Wonheung-dong Church

Overview

Wonheung-dong Church (Wonheung-dong St. Paul 6 Church) is a church belonging to the Uijeongbu Diocese in the Catholic Church, located at Wonheung 1-ro, Deogyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do. Founded (August 25, 2017), it was separated from its mother parish, Jichuk-dong John Church, and its patron is Pope St. Paul 6. On December 24, 2023, it celebrated a Mass commemorating entrance into the main sanctuary.

History

[Founding] The church history on the Wonheung-dong Church website lists August 25, 2017 as the “founding of Wonheung-dong Church,” and the Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference directory also records its establishment date as 2017.08.25. On September 5, 2017, Fr. Francis Xavier Kim Hyeon-bae took office as the 1 head of the pastoral district. On August 3, 2018, the parish registers of Wonheung-dong Church were separated electronically from its mother parish, Jichuk-dong John Church.

[Church building] According to the church history, a groundbreaking Mass was celebrated at the church site (Wonheung-dong 619-1, Deogyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do) on May 27, 2018, and the diocese approved construction of the new building on November 13, 2018. Construction began on March 23, 2019, and a foundation groundbreaking ceremony was held on May 22, 2019. Use approval was received from the district office on May 18, 2020, and on May 29, 2020 a Mass for the patronal feast and Parish Day was celebrated.

[After 2022] On February 8, 2022, Fr. Isidore Jo Byeong-gil took office as the 2 head of the pastoral district, and on August 21, 2022 a Mass marking 5 years since the parish establishment was celebrated with Bishop Lee Ki-heon presiding. On December 25, 2022, the 3 pastoral council was formed. Interior work inside the parish began on July 1, 2023, and a Mass commemorating entrance into the main sanctuary was celebrated on December 24, 2023. On December 29, 2024, the 4 pastoral council was formed, and in 2025 Fr. Matthias Jeong Jae-ung took office as the 3 head of the pastoral district (church history 2025-02-11, appointment date on the clergy/religious page 2025-02-18). The diocese approved construction of the rectory on July 12, 2025, and on February 20, 2026 Fr. Paul Jo Hyeon-jun took office as the first associate pastor.

Architecture and Space

The church building received diocesan approval for construction on November 2018, began new construction on March 2019, held a foundation groundbreaking ceremony on May 2019, received use approval from the district office on May 2020, began interior work inside the parish on July 2023, and celebrated a Mass commemorating entrance into the main sanctuary on December 24, 2023 (church history). On July 12, 2025, the diocese approved construction of the rectory.

Related Places and People

• Jichuk-dong John Church: It is the mother parish of Wonheung-dong Church. The church history records that parish registers were separated electronically from Jichuk-dong John Church on August 3, 2018.
• Patron St. Pope Paul 6: Citing Good News materials, the homepage introduces him as born in Concesio, Italy on September 26, 1897, ordained to the priesthood on May 29, 1920, elected pope on June 21, 1963 and leading the 2 Vatican Council, and dying on August 6, 1978. It states that Pope Francis beatified him on October 19, 2014 and canonized him on October 14, 2018, and that in 2019 the Holy See’s Dicastery for Divine Worship designated May 29 as an optional memorial.
• Former priests: 1 Fr. Francis Xavier Kim Hyeon-bae (took office in 2017, ordained to the priesthood on February 18, 1983), 2 Fr. Isidore Jo Byeong-gil (took office in 2022, ordained to the priesthood on July 5, 1997), 3 Fr. Matthias Jeong Jae-ung (took office in 2025, ordained to the priesthood on July 5, 2001), first associate pastor Fr. Paul Jo Hyeon-jun (took office in 2026).

References and Sources

1. Wonheung-dong St. Paul 6 Catholic Church website, Church History. Chronology for 2017–2026 (founding, taking office of the first head, separation of parish registers, groundbreaking and foundation ceremonies, use approval, entrance into the main sanctuary, pastoral councils, approval for rectory construction).
   http://sd.uca.or.kr/paul6wh/default.aspx?mnucd=20001457
2. Wonheung-dong St. Paul 6 Catholic Church website, Patron Saint. Life of Pope St. Paul 6, his beatification and canonization, and the establishment of his memorial.
   http://sd.uca.or.kr/paul6wh/default.aspx?mnucd=20001458
3. Wonheung-dong St. Paul 6 Catholic Church website, Clergy/Religious. Appointment dates and biographies of the 1–3 heads and the first associate pastor.
   http://sd.uca.or.kr/paul6wh/default.aspx?mnucd=20001459
4. Korean Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Korean Catholic Directory (Uijeongbu Diocese parish list) “Wonheung-dong”. Establishment date 2017.08.25, location.
   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=