Roscommon priest laid to rest in Korea
The late Fr. Patrick Joseph Muldoon.
A beloved Roscommon priest has passed away after a life time of service to the people of Korea.
Donamon native Fr. Patrick Joseph Muldoon, who lived in Korea for 65 years ministering in both parish and hospital chaplaincy, passed away on the morning of Friday, September 6th last at Hyoseong Nursing Hospital in Seoul. He was 90 years old and had served in numerous parishes in South Korea.
Born in Donamon on March 5th, 1934, he entered the Missionary Society of St Columban in 1951. After being ordained in Ireland in 1958 he was sent to Korea the following year where he began his parish ministry in rural areas of the Archdiocese of Gwangju.
During the early 1970s, a period of rapid urbanisation in Korea, he was appointed to the greater Seoul area where he served in the Archdiocese of Seoul, the Diocese of Suwon, and the Diocese of Incheon. He established parishes in Sanggye-dong, Seoul; Sangdaewon, Suwon Diocese; and Sang-dong, Incheon Diocese.
From 1998 he dedicated himself to hospital chaplaincy, working in the chaplaincy departments at Seoul National University Hospital, the National Medical Centre, and Kangbuk Samsung Hospital until his retirement in 2014.
After his retirement, he continued his ministry as a confessor and counsellor while residing at the Columban Central House in Donam Dong, Seoul. He was a missionary known for his humility and simplicity. With a warm and kind smile, he welcomed people and offered great comfort to many, in particular those on the margins.
His funeral Mass was held on Monday, September 9th in Myeongdong Cathedral, Seoul, followed by burial in the Archdiocesan Cemetery in Yongin.
As well as being a dedicated priest ministering to his parishioners, Fr. Muldoon was also the goalkeeper on the Roscommon team that won the minor All-Ireland Championship in 1951.
Fr. Donal O’Keeffe, to whom the Herald is indebted to for his help, said that there was an interesting connection between Fr Muldoon and Fr John O'Brien, one of the Columban martyrs murdered by North Korean forces during the Korean War.
“Both were from Donamon,” said Fr Donal."Pat often talked of John, his warm friendly character, and about after his ordination in 1942, if the people were working in the fields, how he would throw off his collar, roll up his sleeves and join the men working - he had a word for everyone. I think he inspired Pat to join the Columban’s which he did in 1951. And now both Roscommon Columbans are buried in Korea.”
