The Bishop of Clogher, Bishop Larry Duffy, has paid tribute to the late Canon Joe Mullin, retired Parish Priest of Aghalurcher (Lisnaskea-Maguiresbridge), Co Fermanagh, who died yesterday, 8 August 2024, aged 81. In his tribute, Bishop Duffy noted the many pastoral gifts which Canon Mullin brought to his ministry as a priest of the diocese.
‘Canon Mullin reached out to people wherever they were and brought to them the love and tenderness of God’s grace and mercy. Throughout his priestly service in parishes as geographically diverse as Bundoran, Carrickmacross, Enniskillen and Monaghan – and for 25 years in Lisnaskea and Maguiresbridge, he proclaimed the love of Christ for all. He constantly renewed the invitation of Jesus for those in any need to ‘come to me all you who labour and are overburdened and I will give you rest’ (Mt 11:28). In a particular way, this pastoral style coupled with his devotion to Mary our Blessed Mother, was manifested to thousands of people across the diocese during his many years of service as Director of the Clogher Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. The love and devotion, the astute planning and preparation which he brought to this role, ensured that so many people – especially the sick- gained the graces together with the spiritual and peaceful experiences of Mary’s shrine at Lourdes. This extended also to the many young people who travelled to Lourdes to assist the pilgrims and who today form an integral part of the Clogher Lourdes experience.
‘Canon Joe was also a man who gave of himself to the stewardship of the wider Diocese of Clogher as a member of various Councils and Committees and as a Canon of the Diocesan Chapter, where his wise counsel was always sought and greatly valued.
‘To his family and many friends, especially those in the Parish of Aghalurcher which he served so faithfully, I extend my prayer-filled sympathy as we commend his soul to the Lord, May the Lord now welcome him to the table of God’s children in heaven.
‘Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for him; Saint Macartan and Saint Davnet, pray for him.’
ENDS
Notes for Editors
- Canon Joseph Mullin was born born on the 23rd of April 1943, the son of the late Joe and Winifred (nee Traynor). The family home was outside the town of Fintona, Co. Tyrone. Educated at Kingstreet Primary School, Fintona and St. Patrick’s in Armagh. He studied for the Priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, after which he was ordained on the 16 June 1968. From 1968, Canon Joe served in the Parishes of Bundoran, Enniskillen, Carrickmacross and then in Monaghan & Rackwallace where he was Administrator from 1990, before being appointed to Aghalurcher as Administrator in 1993 and then taking up the role as Parish Priest in 1997. Following his retirement as Parish Priest in 2018, he ministered to the people of Maguiresbridge until March 2020, after which he took up residence in Slieve Na Mon Nursing Home in Omagh where he died on Thursday 8 August 2024.
- Canon Joe’s body reposes in Holy Cross Church, Lisnaskea today, Friday 9 August from 12noon – 8pm. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday 10 August at 11am followed by burial in Fintona Cemetery.
