Seonwondong Catholic Church, Yeosu: A Family's Spiritual Stop

As a family that loves to explore, we often find ourselves seeking out local churches during our travels. On a recent trip, a quick map search for a nearby church led us to the beautiful Seonwondong Catholic Church.

During a lovely June holiday in Yeosu, we had the privilege of attending Mass at Seonwondong Catholic Church. Here's a glimpse into our experience.

Seonwondong Catholic Church

27 Seonwon 2-gil, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do, South Korea

061-682-2004

Main History

09/29/1980: Services began at Ssangbong Gongso, Seogyo-dong Church in Yeosu.

02/01/1981: Elevated to Ssangbong Church, with the arrival of a Guadalupe Society priest.

06/06/1983: Dedication ceremony for the newly constructed church.

01/01/1986: Renamed Yeocheon Church, following Yeosu's elevation to Yeocheon-si.

11/30/1992: Renamed Seonwondong Catholic Church.

02/04/1994: A priest from the Gwangju Archdiocese was appointed.

11/24/2016: Designated as a memorial church for the Guadalupe Foreign Mission Society by Archbishop Kim Hee-joong of the Gwangju Archdiocese.

Within the altar's reliquary, you'll find a relic of Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, Korea's first Catholic priest. This sacred relic was entrusted to Bishop Alonso Manuel Escalante, founder of the Guadalupe Foreign Mission Society, during the Second Vatican Council by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. It was intended for a church built by Guadalupe missionaries in Korea. Father Joseph Kang, the first missionary dispatched to Korea, safeguarded it for years. When construction began on this church, Father Hector Won requested the relic, and Father James Na enshrined it in the altar.

Located not far from Yeosu City Hall, the church is nestled within a charming village, a short drive up a gentle incline.

Though not grand in scale, the church exudes a wonderfully warm and welcoming atmosphere, truly feeling like the heart of the community. We visited on a rainy day, which unfortunately prevented us from exploring the surrounding area as much as we would have liked.

It was a weekend, and we attended the youth Mass, so the church was filled with many vibrant young people.

The interior of the church was surprisingly spacious and truly beautiful. The central ceiling light was particularly striking, designed to symbolize the Holy Eucharist – a truly meaningful detail.

I managed to capture a few photos before Mass began. We were treated to a wonderful performance by the middle and high school band, who provided lovely musical accompaniment.

The main worship area felt quite expansive, offering ample space for the congregation.

Mass Schedule Information

The Mass and catechism schedules are clearly displayed. The presence of separate Masses for children and youth truly highlights the vibrant young community here. While we strive to provide the most current information, Mass times can sometimes change. We highly recommend calling the church directly to confirm the schedule before your visit.

As we left after Mass, the priest kindly greeted our children, remarking that we were new faces. Upon learning we were visiting from out of town, he generously gifted us a beautiful candle, a truly touching gesture.

Reflections from a Family Traveler

There's something inherently comforting and welcoming about visiting a local church while traveling. The warmth we felt from the priest and nuns, coupled with their thoughtful gift, made our visit to Seonwondong Catholic Church even more special.

This wasn't the first time we received such a thoughtful gift; we were also given a candle during a visit to a church in Saipan years ago. That memory sparked a desire to revisit my old blog post about that experience.

A Nostalgic Look Back: The Korean Catholic Church in Saipan

Korean Catholic Church in Saipanblog.naver.com