Deceased Friars

Lucian A. Mulhern, OFM

Lucian A. Mulhern

1924 – 1999

Fr. Lucian Mulhern, OFM, was born on June 25, 1924 in Boston, Mass. He completed two years of high school before enrolling in St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y. He entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1944, professing temporary vows one year later. Fr. Lucian made his solemn profession in 1948 and was ordained in 1950.

After one year of teaching at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y., and another at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, Fr. Lucian volunteered to go to the Province’s new mission in Japan. He boarded a ship with four others in 1953 to begin a mission career marked by occasional adventures and many notable achievements. He served as pastor in Gumma Ken and as an associate at the main center in Tokyo, while getting deeply involved in the Cursillo apostolate and in the Movement for a Better World, eventually becoming known in Japan as “Mr. Better World.”

In 1972, Fr. Lucian became the Asian coordinator of MBW, until he was called to Rome in 1979 to be one of a three-man international directorate. He spent one year in Jamaica before returning to Japan in 1987. Ill health forced him to retire in 1997 and he transferred to Holy Name Friary, Ringwood, N.J.

He died there on Jan. 11, 1999. Fr. Lucian was 74 years old, a professed friar for 53 years and a priest for 48 years. He is buried with the friars in Tokyo.

Each of us should be called a lesser brother, a Friar Minor. Each one of us should wash the feet of the others.”

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Lucian A. Mulhern, OFM

Lucian A. Mulhern

1924 – 1999

Fr. Lucian Mulhern, OFM, was born on June 25, 1924 in Boston, Mass. He completed two years of high school before enrolling in St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y. He entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1944, professing temporary vows one year later. Fr. Lucian made his solemn profession in 1948 and was ordained in 1950.

After one year of teaching at Bishop Timon High School in Buffalo, N.Y., and another at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, Fr. Lucian volunteered to go to the Province’s new mission in Japan. He boarded a ship with four others in 1953 to begin a mission career marked by occasional adventures and many notable achievements. He served as pastor in Gumma Ken and as an associate at the main center in Tokyo, while getting deeply involved in the Cursillo apostolate and in the Movement for a Better World, eventually becoming known in Japan as “Mr. Better World.”

In 1972, Fr. Lucian became the Asian coordinator of MBW, until he was called to Rome in 1979 to be one of a three-man international directorate. He spent one year in Jamaica before returning to Japan in 1987. Ill health forced him to retire in 1997 and he transferred to Holy Name Friary, Ringwood, N.J.

He died there on Jan. 11, 1999. Fr. Lucian was 74 years old, a professed friar for 53 years and a priest for 48 years. He is buried with the friars in Tokyo.