Fr James Murphy SSC

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Fr James F. Murphy
1931- 2009

Fr James (Jim) Murphy died at St Columban's Nursing Home on November 27, 2009. Born on 18 September 1931, in Rearour, Aherla, Co. Cork. He was educated at Knockavilla NS, Kilbonane NS, and later at St Finbar's College, Farrenferris, Cork. He arrived in Dalgan in September 1950 and was ordained priest on 21 December 1956. He was assigned to Korea and arrived there by boat in December 1957.  After language-school studies in Seoul, he was appointed to Chun-Chon Diocese. This Diocese is situated along the border with North Korea, an area known worldwide as the 'demilitarised zone' or DMZ. The Korean War had ended in 1953, but the destruction and devastation were still clearly visible. People were hungry, destitute, without proper clothing, food or housing. Jim's first appointment was to Ulchin and he spent the following five and a half years  there.

He went home on vacation for the first time in 1963. Home was now a very different place as his mother had died in 1962 and Jim had been unable to attend the funeral. He had also missed his brother Con's ordination in 1960.

From 1964 to 1971 he continued his rural ministry in Chun-Chon Diocese.  In 1972, he was transferred to Seoul Archdiocese where he would minister in city parishes over the next 21 years. By that time Korea was known for its amazing economic recovery, its industrialisation and rapid urbanisation. Seoul had grown from a city of five million inhabitants  to twelve million.

The Columbans accompanied the migrants, the displaced, and the many poor people striving to find their feet in these new surroundings.  Jim was to build three new churches in Seoul, and his greatest joy was to see students from these new parishes go to the seminary and be ordained priests. Today, the Korean Church is a vibrant, thriving, self-sufficient body, no longer needing missionaries.

Jim returned to Ireland in 1993 and over the following nine years served in his home Diocese of Cork, in the parishes of Blackrock, Dunmanway and Bantry (Kealkill).  He retired to Dalgan in 2002. Jim was a man of prayer and deep faith. He was dedicated to the Church, to his parish and to spreading the Kingdom. Though shy and retiring, he was kind, had a great interest in people, and loved to be the first with news, especially Columban news. We will miss his quiet presence.

May he rest in peace.