Columban Fr Patrick Healy RIP
Submitted by FatherSean on Sat, 04/14/2012 - 09:37.
Later, Father Paddy served in Yangyang and Kumwha, parishes closer to the border, before being appointed to Seoul as Regional Bursar in 1968. It was a role he enjoyed; not only keeping the books in order and finding food for the table, but also hosting many raucous card games. He was one of the delegates from Korea to the 1970 General Chapter but was happy to return to parish work in 1973. He worked in Tobongdong in Seoul, and Wonmidon in Inchon Dioceses as part of the Columban response to the growth of the urban population from four to twelve million within very few years. Like other Columbans at that time, he found himself gathering displaced people into communities, trying to provide churches and centres.
He celebrated his Hwan-gap (60th Birthday) soon after he opened a new church in Ka Jeong Dong, Inchon. Dressed like an elder in a colourful Korean costume he was subject to a lot of friendly banter because he never looked his age. His secret may well have been his ability to take people and situations as he found them, to work on regardless and, as he would say, ‘play the cards he was dealt’.
Returning to Ireland in 1998 he was able to live in Galway for a few years before illness obliged him to retire to our Nursing Home in Dalgan. He will be remembered here and in Korea as a gentle and caring man who had the heart and the faith to be of service to others whatever the situation.
Father Paddy died unexpectedly in Dalgan Park on 10 April 2012, Easter Tuesday, and was buried there on Easter Friday.
Fr Patrick Healy
(1929 - 2012)
(1929 - 2012)
Fr Patrick Healy was born on 7 September 1929 in Moylough, County Galway, Ireland. Educated at Moylough National School and St Jarlath’s College, Tuam, he came to St Columban's College, Dalgan Park, in 1949.
Moylough Castle (The original Irish of 'Moylough', 'Maigh Locha', means 'Plain of the Lake).
Ordained on 22 December 1955, Father Paddy was appointed to Korea and assigned to the Diocese of Chunchon, in Kangwondo Province. He was to spend the next forty-three years in Korea and saw many changes over that time. When he arrived the country was still recovering from the devastation of the Korean War (1950-53); relief work and rebuilding were the order of the day.
Seoraksan in Kangwondo (Gangwon) Province
Situated along the border with North Korea, Kangwondo was always a heavily militarised area, prone to frequent invasion scares. He began his ministry on the East coast in Samchok and Mukho, two parishes whose Columban pastors had been killed early in the war.
Later, Father Paddy served in Yangyang and Kumwha, parishes closer to the border, before being appointed to Seoul as Regional Bursar in 1968. It was a role he enjoyed; not only keeping the books in order and finding food for the table, but also hosting many raucous card games. He was one of the delegates from Korea to the 1970 General Chapter but was happy to return to parish work in 1973. He worked in Tobongdong in Seoul, and Wonmidon in Inchon Dioceses as part of the Columban response to the growth of the urban population from four to twelve million within very few years. Like other Columbans at that time, he found himself gathering displaced people into communities, trying to provide churches and centres.
He celebrated his Hwan-gap (60th Birthday) soon after he opened a new church in Ka Jeong Dong, Inchon. Dressed like an elder in a colourful Korean costume he was subject to a lot of friendly banter because he never looked his age. His secret may well have been his ability to take people and situations as he found them, to work on regardless and, as he would say, ‘play the cards he was dealt’.
Returning to Ireland in 1998 he was able to live in Galway for a few years before illness obliged him to retire to our Nursing Home in Dalgan. He will be remembered here and in Korea as a gentle and caring man who had the heart and the faith to be of service to others whatever the situation.
Father Paddy died unexpectedly in Dalgan Park on 10 April 2012, Easter Tuesday, and was buried there on Easter Friday.
May he rest in peace.
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