Immaculate Heart of Mary of Central Anyang - Mother Church and hands in prayer

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The Central Church of Anyang was born as the first Catholic parish of the city and venerates Mary under the mystery of her Immaculate Heart. The present temple, recognized for its architecture, recalls two hands united in prayer in the middle of an urban and commercial district.

Why the Invocation is the Immaculate Heart

The Korean directory does not use an abbreviated Western translation, but the expression "completely pure Mary." The liturgical key allows to identify the title with precision: its own feast is the Saturday after the Sacred Heart of Jesus, date of the memory of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

La primera parroquia de Anyang

The community was erected on 7 September 1954 and began in a modest wooden church. It was the first parish in the urban area of Anyang and became a starting point for Catholic expansion by Anyang, Gunpo and Uiwang.

The diocese describes it as the cornerstone of regional evangelization. From its territory were born directly several parishes and, of these, many other communities that maintain with Central an ecclesial family relationship.

De Notay a Jangnae-dong y Central

At first it was called the parish of Anyang. When the number of churches in the city increased, the name was ambiguous: it became known as Anyang 4-dong and, since 1980, Jangnae-dong.

When the new temple was designed, the name of the Central Church was chosen, expressing the desire that it be an open spiritual center in the heart of the neighborhood. The change did not alter their historical continuity or their Marian advocation.

The 1959 building

The first wooden structure grew old soon. In 1957 the works of a larger church began, financed with ecclesial help, contributions from the faithful and community work. Bishop Paul Ro Ki-nam presided over the dedication on August 20, 1959.

This temple accompanied the growth of the population and the creation of new parishes. Decades later it was decided to build a building capable of responding to the transformed urban environment.

Two hands that pray

The architect Kim Young-sub conceived the present temple as a form that remembers a few hands together in prayer. Located between the market, very busy houses and streets, the building creates a visual call to silence and meeting God.

The architectural proposal reached international recognition and was presented in a European publication of art and architecture together with another Korean church. In 2003 he also received an architecture award from the city of Anyang.

The vine and the clusters

Inside, a plot of beams embraces space and symbolizes the branches of the life. The Romboidal forms between them evoke clusters of grapes. The image recalls the words of Jesus: He is the vine and his disciples the branches.

The community is not a sum of isolated individuals. It remains alive in Christ and bears fruit through charity, sacraments and prayer.

A root in the community of Surisan

The history of Central is related to the Catholics of the village of Surisan, where the faithful kept the faith around the memory of Saint Francis Choe Gyeong-hwan. A relic of the saint located next to the presbytery recalls those roots.

The historical succession goes from the community of Surisan to the mission station of Anyang and from this to the first urban parish. The devotion to the Heart of Mary is lived within that heritage of fidelity and communion.

The heart of Mary in the Gospel

The Gospel presents Mary by keeping and meditating on events in her heart. He also announces that a sword will pass through his soul. His heart is the place of listening, obedience, memory and union with his Son's mission.

To call him immaculate does not mean to separate him from Christ, but to contemplate the work of grace in which he fully responded to God. Mary teaches the Church to receive the Word and turn it into life.

United to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The liturgical position of memory, immediately after the solemnity of the Sacred Heart, expresses the intimate union of Mary with Jesus Christ. The heart of the Mother leads to the Heart of the Son and participates in his compassion for humanity.

Pius XII explained this relationship by extending the feast of the Immaculate Heart. John Paul II presented the dedication to Mary as a renewal of the baptismal promises and a stronger orientation towards Christ.

Seventy years as a family of communities

In 2024 the parish celebrated seventy years of its foundation. The commemoration recalled not only the building, but the many communities born of it and the responsibility to continue to transmit the faith.

Its status as a regional mother church does not constitute a canonical rank like that of a cathedral. It is a historical and pastoral description supported by the diocese.

Verified location

The diocese provides the official direction in 116 Jangnaero. GCatholic records the territorial code 8Q989WWC+FCthe centre is 37,3961875, 126,9210625.

The individual mapping of the building offers 37.3960268, 126.9208966, employed on this map. The references match within the same enclosure.

To visit and pray

Central is an active urban parish. It is appropriate to consult diocesan times and to respect the celebration of the sacraments and the privacy of the community. The outer form can be seen as a call to prayer; the interior, as an image of the vine that unites the faithful with Christ.

The party is held on the Saturday after the Sacred Heart, not on December 8. This distinction helps to pray the advocation with its true liturgical sense.

Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Central Anyang

Mary, with a pure and immaculate heart, keeps the Central Church of Anyang and all the communities born of her. Teach us to keep the Word, to remain united to Christ as branches of the vine and to raise our hands in prayer in the midst of the city. Make our heart attentive to those who suffer and faithful to the Gospel of your Son. Amen.

Sources consulted

• Diocese of Suwon: official directory, patronage, party, date and address.
• Diocese of Suwon: seventy anniversary and regional mother parish status.
• Encyclopedia Católica de Korea: foundation, construction and name changes.
• Catholic Times of Korea: architecture, vine, roots of Surisan and relic.
• Catholic Times of Korea: hand design in prayer and architectural reception.
• GCatholic: international identification, jurisdiction and territorial code.
• Pius XII: veneration and trust in the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
• St. John Paul II: giving to the Immaculate Heart directed towards Christ.

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