CourageofAnthony Collierremembered
THE remarkable bravery of a Clogherhead priest has been recognised at a special event in the place he called home, Chunchon in Korea.
The latest edition of ‘Far East’ - the publication of the Columban Fathers - features the story of Fr Anthony Collier and marks the 70th anniversary of his death and also the anniversary of the Soyangro parish, where he was the first pastor.
His life is depicted in various tableaux in the parish grounds.
Bishop Luke Kim was the chief celebrant and a large crowd of locals came out to recognise the sacrifice of Fr Collier.
Fr Liam O’Keeffe attended and spoke of the period of Fr Collier’s killing. It was June 1950 and the Korean War had broken out. He was asked to leave the city by the Americans but vowed to stay with his people. He was later executed by North Korean soldiers.
Fr O’Keeffe said Fr Collier’s martyrdom was a source of pride to Columban’s everywhere.
The little church at Soyangro was built in 1956 by Columban Fr. James Buckley, the third parish priest of the parish, in honor of the martyred Columban Fr. Anthony Collier.
Fr. Collier was ordained a priest in Ireland in 1938 and arrived in Korea the following year. He served as a curate in Kangnung church before becoming parish priest in Hwengsun. He was appointed the first parish priest of Soyangro in 1950.
Fr Collier is buried behind the Chungrimdong church is the diocesan cemetery along with the seven martyrs of the Korean War , Columban Frs. Frank Canavan, Patrick Reilly and James Maginn; Chunchon Diocesan priests Kim Kyo-myung (Benedict), Peck Ung-man (Thomas), and Lee Kwang-jae (Timothy). There is also the grave of Bishop Thomas Quinlan who was arrested by North Korean soldiers, forced to endure the “March of Death” and miraculously returned South. There is also a memorial grave for Bishop Thomas Stewart, the second bishop of the diocese as well as the graves of Frs. John Lynch and Thomas Comerford.