Cheonma Church

Overview

Cheonma Church is a church in Hwado-eup, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, affiliated with the Catholic Diocese of Uijeongbu. The chronology on the church website lists the “announcement of the separation of Cheonma Church” on February 18, 1999 as its establishment date and records that the dedication ceremony was held on May 6, 2001. Its patron is the Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, Joseph).

History

[Establishment and early activities] The church history on the Cheonma Church website states that the separation of Cheonma Church was announced on February 18, 1999 and that this day is the establishment date. The directory of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea also lists the establishment date as February 18, 1999. In the same year, Father Gregorio Park Jong-seong took office as the first priest on March 5, opened the elementary and middle school divisions of Sunday school on April 4, and organized the 1 Parish Pastoral Council on August 15. The Queen of Mercy Curia was founded on January 14, 2000. Digital Namyangju Culture Encyclopedia writes that the faithful of Maseok Church moved to their respective churches as Changhyeon Church, Cheonma Church, Sudong Church and others were established.

[Dedication and facilities] According to the chronology, the dedication ceremony of Cheonma Church was held on May 6, 2001 officiated by Bishop Nicolaus Jung Jin-seok (as spelled on the website). The extension and remodeling work of the basement small chapel was completed on November 24, 2002, and ceiling work on the church building and relocation work for the office and religious goods shop took place on August 27, 2007. For December 10, 2013, “approval for use of the church building” is recorded.

[Major events] The chronology on the website records the visit by Monsignor Francesco Kim Byeong-do, delegate of the diocesan bishop, on June 29, 2003, the Parish Day 6 anniversary event on March 6, 2005, the parish 10 anniversary event held at Star Hill Resort grounds on May 10, 2009, the 2 Korea Youth Convention homestay (with 22 people assigned to the parish) on August 12, 2010, participation in the beatification Mass for 124 martyrs (Gwanghwamun) on August 16, 2014, the inaugural general meeting of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul on February 11, 2018, the all-parish noodle feast for the parish 21 anniversary on April 28, 2019, and similar events. Confirmations are listed as on May 26, 2002 (76 people), on April 29, 2006 (102 people), on July 18, 2009 (30 people), on August 10, 2014 (39 people), on July 9, 2016 (56 people), on June 23, 2018 (30 people), and so on.

[Patron] The patron introduction on the website explains that the Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, Joseph) refers to the family of the Child Jesus, the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph in Nazareth. In 1921, the Roman Catholic Church, seeking to emphasize the importance of the family, designated December 30, which corresponds to the octave of the Solemnity of Christmas, as the Feast of the Holy Family, and the Catholic Church in Korea observes the Feast of the Holy Family on the first Sunday after the Solemnity of Christmas (the last Sunday of the year), or on December 30 when there is no Sunday, as noted.

[Successive pastors] The “Clergy/Religious” page on the website lists as pastors the founding pastor Gregorio Park Jong-seong (took office in 1999-03-05), the 2 pastor Sebastiano Kang Seung-han (2001-10-05), the 3 pastor John the Baptist Jang Gyeong-won (2005-06-07), the 4 pastor John Bosco Kim Yu-cheol (2008-09-09), the 5 pastor Thomas Aquinas Kim Seon-yong (2014-09-16), the 6 pastor Leo Ahn Chang-gil (2017-09-05), and the 7 pastor Andrea Ha Jeong-ho (2022-02-08). The entry for Father Park Jong-seong notes his death in August 18, 2025 (Monday).

Related Places and People

• Maseok Church: Digital Namyangju Culture Encyclopedia writes that as Changhyeon Church, Cheonma Church, Sudong Church and others were established, the faithful of Maseok Church moved to their respective churches.

References and Sources

1. Cheonma Church of the Catholic Diocese of Uijeongbu website, “Church History.” Announcement of separation (establishment date) on February 18, 1999, appointment of the first priest, dedication ceremony on May 6, 2001, extension/remodeling and building use approval, chronology of major events.
   http://sd.uca.or.kr/cm35/default.aspx?mnucd=20001487
2. Cheonma Church of the Catholic Diocese of Uijeongbu website, “Clergy/Religious.” Dates of taking office from the first priest Father Park Jong-seong to the 7 pastor Father Ha Jeong-ho.
   http://sd.uca.or.kr/cm35/default.aspx?mnucd=20001489
3. Cheonma Church of the Catholic Diocese of Uijeongbu website, “Patron Saint.” Explanation of the patron Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, Joseph) and the Feast of the Holy Family.
   http://sd.uca.or.kr/cm35/default.aspx?mnucd=20001488
4. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, list of parishes in the Diocese of Uijeongbu in the Korean Catholic Directory, “Cheonma.” Establishment date February 18, 1999.
   https://directory.cbck.or.kr/OnlineAddress/SearchList.aspx?cgubn=g&char=all&gubn=4&gubn2=all&gyogu=201000020&paged=100&sort=0&start=1&tbxSearch=
5. Digital Namyangju Culture Encyclopedia, “Maseok Church.” Explanation that the faithful moved from Maseok Church as Changhyeon, Cheonma and Sudong churches were established.
   https://www.grandculture.net/namyangju/toc/GC08901018