The Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju (Latin: Archidioecesis Kvangiuensis, Hangul: 천주교 광주대교구) is a particular church of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church, one of the three Metropolitan sees of the Catholic Church in Korea. The Archdiocese covers the city of Gwangju and entire South Jeolla Province.
Archdiocese of Gwangju Archidioecesis Kvangiuensis 광주대교구 | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
| Location | |
| Country |  South Korea |
| Territory | Gwangju, South Jeolla |
| Ecclesiastical province | Gwangju |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 12,596 km2 (4,863 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2017) 3,360,194 365,649 (10.8%) |
| Parishes | 139 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | April 13, 1937 (as Apostolic prefecture) March 10, 1962 (as Archdiocese) |
| Cathedral | Im-dong Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus |
| Co-cathedral | Buk-dong Cathedral |
| Patron saint | Anselm of Canterbury |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Archbishop | Simon Ok Hyun-jin |
| Bishops emeritus | Andreas Choi Chang-mou Victorinus Youn Kong-hi Hyginus Kim Hee-jong |
| Map | |
 | |
| Website | |
| gjcatholic.or.kr | |
History
editOn 13 April 1937 Pope Pius XI established the Prefecture Apostolic of Kwoszu. Pope Pius XII changed its name to the Prefecture Apostolic of Kwangju on 12 July 1950. It was elevated to a Vicariate Apostolic on 21 January 1957. Pope John XXIII elevated the vicariate to an archdiocese on 10 March 1962.[1][2]
Leadership
editOrdinaries
editApostolic Prefects of Kwangju
edit- Owen McPolin (1937–1942)
- Thomas Asagoro Wakida (1942–1945)
- Owen McPolin (1945–1947)
- Patrick Thomas Brennan (1949–1950)
- Harold William Henry (1954–1957)
Apostolic Vicars of Kwangju
edit- Harold William Henry (1957–1962)
Archbishops of Gwangju
edit- Harold William Henry (1962–1971), appointed Apostolic Administrator of Cheju
- Peter Han Kong-ryel (1971–1973)
- Victorinus Youn Kong-hi (1973–2000)
- Andreas Choi Chang-mou (2000–2010)
- Hyginus Kim Hee-jong (2010–2022)
- Simon Ok Hyun-jin (2022–present)[3]
Coadjutor Archbishops
edit- Andreas Choi Chang-mou (1999–2000)
- Hyginus Kim Hee-jong (2009–2010)
Auxiliary Bishops
edit- Andreas Choi Chang-mou (1994–1999)
- Hyginus Kim Hee-jong (2003–2009)
- Simon Ok Hyun-jin (2011–2022)[4]
References
edit- ^ "Archdiocese of Kwangju". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
- ^ "Metropolitan Archdiocese of Gwangju 광주". Giga Catholic. Retrieved 2020-09-26.
- ^ Cho Hyun (2022-11-20). "천주교 광주대교구장에 옥현진 임명…대주교로 승품" (in Korean). The Hankyoreh. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
- ^ Catholic Hierarchy: "Bishop Simon Ok Hyun-jjn" retrieved November 7, 2015