Standing on a hill overlooking a field of grass in Sykesville, Joseph Yi sees the future. After more than 25 years of planning, the construction of Holy Korean Martyrs Catholic Church’s new home on Sykesville Road in Howard County is to begin this fall, with a groundbreaking scheduled for Sept. 20.
“We have 37 acres,” Yi, chair of the building committee, said, with pride, Aug. 12. “There are a lot of things to do.”
Plans call for the construction of a 26,000-square-foot building featuring 14,892-square-feet of space for the church and a hall, and a separate 8,415-square-foot education wing. The church hopes to celebrate its first Mass in the new church on Christmas Eve 2026.
While the church population has been steadily growing, the most important reason for the new building, Yi said, is that it will be in Howard County. For the last 25 years, members of Holy Korean Martyrs have met in Woodlawn. When they contemplated renovating the aging church building, Archbishop William E. Lori suggested another option, Yi said
“His Excellency vocally asked us, ‘Where is the center of the Korean population? It’s Howard County. Why not move into Howard County?’” Yi said. “He inspired us.”
Archbishop Lori was also the first to call the church’s new location Martyrs’ Hill in a letter. Throughout the planning of the new church, the archbishop was very supportive, occasionally even joining some committee meetings.
Father H. Paul Kim hopes the new facility attracts young Koreans who do not attend church on a regular basis.
“They want to have a better facility for their children for Sunday school which we cannot provide in our old church, because it’s old,” Father Kim said. “And also, it is very close to the downtown, so they are afraid of security, too.”
Father Kim also added that the church is open to all Catholics.
“Evangelism is the most important goal for this new parish,” Father Kim said.“We need to attract more Koreans, non-Catholics and also the members around here, Catholics.”
St. Joseph in Sykesville, and Church of the Resurrection in Ellicott City are the two closest Catholic churches.
The project is expected to cost about $11 million. Multiple fundraisers and golf outings have been held, and a small loan was needed too, Yi said. An abandoned stone house on the property was fully renovated by the church and now serves as the rectory.
“It was completely destroyed,” Father Kim said, of the house. “It is old, but in good shape.” Since its completion in January, many of the church’s events are now held there. Plans are to continue using it for multiple purposes once the new church is built, too.
“This is a very exciting parish,” Father Kim said. “All kinds of ages and different people with different talents. I am very impressed by their faith.”
Located at the intersection of Sykesville and Old Frederick roads, the new church’s main access will be on Old Frederick Road with a parking lot for more than 200 cars planned. Talks about creating a small amphitheater on the hillside or building a soccer field have been proposed, but more funding will have to be raised and approvals granted.
The parishioners of Holy Korean Martyrs selected Sept. 20 for the groundbreaking as it is the feast of the Korean martyrs, which remembers the 103 men and women, including Ss. Andrew Kim Tae-gon and Paul Chong Hasang, who were martyred for their faith in the 19th century and canonized by St. Pope John Paul II in 1984.
After so many years of planning, the groundbreaking is going to be a highlight. A wooden cross will be erected in the field where the proposed altar will be built for a blessing by Archbishop Lori, who is expected to attend, Father Kim said.
“It is now really happening,” Father Kim said. “People can see now, this is the church.”
Email Katie V. Jones at kjones@CatholicReview.org
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