Gwangneung Catholic Church

Overview

Gwangneung Church is a church in Jinjeop-eup, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, belonging to the 2 District of the Catholic Diocese of Uijeongbu. It was established on August 27, 2009, and covers the Jinjeop-eup area.

History

The church history on the parish homepage records that Gwangneung Church was established on August 27, 2009, following the official personnel appointment for the second half of 2009, and that Father Barnabas Seong Jun-han took office as the first pastor on September 8 of the same year. In January 2010, the parish zones were reorganized into 15 zones.

Construction of the education hall (chapel) began on May 28, 2010, the rooftop cross was blessed and installed on November 2 of the same year, and the first Mass was celebrated in the education hall (chapel) on December 24. Approval for use was granted on March 3, 2011, and Bishop Peter Lee Ki-heon blessed the education hall (chapel) on May 22 (parish homepage). The Digital Namyangju Encyclopedia of Culture states that the new education hall was completed in 2011.

The Jinjeop Church entry in the Digital Namyangju Encyclopedia of Culture records that, as the number of faithful at Jinjeop Church continued to grow, Onam Church branched off in 2002, and Gwangneung Church branched off in 2009.

Religious Significance and Visiting Context

The encyclopedia of culture records that Gwangneung Church ran legal counseling on labor and human rights in 2017, held free film screenings in 2018, and provided its premises for health lectures by Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital in 2019. It describes it as a church that communicates with local residents in various fields such as culture, law, and medicine, not limited to faith activities.

Related Places and People

• Jinjeop Church - the parish from which Gwangneung Church branched off in 2009
• Father Barnabas Seong Jun-han - first pastor

References and Sources

1. Gwangneung Church of the Catholic Diocese of Uijeongbu, Church History. Confirms the establishment in 2009, the appointment of the first pastor, the reorganization of zones, and the schedule for groundbreaking, first Mass, use approval, and blessing of the education hall (chapel).
   https://sd.uca.or.kr/gn/default.aspx?mnucd=20002914
2. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Namyangju Encyclopedia of Culture “Gwangneung Church”. Confirms the establishment on August 27, 2009, the completion of the education hall in 2011, and local activities in 2017–2019.
   https://www.grandculture.net/namyangju/toc/GC08901016
3. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Namyangju Encyclopedia of Culture “Jinjeop Church”. Confirms the record that Gwangneung Church branched off from Jinjeop Church in 2009.
   https://www.grandculture.net/namyangju/toc/GC08901022