Saint Paul Chong Hasang is the patron saint of our parish and a faithful witness to the Catholic faith in Korea. His life reflects the courage of ordinary believers who sustained the Church through persecution, hardship, and sacrifice.

Christianity came to Korea during the seventeenth century through the zeal of lay people. From its earliest days, Korean Christians endured severe persecution. Among the martyrs were Andrew Kim Tae-gon, the first Korean priest, and Paul Chong Hasang, a lay apostle. Korean martyrs included bishops, priests, and many heroic laypeople—men and women, married and single, and people of every age. They were canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 6, 1984.

A life rooted in faith

Paul Chong Hasang was born in 1795 in Mahyon, Kyonggi Province, Korea. He came from a family of noble scholars devoted to the Catholic faith and its growth in Korea. His father, Augustine Chong Yak-jong, was a Catholic intellectual who wrote the first Catholic catechism in the Korean language.

In 1801, Paul’s father was martyred. The family was persecuted and stripped of its property, yet Paul’s mother remained devout, and the family did not deny the faith. Their steadfastness became part of Paul’s own lifelong witness.

Seeking support for the Church

At the age of twenty-one, Paul traveled to China and asked the Bishop of Peking to send missionaries to Korea. While in China, he received Confirmation. Throughout his life, he continued seeking missionary support for the Church in Korea.

Saint Paul Chong Hasang’s story invites us to remember that faith can be carried forward by people whose courage, perseverance, and love remain strong even in times of suffering. As our patron, he stands as a reminder of the Korean Catholic community’s deep roots and of the faithfulness of those who came before us.