A Sacred Autumn at Sinpyeong Catholic Church and Wonmeori Holy Site in Dangjin
The sacred autumn at Sinpyeong Catholic Church and Wonmeori Holy Site in Dangjin.
As autumn deepens, the clear days and mild temperatures make it a perfect season for travel. I recently visited Sinpyeong Catholic Church and Wonmeori Holy Site in Sinpyeong-myeon, Dangjin-si, on a late autumn day.
Dangjin, now a prime pilgrimage destination, features the Beognae Pilgrimage Trail, connecting various holy sites and drawing a constant stream of pilgrims. From Sinri Holy Site, Hwangmuseol Holy Site, and Solmoe Holy Site, to Wonmeori Holy Site, Sinpyeong Catholic Church, and Hapdeok Catholic Church, believers embark on pilgrimages, while tourists delve into Korea's rich history.
Sinpyeong Catholic Church is located along the road in Sinpyeong-myeon. Approximately 2.5km from Wonmeori Holy Site, it was established in 1975 and stands to this day. The autumn sky on the day of my visit was particularly beautiful.
This area has three faith communities with over 100 years of history, including Wonmeori, Maesan and Eumseom, and many martyrs who led to the creation of the current Sinpyeong Catholic Church.
Built about 50 years ago, Sinpyeong Catholic Church, with its red brick construction, offers a striking contrast against the sky, making it a beautiful sight. Here, you'll find the Martyr Park Seon-ji Marco and Park Tae-jin Matia Memorial, erected in 2009.
The church, built of red brick, is truly beautiful. The Martyr Park Seon-jin Marco and Park Tae-jin Matia Memorial was erected here in 2009, and reading the memorial evokes a sense of reverence.
A statue of Mary stands to the right of the church entrance. Round flower pots with yellow blossoms add to the beauty of the autumn day. I entered the church, sat for a moment, closed my eyes, and bowed my head.
After admiring the beautiful Sinpyeong Catholic Church, I headed to Wonmeori Holy Site on Wonmeori-ro in Sinpyeong-myeon. A five-minute drive from the church, the site is marked by a signpost and features a traditional Korean-style chapel.
'Wonmeori' is said to be a variation of 'Eonmeori,' meaning the beginning of a levee built for land reclamation. As the name suggests, Wonmeori was once a seaside village, but is now located in the middle of a plain due to land reclamation projects.
Wonmeori Holy Site, managed by Sinpyeong Catholic Church, is easily accessible from the road. It offers convenient amenities such as bus and car parking (for about ten cars), modern restrooms, and rest areas.
The newly built thatched-roof house, named 'Wonmeori Holy Site Chapel,' has been recreated and presents a charming and familiar appearance.
A display at the entrance provides information about Wonmeori Holy Site, allowing visitors to explore its history.
Behind the parking lot stands a sign with the inscription 'Wonmeori Holy Site,' making it easy for anyone to identify the location. The newly created information displays are also visually appealing.
Inside, a statue of the Virgin Mary inspires reverence, and a lit candle flickers. Thinking of the martyred ancestors of faith who suffered martyrdom, I slowly toured Wonmeori Holy Site.
When the Byeongin Persecution occurred in 1866, the Wonmeori faith community produced 16 martyrs from Wonmeori by 1868, six of whom were buried alive in Hongju and Haemi. The Wonmeori community, which had been destroyed by this persecution, was revived in the 1880s.
Believers who had temporarily left during the persecution returned, and Wonmeori and the surrounding areas continued to grow, becoming the largest parish in the Sinpyeong area, playing a central role in the establishment of Sinpyeong Catholic Church in 1975.
Wonmeori Holy Site contains the tombs of martyrs. The tombs of Park Seon-jin (Marco) and Park Tae-jin (Matia), who were martyred in Suwon in 1868, are located here, and next to their graves is the tomb of Seo Deok-haeng, who was recognized for his merit in recovering and transporting the bodies of the two martyrs.
They were martyred after being imprisoned in Suwon Prison for 15 days. At the time of their martyrdom, Park Seon-jin (Marco) was 33 years old and Park Tae-jin (Madia) was 52 years old. They were martyred for their faith, which became a flag that brought about the revival of Catholicism in Korea.
The Way of the Cross has also been created here. The Way of the Cross is a path of suffering.
The process of Jesus being crucified is recreated with statues, and the Way of the Cross, which consists of 14 stages, is a precious place for pilgrims.
Regardless of personal religion, seeing those who were martyred while upholding their faith inspires reverence. A tourist map of Sinpyeong-myeon is available at the entrance, making it a good idea to visit Wonmeori Holy Site and Sinpyeong Catholic Church together.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/dangjin2030/224079756543
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