Marian devotion
The parish of Gongju Jungdong, founded the 8 May 1897, is dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. Its present church, a remarkable Gothic brick building, was completed and consecrated in May 1937.
Advocation: Nativity of the Virgin Mary.
Korean name: Castle Ruins.
Temple: ○ · church católica de Gongju Jingdung.
Address: 6 Seang-gil, Gongju, Chungcheong del Sur 32562.
Parish Foundation: May 8, 1897.
Current temple: concluded and consecrated on 12 May 1937.
Architect: padre Mark Choi Jong-cheol.
Property protection: Provincial monument since 1998.
Jurisdiction: Catholic diocese of Daejeon.
Coordinates checked: 36.4547995, 127.1274561.
The first Catholic parish of Gongju
The first parish priest, the missionary Guinand, acquired traditional houses with roofs and straw and adapted them as a church and priestly residence.
The parish, then simply called Gongju, became the center of the Catholic presence of the city. He adopted the name Jungdong after the creation of another parish in 1982.
A temple built with local bricks
Father Mark Choi Jong-cheol arrived as the fifth parish priest in 1921 and projected a new building in 1936. He hired Chinese technicians and led the local brick manufacturing.
After about a year of work, the temple was completed and consecrated on May 12, 1937 under the patronage of the Nativity of Mary.
Korean Gothic Architecture
The building features a Latin cross floor, central front tower and three-ship interior. Octagonal stone columns and semicircular arches separate the main ship from the sides.
The combination of Western design, locally produced materials and the work of Asian artists makes it a unique witness to the modern Catholic architecture of Korea.
The Nativity of Mary
The Church celebrates the birth of the Virgin on 8 September. The Canon Gospels do not report their birth; the feast comes from an ancient liturgical tradition and celebrates the coming to the world of who would be the Mother of Jesus Christ.
Mary is not venerated by an isolated greatness: her whole life is understood from the grace of God and her mission in the incarnation of the Son.
One hundred years and property protection
In 1997 the parish celebrated its centenary and carried out a major restoration of the building. On July 25, 1998, the temple was recognized as a monument to South Chungcheong.
Heritage protection preserves historical materiality, while the community continues to use the church as a living place of worship.
A city marked by Catholic memory
Gongju conserves sanctuaries of martyrs and the Marian shrine of Suryichigol. Jungdong is a different reality: historical urban parish dedicated to the Nativity of Mary, with its own marker.
Verified location
The episcopal directory sets the direction at 6 Seongdang-gil. The full name search returns 36.4547995, 127.1274561, corresponding to the temple.
To visit and pray
It is an active parish and a well protected one. It is appropriate to confirm schedules, to remain silent during veneration and to avoid touching property elements.
The visit can be accompanied by Matthew 1, 1-16, the Magnificat and a prayer for mothers, children and every life that begins.
Prayer to the Nativity of Mary of Gongju Jungdong
St. Mary, whose birth announced a new hope, keeps the Gongju Jungdong community. He blesses the memory of those who founded it and raised its temple. Teach us to receive every life as a gift, to grow in humility and to prepare faithfully the ways of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sources consulted
Is the advocation of the Virgin Mary of your people missing?
Si no encuentras la advocación mariana de tu ciudad o pueblo, cuéntanosla: la investigaremos para ubicarla y darla a conocer en este mapa del amor de la Madre por el mundo.
Propose an apvocation →