Madu-dong Catholic Church

Overview

Madu-dong Church is a church in Madu-dong, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, belonging to the Diocese of Uijeongbu. On October 5, 2001, it was separated from Baekseok-dong Church of the Archdiocese of Seoul and established, and its patroness is St. Therese of the Child Jesus. The parish history on the parish homepage records that on April 6, 2003 it celebrated the groundbreaking Mass for the new building and on December 8, 2004 it moved into the new church building.

History

〔Establishment〕 The parish history on the Madu-dong Church homepage records the establishment of Madu-dong Church on October 5, 2001 as a separation from Baekseok-dong Church of the Archdiocese of Seoul, with jurisdiction over all of Madu-dong (Gangchon Village, Baengma Village, Jeongbal Village), 2,175 households, 6,383 faithful, and a church site at 720 in Madu-dong, 469.9 pyeong. On the same day, Father James Kim Gyeong-mo took office as the first pastor. The address book of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea also lists the date of establishment as October 5, 2001. The Baekseok-dong Church homepage states that on the same day the division and establishment as the Madu-dong Parish was approved and 6,423 members separated, giving a different figure for the number of faithful.

〔Early activities〕 According to the history, on October 9, 2001 it decided to honor St. Therese of the Child Jesus as the patroness of the parish, and at the principal Sunday Mass at 11 on October 14 it welcomed the appointment of Father Kim Gyeong-mo and published parish bulletin issue No. 1. On November 4 it formed the first pastoral council (Chair Augustine Park Gwang-seok and 99 others) and the church-building committee (Chair Peter Kim Su-gyeong). On December 4, Father Thomas More Lee Sang-gu took office as the first assistant priest. On January 5, 2002 it separated the Sunday school Mass that had been held jointly with Baekseok-dong, and on February 10 it adopted the parish logo (the history explains that the cross symbolizes the Lord’s love and mercy and the 3 roses symbolize the loving heart of St. Therese of the Child Jesus). On February 16 there was the first initiation rite of catechumens after the establishment, on April 27 the first First Communion, on August 27 the appointment of Sister Justina Song of the Sisters of Eternal Help as the first sister, and on September 14 the first baptism ceremony. On November 2, 88 people received confirmation in the confirmation celebrated by Monsignor Kim Byeong-do.

〔Construction of the church building〕 The history records an architectural design competition on January 18, 2002 (6 firms participated), a presentation of works by the 4 submitting companies on March 6, and a briefing on the new construction design for the faithful on February 23, 2003. On April 6, 2003, at 10:30 a.m. at the Madu-dong Church site, the groundbreaking Mass for the new building and the blessing of the site were celebrated by Monsignor Kim Byeong-do, and on April 20 the parish homepage was opened. On October 12, 2003, to mark the 2 anniversary of the church’s founding, it held a Han Sarang bazaar to raise funds for the church building. The Baekseok-dong Church homepage states that on October 12, 2003 it supported the Madu-dong Parish church-building fund with 2 hundred million won. On December 8, 2004 it moved the rectory, convent and offices and moved into the new church building, and from the morning Mass at 10 on December 9 it has offered Mass in the new church building. The Baekseok-dong Church homepage also states that on December 8, 2004 Madu-dong Church was completed and relocated.

〔Ministry of 2003–2005〕 According to the history, on December 5, 2003 Father John de La Salle Cha Pung took office and Father Lee Sang-gu moved to Junggyebon-dong Church. On January 3, 2004, it held the elementary Sunday school No. 1 Little Flower Festival named after the patroness. On August 22, 2005, Sister Justina Song moved to Bukpyeong Church of the Diocese of Wonju and Sister Teresa Amata Jo took office as No. 2 branch superior. In the same year, on October 1, the feast of the parish patroness St. Therese of the Child Jesus, there was the First Communion of 97 children.

Related places and people

• Baekseok-dong Church: the mother parish from which Madu-dong Church was separated (Madu-dong Church homepage, Baekseok-dong Church homepage).

References and sources

1. Madu-dong Catholic Church homepage, “Parish History” (parish history for 2001–2005). October 5, 2001 separation and establishment from Baekseok-dong Church, patroness St. Therese of the Child Jesus, church design, groundbreaking and move-in, early pastoral ministry.
   http://www.madu.or.kr/history1
2. Baekseok-dong Catholic Church homepage of the Diocese of Uijeongbu, “The Past Baekseok-dong”. October 5, 2001 approval of division and establishment as Madu-dong Parish (6,423 members separated), 2003 support for the church-building fund, December 8, 2004 completion and relocation of Madu-dong Church.
   https://sd.uca.or.kr/bssd/default.aspx?mnucd=20003708
3. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Directory of the Catholic Church in Korea, list of parishes in the Diocese of Uijeongbu, “Madu-dong”. Date of establishment October 5, 2001.
   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=