Fr MATTHEW QUINN RIP
Fr Matthew Quinn 1918-2007
Fr Mattie died in the Nursing Home in Dalgan Park December 2007. Born on 17 January 1918 in Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny, his primary education was in the Convent and CBS schools in Tuam. He went to St.Jarlath’s for his secondary education and entered the old Dalgan in 1937. Mattie was ordained on 21st December 1943 |
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He spent the war years in Birmingham before going to China in 1946.
He was appointed to the U.S. in 1948 because of his health. He underwent several operations but continued to work in Chicago and in Brooklyn until he took charge of the Chinese parish in Los Angeles in 1962.
He described the 19 years he spent there like this: “China was my first love as a missionary priest and when China closed to me in 1948 I thought my hopes were shattered for ever. So it has been a special blessing for me to have served the Chinese community in this way”.
In 1983 he moved to Holy Redeemer parish and tells how he intended to retire in 1998, but says: "Since the people here seem not to mind my age, I’ll stay a bit longer”.
He did retire to Bristol,R. I. in 1999 and by June it was noted that the weather had been excellent ever since he arrived. Probably to keep him from been homesick for Los Angeles.Mattie will be remembered for his cheerfulness, his commitment and for the dedication he showed in all his sixty-five years of missionary priesthood.
May he rest in peace.