Sangri Catholic Church

Overview

Sangri Church is a parish of District 4 of the Catholic Diocese of Uijeongbu in Yeoncheon-eup, Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do. The parish patron is St. Joseph, and it was established on September 4, 2003 when Sinmang-ri Catholic mission chapel was elevated to a parish. At the time of its elevation it was introduced as the northernmost parish in Gyeonggi-do.

History

The Sangri and Sinmang-ri area was designated as a refugee settlement area in May 1954 after the Korean War, where the U.S. 7 Division built houses and settled refugees, and the U.S. military is said to have named it ‘Sinmang-ri (New Hope Town)’, meaning ‘village of new hope.’ The parish homepage states that believers here held local worship at homes from the 1960s and began celebrating mission chapel liturgies on January 29, 1967 under the leadership of the first mission chapel president, Michael Kim Yeong-un.

On June 13, 1971, Sinmang-ri Catholic mission chapel was completed on open ground in the area of Sangri 29 and its dedication ceremony was held officiated by Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan. Later, during the tenure of the 4th pastor of Yeoncheon Church, Father Geronimo Jang Geung-seon, the mission chapel was rebuilt after purchasing 2 parcels of land at its present location (Sangri 175-11), with construction funds covered by the priest’s fundraising and the believers’ offerings. On September 4, 2003, Sinmang-ri Catholic mission chapel was elevated to Sangri Parish, and Daegwang-ri Catholic mission chapel was transferred to the jurisdiction of Sangri Church. The first pastor is Father John the Baptist Kwon Hyeok-dong.

Sources differ on the founding date of the mission chapel. The Digital Yeoncheon Culture Encyclopedia says Sinmang-ri Catholic mission chapel was founded on September 1, 1967, while the parish homepage history records the same date as the time when Daegwang-ri Catholic mission chapel was transferred to the jurisdiction of Dongducheon Parish.

Religious Significance and Visiting Context

The Digital Yeoncheon Culture Encyclopedia notes that Sangri Church separately operates Sunday Mass at Daegwang-ri Catholic mission chapel in addition to the parish, and evaluates it as a case showing the lives of residents in the border area after the division and the development of Catholic faith.

Related Places and Figures

• Daegwang-ri Catholic mission chapel: the mission chapel transferred to the jurisdiction of Sangri Church in 2003
• Yeoncheon Church: the neighboring parish that had jurisdiction over Sinmang-ri and Daegwang-ri Catholic mission chapels after its elevation to a parish in 1992
• Jeongok Church: the neighboring parish that had jurisdiction over Sinmang-ri and Daegwang-ri Catholic mission chapels after its elevation to a parish in 1979

References and Sources

1. Academy of Korean Studies, Digital Yeoncheon Culture Encyclopedia “Sangri Church”. Confirms location, patron saint, completion of the mission chapel in 1971, elevation to a parish in 2003, and operation of Daegwang-ri Catholic mission chapel.
   https://yeoncheon.grandculture.net/yeoncheon/toc/GC09901085
2. Sangri Church Homepage of the Catholic Diocese of Uijeongbu, Introduction, Church History, Patron Saint. Confirms the formation of the Sinmang-ri area, mission chapel liturgies in 1967, completion in 1971 and elevation history in 2003, first pastor, and patron saint.
   http://sd.uca.or.kr/sangri/default.aspx?mnucd=20003098