왕림 성당 | 신앙의 눈으로 보는 순례

The Motherland of the Diocese of Suwon, Wangnim Church, Historic Site No. 1 | Planning / Production | Public Relations Bureau, Diocese of Suwon | Filming / Editing / Narration | The Pilgrim Man (Peter Lee Min-ho) | Text (Commentary) | Andrew Lee Seon-gyu As a historic site appearing since the early days of the history of the Korean Catholic Church, Wangnim Church is the oldest parish in the Diocese of Suwon. Established on July 14, 1888, it marks its 138th anniversary this year. At the time of its establishment, the parish had approximately 1,700 believers. The fact that parishes with histories of over 100 years, such as Hauhyeon Church, Mirinae Church, and Buksudong Church, consider Wangnim Church their mother parish clearly demonstrates the status Wangnim Church holds in the history of the Korean Catholic Church. Another name for ‘Wangnim Church’ is ‘Gatdeungi Wangnim Church.’ The term ‘Gatdeungi’ is a secret slang term used to refer to priests during the era of persecution, said to have originated from the image of a lamp wearing a gat (traditional Korean hat). Even amidst the pitch-black darkness of that persecution era, where lives were constantly threatened, there were blue-eyed priests who, like lamps, preached the Gospel to the faithful and illuminated the way. Since they, too, could have been executed immediately if discovered, people hoped that their devotion would remain a long-lasting light, becoming a lamp that never goes out. The current church is the fourth building constructed since its founding; it was built in the mid-1980s following two previous Hanok (traditional Korean house) churches. In front of the church, a Hanok rectory consecrated in 1902 remains preserved in its original antique appearance. This rectory has undergone one major restoration project and retains its original look well. It was consecrated in 1902 by Bishop Mutel, who played a significant role in elevating the Gatdeungi Mission to Wanglim Church. It is said that Father Kang Do-young, who was the parish priest of Mirinae Church at the time, was also present at this moment of consecration. The term ‘Gatdeungi’ is said to have originated from the phrase ‘a lamp wearing a gat’. In front of the rectory lies a spacious, well-landscaped garden where juniper and cherry trees, some over 100 years old, stand firm as if symbolizing the church's long history and the years of faith. To a pilgrim facing the fully bloomed Yoshino cherry trees on a spring day, these flowers felt like the joy of faith that blossomed after enduring the harsh winter of persecution. The first five parish priests of Wanglim Parish were priests of the Paris Foreign Missions Society, who had dedicated themselves at the center of the early missionary work of the Korean Catholic Church. In particular, the first parish priest, Father André, laid the foundation for the development of Wanglim Parish, while the second and fourth parish priests, Father Alix, constructed the rectory and the thatched-roof church. I feel that the seeds of the Gospel sown by Bishop Mutel and the priests of the Paris Foreign Missions Society, who came to this unfamiliar land, have grown into the great tree known as Wanglim Parish today. The sunlight shining through the cherry trees in the rectory courtyard seems to stop time, and amidst the mystery where the past and present coexist, I reflect once again on their devotion. #WangnimChurch #GatdeungiWangnimChurch #DioceseOfSuwon #KoreanCatholicChurch #CatholicHolySite #CatholicHistory #KoreanChurchHistory #CatholicHolySite #Pilgrimage #WangnimParish #Catholic #Catholicism #Church #Faith #Gospel #PersecutionEra #Gatdeungi #BishopMutel #ParisForeignMissionaries #MirinaeChurch #HauhyeonChurch #BuksudongChurch #HanokChurch #HanokRitualResidence #CulturalHeritage #HistoryTravel #PilgrimageRoute #CherryBlossomSpot #FaithHeritage #ModernKoreanHistory #CatholicKorea #KoreanCatholic #WangnimCatholicChurch #Pilgrimage #CatholicHeritage #PlacesToVisitInSuwon #PlacesToVisitInAnseong #GyeonggiHolySite #HolySiteGuide #ChurchTour #KoreanCatholicPilgrimage #HistoryDocumentary #EmotionalVideo #HealingTravel #FaithDocumentary #CatholicPilgrimageRoute #ChurchVlog #SouthKoreaHolySite #CatholicCulture #138thAnniversaryOfRoyalChurch