Mong-ae-mok(also called “Meong-eo-mok”) was a secret Catholic village formed during thepersecutions. It was home to the Blessed Park Gyeong-hwa (and his son) and acommunity visited by Fr. Thomas Choe Yang-eop, who celebrated the sacramentshere. Until the 1866 Byeongin Persecution, it was a hidden Christian settlementwhere Bl. Kim Jong-ryun, ChoiYong-un, An Luca, YeoJohn, and others lived their faith in secret.

Thechurch is an octagonal, cone-shaped structure symbolizing prayers rising toheaven. A baptismal font is placed at the center to express the identity of a“baptismal church.” The complex includes an above-ground church andoffice, and an underground “baptism cave.” A brick from St. Peter’s Basilica inthe Vatican is displayed with its certificate beside the holy water font.