Jeonggok Church

Overview

Jeongok Church is a parish in Jeongok-eup, Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do, belonging to District 4 of the Catholic Diocese of Uijeongbu. Originating from the church blessed in Eundae-ri in 1959, it was elevated to a parish in May 1979.

History

According to the “Religion” entry in the Digital Yeoncheon Culture Encyclopedia, the Catholic Church in Yeoncheon-gun began with Jeongok Church blessed in Eundae-ri, Jeongok-eup, on January 12, 1959, with the support of Father Kauski, chaplain of the U.S. Corps Artillery Command. In March 1960, when Father Kauski left the country, it was incorporated as the Jeongok Catholic mission chapel of Dongducheon Parish.

Later, on May 31, 1979, it was re-elevated as Jeongok Parish and came to oversee the Daegwang-ri Catholic mission chapel, the Sinmang-ri Catholic mission chapel, and the Yeoncheon Catholic mission chapel. In 1992, as the Yeoncheon Catholic mission chapel was elevated to a parish, the Daegwang-ri and Sinmang-ri Catholic mission chapels were transferred to the jurisdiction of Yeoncheon Parish. The Jeongok Church entry records May 1979 as the time of elevation to a parish.

Religious Significance and Context for Visiting

Jeongok Parish has jurisdiction over Jeongok-eup, Cheongsan-myeon, Wangjing-myeon, Misan-myeon, and parts of Gunnam-myeon in Yeoncheon-gun, and as of 2023, the number of faithful was 1,019. It has carried out sharing and volunteer activities, such as donating scholarships for local youth from the proceeds of a fair-trade café operated during the Yeoncheon Jeongok-ri Paleolithic Festival.

Related Places and People

• Dongducheon Church: the parish to which Jeongok Church was incorporated as a Catholic mission chapel in 1960
• Yeoncheon Church: elevated to a parish in 1992 from a Catholic mission chapel under Jeongok Parish
• Sangni Church: another parish in the Yeoncheon area

References and Sources

1. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Yeoncheon Culture Encyclopedia, “Jeongok Church.” Confirms the elevation to a parish in May 1979, the jurisdictional area, the number of faithful as of 2023, and the sharing activities through the fair-trade café.
   https://yeoncheon.grandculture.net/yeoncheon/toc/GC09901087
2. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Yeoncheon Culture Encyclopedia, “Religion.” Confirms the blessing of the church in Eundae-ri, Jeongok-eup, on January 12, 1959, the incorporation as a Catholic mission chapel in 1960, and the elevation on May 31, 1979 with the Catholic mission chapels under its jurisdiction.
   https://yeoncheon.grandculture.net/yeoncheon/toc/GC09900014