Fr Walter Nugent RIP

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Walter Nugent
 (1933 - 2008)

Fr Walter Nugent died on 5th February 2008 at the Nursing Home, St Columban’s, Navan, Co. Meath. Born on 13th May 1933 in Clonmellon,  Co. Westmeath, he did his primary education in Clonmellon and Kilskyre. He attended the CBS in Kells for his secondary education before coming to Dalgan in1951. Ordained on 22 December 1957 by Bishop Kyne, Walter was appointed to Korea and assigned to the diocese of Chunchon where he was to spend nearly forty years.

When he arrived, the country was still recovering from the devastation of the Korean War and relief work and rebuilding were the order of the day. Situated along the border with North Korea, this province of Kangwondo was always a heavily militarised area, prone to frequent invasion scares. None of that ever seemed to worry Walter as he served the Christian communities from Jumunjin on the north east coast, through the mountains in places like Yangku, to Pochon in the west.

Walter’s ability to relax with people and enjoy a card game with the
neighbouring Columbans was the perfect antidote to the bleakness and the loneliness of some of these locations. The arrival in Korea of his sister Mary, a Columban Sister, was a great encouragement to him. The extent of his concern for the members of his own family was replicated in his concern for the people in each of his parish assignments. So, when a group of young Korean priests, whom he would not have known, visited him last year he was still able to place them all through their parents and grandparents.

Walter struggled with illness and disability in recent years. Yet it never
wore him down to the extent that he wouldn't respond to the mention of Meath football, or of his own former prowess on the pitch. He will be remembered here and in Korea as a gentle and caring man with the wisdom and faith to be of service to others whatever the situation.

May he rest in peace.