Parish History
Originally members of St. Andrew Kim Catholic Church located in Maryland, the founding members of St. Paul Chung moved to Virginia in October 13, 1985 and celebrated their first Mass on September 28, 1986, at St. Bernadette Church in Springfield, Virginia. Celebrating the Mass was Pastor Simon Yongsik Park of Wonju Diocese in Korea who became our First Priest. The number of parishioners at that time was 325 households and 1,112 people.
On October 7, 1986, Bishop John R. Keating of Arlington Diocese officially approved the name 'St. Paul Chung Korean Catholic Missionary Church.' In October 1995, construction of the church at the current location in Fairfax, Virginia, began. On February 1, 1996, Bishop Keating promoted St. Paul Chung Catholic Church to the 61st parish of the Diocese of Arlington. Having grown to approximately 6,500 parishioners, in 2021 St. Paul Chung celebrated its 25th anniversary, with Fr. Benedicto Taejin Kim and Bishop Michael F. Burbidge.
Founded on the moto “떠나온 고국을 그리워하며 이 성전을 우리의 아이들을 위해 바칩니다” which translates to “Remembering the Motherland We Left Behind, We Dedicate this Church to the Future of Our Children,” St. Paul Chung Catholic Church continues to thrive as one of the biggest Korean Catholic parishes in the United States.
For more information about Saint Paul Chung Catholic Church, visit: www.stpaulchung.org.
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