance ceremony was held, presided over by Bishop Lee Yong-hun (Matthias). From March 20, 2006 to the 24th, interior work (expansion of the altar and pews) was carried out to create the present altar, sacristy, replication room and related facilities, and a container catechesis room was placed outside.

[Pastor appointments and parish name] On July 2004, Father Kim Dae-young (Peter) was appointed parish administrator, and in the same year on October 1 Father Jeon Sang-jip (Andrea) was appointed parish priest, with a welcome Mass on October 3. After discussion at Priests’ Council meeting No. 135 on March 20, 2007, the parish name was changed on April 15, 2007 from ‘Holy Family Boradong Church’ to ‘Boradong Holy Family Church’. At an extraordinary general meeting on May 6, 2007, the proposal not to build a new parish building but to extend the present building was put to all the faithful, but the extension plan was rejected.

[Division of the branch parish] On August 19, 2007, building committee members for the division were appointed, and on November 11 the site blessing and groundbreaking for Gongsedong Church (provisional name) were held. On May 24, 2008, the blessing of sacred objects for the branch church and the first Mass (19 o’clock) were celebrated, and on September 2, 2008 Gongsedong Parish (provisional name) was established as a branch parish of Boradong Parish. The parish site was at 187 in Gongse-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, its jurisdiction covered all of Gongse-dong (excluding the Hanbora Apartment complex) and all of Gomae-dong, with 518 faithful (195 households). The Boradong Church website currently lists Giheung St. Paul Church as its branch church.

[10 anniversary and preparation for new construction] On January 29, 2012, a pastoral general meeting was held for the 10 anniversary of the parish establishment, and from May 6, 2012 all the faithful began a prayer offering 300 ten thousand decades of the rosary in thanksgiving for the 10 anniversary of the parish establishment and for the dedication of the new church. On March 3, 2013, parish building committee members were appointed (chairperson Jang Gil-seon, Anselm). On November 30, 2013, the groundbreaking Mass and ceremony for the new church were held, presided over by Vicar General Bishop Lee Seong-hyo (Lino).

[Entry into and dedication of the new church] On April 2015, from 4 to the 5th, the Easter Mass was celebrated in the basement of the new church as the first Mass, and on May 30 the first Mass in the new church was celebrated. On June 14, a blessing Mass for the new church was held, presided over by Bishop Lee Yong-hun (Matthias), and on June 20 the entrance Mass for the new church was celebrated, presided over by Father Kim Bong-hak (Paul), head of the vicariate. On October 23, 2016, the dedication ceremony for the new church was held, officiated by Bishop Lee Yong-hun (Matthias). In addition, the parish website was built and began operation on June 1, 2015, and Bora Joseph College was established and opened on September 1, 2015.

[After 2016] On June 21, 2016, Father Lee Jae-uk (John the Baptist) took office as parish priest No. 7, and on July 13, 2018 a one-day beer day event was held to raise the church construction fund. On June 15, 2021, Father Bang Sang-man (Peter) took office as parish priest No. 8. In 2022, marking the 20 anniversary of the parish establishment, the 2 offertory charity fund ‘Hope to 200 Citizens of Yongin’ was started on February 20, with a special lecture on June 25, a pops ensemble performance on July 1, and the parish day ‘One Family Gathering Festival’ on September 25, and on December 15 1 hundred million won raised for the ‘Hope Project for 200 Citizens of Yongin’ was donated. On June 4, 2023, a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was dedicated (production period 6 months, 134 participants, artist Han Chang-gyu). On June 16, 2026, Father Choe Jung-in (Augustine) took office as parish priest No. 9.

Architecture and Space

According to the new church construction process on the website, on February 13, 2013 the new church construction plan received prior approval from the Suwon Diocese Construction Office, on March 19 the design competition was announced on the diocesan website, and on May 3 the winning design (Yeteo Architects Office) was announced. On September 11 the building permit was approved, and on November 20 Seongyeong E&C was selected as the builder; after a groundbreaking Mass and ceremony on November 30, a contract was signed with the builder on December 10.

Construction began on January 2, 2014. On May 5, 2014 the 1 floor, on June 13 the 2 floor, and on July 21 the 3 floor slabs were poured, exterior red-brick laying began on September 13, and the roof slab was poured on September 26. Stonework began on October 23, roof copper sheeting was installed on December 10, and window work was done on December 15.

In 2015, painting began on January 5, heating and cooling installation on January 16, and tile work on February 25, while church ceiling work was completed on March 9 and roof copper-sheet work was completed on March 16. Fire-fighting facility inspection was completed on May 11, a pipe organ and audio-video equipment were installed on May 15, and landscaping on May 17 and installation of display-case frames inside the church on May 22 were carried out. On May 26, installation of 14 stained-glass windows and approval of church completion were completed. The website’s construction process records a basement Mass on March 28 and demolition of the old church on April 2, while the parish history records demolition of the old church on April 3 and the first Mass in the basement of the new church from 4 to the 5th on April, showing slightly different dates.

Related Places and Figures

• Singal Church: the mother parish of Boradong Church (parish overview on the Boradong Church website).
• Giheung St. Paul Church (Gongsedong Parish): established on September 2, 2008 as a branch parish of Boradong Parish (parish history, parish overview).
• Patron saint: the website lists the patron as Saint Joseph, model of the Holy Family, and the directory lists Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The parish introduction on the parish website explains that Saint Joseph is honored as patron in order to follow him as a model of faith and to pray for families and the Church.
• Parish status: the website lists 2,249 households and 5,366 faithful (as of April 2025), with jurisdiction over all of Bora-dong, Sanggal-dong and Jigok-dong and parts of Gongse-dong and Hagal-dong in Giheung-gu, Yongin-si. The directory lists 5,346 faithful and 0 Catholic mission chapels.
• Successive parish priests: 1st Seo Myeong-seok (Andrea) 2002.1.29–2004.6.30, administrator Kim Dae-young (Peter) 2004.7.1–9.30, No. 2 Jeon Sang-jip (Andrea) 2004.10.1–2005.2.1, No. 3 Seo Sang-jin (Paul) 2005.2.2–2009.8.31, No. 4 Kim Dong-hun (Mark) 2009.9.1–2012.8.27, No. 5 Park Gyeong-hun (Joseph) 2012.8.28–12.17, No. 6 Son Yong-chang (Peter) 2012.12.18–2016.6.20, No. 7 Lee Jae-uk (John the Baptist) 2016.6.21–2021.6.14, No. 8 Bang Sang-man (Peter) 2021.6.15–2026.6.15, No. 9 Choe Jung-in (Augustine) 2026.6.16–present (parish website, introduction of priests).
• Successive assistant priests: No. 1 Baek Gyeong-tae (John Bosco) 2005.9.23–2006.9.25, No. 2 Ham Mun-ju (Peter) 2007.8.28–2008.9.1, No. 3 Han Jeong-uk (Peter) 2008.9.2–2009.8.31, No. 4 Seo Man-jong (John Leonardi) 2017.12.8–2019.12.16, No. 5 Lee Jun-seop (Dominic) 2019.12.17–2020.12.14, No. 6 Park Jun-hu (Francis) 2020.12.15–2021.12.14, No. 7 Jeong In-ho (John Bosco) 2021.12.14–2023.12.18, No. 8 Gu Bon-u (Pius) 2023.12.19–2025.12.16, No. 9 Park Gyeong-deuk (John the Apostle) 2025.12.16–present (same page).

References and Sources

1. Boradong Church website, Suwon Diocese, parish history (2001–2024). Purchase of site in 2001, division and establishment in 2002, first church, parish name change, division of branch parish, entry into new church in 2015, dedication in 2016, 20 anniversary events.
   http://www.cabora.or.kr/skin_nb1/history_list.php?page_idx=97
2. Boradong Church website, Suwon Diocese, new church construction process. Design competition in 2013–2015, winning design, builder, groundbreaking, work schedule, completion approval.
   http://www.cabora.or.kr/skin_nb1/sub_page.php?page_idx=98
3. Boradong Church website, Suwon Diocese, parish overview. Establishment January 29, 2002, new church construction period, patron saint, mother parish, branch parish, jurisdiction, number of faithful.
   http://www.cabora.or.kr/skin_nb1/sub_page.php?page_idx=96
4. Boradong Church website, Suwon Diocese, introduction of priests. Names and terms of successive parish and assistant priests.
   http://www.cabora.or.kr/skin_nb1/sub_page.php?page_idx=103
5. Boradong Church website, Suwon Diocese, patron saint. Meaning of honoring Saint Joseph as patron.
   http://www.cabora.or.kr/skin_nb1/sub_page.php?page_idx=100
6. Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference directory, Boradong. Establishment date 2002.1.29., affiliation Suwon Diocese Giheung District, patron saint, number of faithful, number of mission chapels.
   http://directory.cbck.or.kr/m/catholicInfo.asp?code=201000507&gubun=4