Mary, Queen of Unity, Wa-dong - Mother Church and Communion in Ansan

← Volver to Korea del Sur

The parish of Wa-dong, first erected in the region of Ansan, is dedicated to Mary, Queen of Unity. Its roots go back to the 1921 Wari station; since its parish foundation in 1981 it accompanied the growth of the city and gave rise to several new communities.

A confirmed advocation

The Bishops' Conference of Korea About UsQueen of Unity, as the patronage of Wa-dong. Good News Catholic and other Catholic directories corroborate the date, address and diocesan membership.

There is no local Marian apparition, miraculous image, or particular revelations. A parish advocation linked to the Christian desire for communion is documented.

Mary, Mother and Queen of Unity

John Paul II presented Mary as Mother of unity and hope. She prayed with the disciples at the beginning of the Church and accompanied that community in waiting for the Holy Spirit.

The title "Queen" does not attribute to him power independent of God. It recognizes the participation of the Mother of Christ in the glory of her Son and her intercession for the Church.

For everyone to be one

The source of unity is in Jesus' prayer: "Let all be one." Benedict XVI recalled that full communion is not only the result of human strategies, but a gift that must be asked and received.

Prayer is not free from work. Unity demands to recognize mistakes, to listen to each other and to seek together the will of Christ.

Unit without confusion

The Conciliation Decree Unitatis redintegratio He teaches that the division between Christians contradicts the will of Christ and harms the proclamation of the Gospel. He also calls for caution, patience, fairness and truth.

Ecumenical dialogue does not consist in concealing doctrinal differences. He seeks to understand them without cartoons and to advance in what can be lived in common.

The Wari Station of 1921

The parish history published on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary places the origin of Wa-dong at the wari missionary station, formed in 1921.

The public sources consulted do not yet offer a complete relationship of their responsible, exact initial place and stages of dependence. The documented data is kept without filling these gaps with conjectures.

First parroquia for Ansan

Wa-dong was erected on 1 August 1981 as parish number 47 of the diocese of Suwon. The historical chronicle identifies it as the first parish in the Ansan region.

The date marks the passage from an ancient missionary presence to a community with its own pastoral care in a city that grew rapidly.

Mother Church of New Communities

The development of Ansan made it necessary to bring temples and pastoral services closer to new neighborhoods. Wa-dong participated in the creation of Won-gok and Daehak-dong in 1984, Wolpi-dong in 1995 and Gojan in 1999.

Each separation reduced territory, but expanded the presence of nearby communities. The fertility of one mother church is also measured by its ability to let others grow.

Thirty years in writing

After two years of research, the parish published in 2013 a volume of 392 pages over its first three decades. The team gathered documents, interviews, photographs and memories of priests, religious and lay people.

A complete community history must continue to incorporate the voice of women, catechists, workers, migrants, children and neighbours who did not hold visible positions.

Memory and verification

The personal photographs and testimonies allow us to understand how the changes took place, but they must be tested with documents when setting dates or responsibilities.

Keeping files protects against oblivion and helps to recognize both the fruits and errors of each time.

A different city

Ansan brings together inhabitants of many origins and cultures. In this context, unity cannot be confused with assimilation: to receive means to respect language, history, consciousness and dignity.

A parish dedicated to the Queen of Unity is called to avoid racism, social contempt and prejudice against migrants or different families.

Communion within the parish

The unit begins with specific relationships: transparency in decisions, responsible participation, non-violent conflict resolution and protection of vulnerable children and adults.

The apparent peace obtained by silencing a denunciation is not communion. Truth and reparation are necessary to rebuild trust.

Cooperation between Christians

The Council encourages cooperation in the defence of human dignity, peace, education and response to poverty, hunger and calamities. These works make visible a real but still incomplete communion.

Wa-dong can pray and cooperate with other Christians in the territory in accordance with the rules of each community and without the identity of others.

Unity in families

Families know differences in age, culture, faith and opinion. Mary teaches to listen and keep the Word, but her example never justifies control, domestic violence or religious imposition.

When there is damage, the priority is safety. Reconciliation does not make it necessary to live with those who continue to attack or replace the necessary professional and legal intervention.

Prayer for the Korean peninsula

The invocation calls for reconciliation between North and South, meetings of separate families and conditions of freedom and dignity for all.

Political unity cannot be imposed by ignoring victims or human rights. A true peace needs memory, justice, dialogue and protection from new violence.

The current community

The consulted episcopal directory records 1,825 faithful and no dependent station. A supplementary directory updated in 2026 offers 2,494; the difference probably meets different dates or criteria and both figures are maintained as data subject to review.

The parish has the presence of the Olivetana Benedictine Sisters. Your official phone is 031-482-2981.

verified location for the map

The episcopal direction is 14 Sasechungyeol-ro 2-gil. OpenStreetMap identifies the building itself as Wa-dong Catholic Church and places it in 37.3399045, 126.8308962.

The marker corresponds to the present temple. The centre of the neighborhood and the unknown location of the old Wari station are not used.

To visit and pray

You should call before you go, because liturgical times can change. The visitor must respect the celebrations, the training activities and the privacy of those who are accompanied.

He can pray for the unity of Christians, for the migrants of Ansan, for the parishes born of Wa-dong and for the reconciliation of Korea.

Prayer to Mary, Queen of Unity, from Wa-dong

Mary, Queen of Unity, accompanies the community of Wa-dong and the parishes born of her. Teach us to listen, to tell the truth with charity and to reconcile without hiding the damage. Welcome those who come from other cultures, protect families and support all Christians on their way to the communion desired by your Son. Get for Korea a just, free and lasting peace, and gather us always in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sources consulted

• Episcopal Conference of Korea: official registration of Wa-dong.
• Good News Catholic: corroboración parroquial.
• Catholic Times: 30 years of history and derived parishes.
• Maria Sarang: updated supplementary directory.
• OpenStreetMap: building and temple coordinates.
• St. John Paul II: Mary, Mother of unity and hope.
• Benedict XVI: unity as a gift that is implored.
• Vatican Council II: Decree on Ecumenism.
• Mapping tested by name and address.

Pray the Holy Rosary · More South Korean Advocations