Haengsin 2-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Haengsin 2-dong Church is a church of the Catholic Diocese of Uijeongbu located on Yonghyeon-ro, Deogyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do. It was newly established by separation from Neunggok Church on February 14, 1997, first celebrated Mass in the underground shopping arcade of the Muwon 5 Complex, and held the dedication ceremony for the new church building on September 24, 2000. Its parish patron is the Holy Family.

History

[Establishment and underground arcade church] The church history on the Haengsin 2-dong Church website records February 14, 1997 as "new establishment of Haengsin 2-dong Church by separation from Neunggok Church (diocesan personnel notice)." The Korean Catholic Bishops' Conference directory also lists the establishment date as 1997.2.14. According to its chronology, beforehand, on January 23 an application was submitted to Goyang City to change the use of the underground arcade from a daily-convenience facility to a religious facility, and approval was received on January 27. On February 4 the residents' representative council of the Muwon 5 Complex decided to oppose the church's occupancy, and on February 18 Ssangyong and Hanjin Construction companies sent a "notice prohibiting use of the shopping arcade" citing disputes with residents. On February 19 a Mass commemorating the church construction was celebrated by Father Jang Deok-beom, pastor of Neunggok Church, and on February 20 a petition was filed with Goyang City and received a reply that "there is no defect in the church's use of the shopping arcade." On February 21 an appointment ceremony for district and group leaders was held, and on February 28 Father Bae Do-dong (Andrew Daegeon) took office as the first pastor. On March 2 the first Mass and the welcome ceremony for the pastor were held in the church in the underground arcade of the Muwon 5 Complex.

[Relocation issue and securing a site] The chronology records that on March 13, 1997 the residents' representatives obtained from the Seoul District Court a provisional injunction prohibiting disposal of real estate and notified the construction company, and on May 26 the construction company sent a notice of termination. On May 1 the first Children's Mass and the first Infant Baptism took place, and on May 18 pastoral council appointment letters were conferred, with Jeong Yeon-muk (Ludovico) as the first pastoral council president. On June 11 a proposal for new construction for church relocation was submitted to the diocese, on July 1 interior work on the church was done, and on July 25 there were a church signboard ceremony and a protest by resident occupants. On August 20 a written agreement on the church relocation plan was prepared with the residents' representatives, and on September 1 a written appeal for land purchase was delivered to the diocesan bishop and the vicar general. On October 24 the selection of a new parish site was reported to the diocese with a request for financial support, and on November 1 agreement was reached with Ssangyong and Hanjin Construction companies to terminate the underground arcade contract. On November 6 a bid application was filed with Goyang City (lottery on November 7), on November 8 the new church site was finalized, and on November 17 a site purchase contract was concluded with Goyang City. On December 10 a church construction plan was submitted to the architectural review committee and passed on December 17.

[Construction and dedication of the new church] The chronology records that on January 30, 1998 building permission for the church was obtained from Goyang City, and on February 22 a groundbreaking ceremony and celebratory Mass for the new church were celebrated by Bishop Kim Ok-gyun. On April 26 an outdoor Mass was celebrated at the new church construction site, on June 7 a large bazaar for church construction was held, and on November 8 the first Mass was celebrated in the new church. On March 8, 1999 permission to use the new church (completion) was received from Deogyang-gu, Goyang City, and on September 24, 2000 the dedication ceremony and Mass for the new church were celebrated by Archbishop Jeong Jin-seok. Confirmations were held on May 10, 1998 (225 people, celebrated by Bishop Kim Ok-gyun), May 22, 1999 (118 people, celebrated by Archbishop Jeong Jin-seok), and September 17, 2000 (151 people, celebrated by Bishop Kim Ok-gyun).

[Religious orders and priests] On February 21, 1998 a branch of the Inbo Seongche Sisters was established, with Sister Chae Yuriana and Sister Kim Jenobia taking office, and on November 27, 1998 Father Lee Jun-ho (Michael) took office as the first assistant priest. On March 6, 2001 Father Kim Hyeon-deok (John the Apostle) took office as the 2th pastor, and on February 18, 2004 a branch of the Sisters of the Holy Word was installed and the Inbo Seongche Sisters' branch withdrew. Father Lee Yeong-jae (Joseph) took office as the 3th pastor on September 21, 2004, Father Shin Gi-bae (John the Apostle) as the 4th pastor on September 11, 2007, and Father Yeo Hae-dong (Francis de Sales) as the 5th pastor on September 6, 2011, while Father Kim Yong-seok (Augustino) took office as the 7th pastor on February 8, 2022 and Father Jeong Jae-ho Andrew as the 8th pastor on February 20, 2026.

[Education center, kindergarten and annexes] On November 24, 2001 a contract was signed to purchase land (lot 763) for construction of the education center. On January 18, 2004 the Holy Family Library was opened (Meeting Room on the 1th floor), and on May 11 the opening ceremony of the Holy Family Kindergarten was held. On September 4, 2005 a groundbreaking ceremony and Mass for the education center and kindergarten were celebrated, and on June 10, 2006 the education center and kindergarten were completed, with a blessing Mass celebrated on July 23 by Diocesan Bishop Lee Han-taek. On May 15, 2010 the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel was dedicated. Holy Family Kindergarten suspended operation on March 1, 2023 and closed on March 14, 2024. On June 20, 2020 construction began to add an elevator, and on March 21, 2021 the elevator dedication and presentation of appreciation plaques took place.

[Parish events] The chronology records that on June 24, 2004 the Diocese of Uijeongbu was separated from the Archdiocese of Seoul by decree of the Holy See. On December 25, 2006 a concert commemorating the 10th anniversary of the parish establishment was held, and on February 14, 2007 a Mass commemorating the 10th anniversary of the parish establishment was held. On January 1, 2024 there was an award as an exemplary parish in the National Reconciliation division. The parish patron page introduces the patron as "the Holy Family in Nazareth of Baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and Saint Joseph" and carries the phrase "The true meaning of the Holy Family is a space where God can act."

Related Places and People

• Neunggok Church: the parish from which Haengsin 2-dong Church was separated in 1997, with the commemorative Mass for church construction celebrated by Father Jang Deok-beom, pastor of Neunggok Church (Haengsin 2-dong Church website).
• Muwon 5 Complex underground shopping arcade: the temporary church where the first Mass was celebrated on March 2, 1997, which became the setting for the church relocation issue later that year, with the first Mass celebrated in the new church on November 8, 1998 (chronology on the Haengsin 2-dong Church website).

References and Sources

1. Haengsin 2-dong Church website of the Diocese of Uijeongbu, "Church History." Separation and new establishment from Neunggok Church in 1997, underground arcade church and dispute, site purchase, groundbreaking and first Mass in 1998, dedication of the new church in 2000, education center and kindergarten, appointments of pastors.
   http://sd.uca.or.kr/hs2/default.aspx?mnucd=20003259
2. Haengsin 2-dong Church website of the Diocese of Uijeongbu, "Parish Patron." Introduction to the patron Holy Family.
   http://sd.uca.or.kr/hs2/default.aspx?mnucd=20003260
3. Haengsin 2-dong Church website of the Diocese of Uijeongbu, "Clergy." Taking-office date of the current pastor Father Jeong Jae-ho Andrew (February 20, 2026).
   http://sd.uca.or.kr/hs2/default.aspx?mnucd=20003261
4. Korean Catholic Bishops' Conference, Korean Catholic Directory list of parishes of the Diocese of Uijeongbu "Haengsin 2-dong." Establishment date February 14, 1997.
   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=