Dogye Catholic Church

History & origins

The direct beginnings of the Catholic community in Dogye can be traced to December 1947, when the family of Gregory Kwon Oh-jin settled there after moving for work in the mines. As the number of Catholics grew, a priest came from Samcheok on December 10, 1952, and celebrated the first Mass in Kwon’s home. This became the occasion for the formal organization of Dogye Mission Station, which initially cared for Catholics across a broad mining area that included both Dogye and Jangseong.

During the late 1950s, the mission station passed through changes in jurisdiction, coming under Mukho and then Bukpyeong Parish. As the population of Dogye expanded rapidly with coal-mine development, the need for an independent parish grew. Beginning in 1960, local Catholics worked to secure a church site, and in May 1964 they purchased a substantial parcel of land.

After the Diocese of Wonju was established in 1965, Dogye Mission Station was elevated to parish status on December 10 of that year. On March 22, 1966, a two-story building containing the church and rectory was completed and dedicated, providing a stable base for parish ministry. A convent was added in 1968, allowing educational and pastoral work to expand further.

Dogye Parish later experienced both the growth and decline of the mining town around it. In 1990 the church interior and rectory were renovated to meet changing needs. The history of Dogye—from mission station to parish during the expansion of the coal industry—shows how a Catholic community of workers and families established a lasting place within an industrial region. This history shows that the establishment of the parish was not merely an administrative division. Rapid mining development created a large new living area that needed a nearby pastoral center, and local Catholics themselves worked to secure land and prepare for the parish. The transformation of the region and the growth of the Church community were therefore closely intertwined.