THE funeral is due to take place tomorrow in the United States for a "beloved" priest and brother of Northern Ireland's honorary Polish consul.
Monsignor Austin Mullen (81) passed away peacefully on Monday in Florida, where he served as a priest for 57 years. His brother Jerome Mullen, who lives in Warrenpoint, Co Down, was by his side.
His death notice states that he will be "deeply missed by the parish community throughout Florida, but in particular in the parish of St Paul's Catholic Church, Tampa which he established and served in for over 25 years".
The Catholic Diocese of St Petersburg in Florida said it was "saddened" to announce his death and recalled his accomplishments over the past six decades.
The diocese said Monsignor Mullen, who was originally from Co Cavan, moved to Florida in 1965 when was ordained into the priesthood in 1965 for the diocese of St Augustine.
His first assignment was parochial vicar of San Jose Parish in Jacksonville. He assisted Archbishop Joseph Hurley as his secretary and also served in several other parishes in Tampa, Sarasota, University of South Florida.
In June 1973, he was appointed as pastor of St Paul Parish, Tampa, serving the rapidly growing Carrollwood area for the next 23 years.
In 1996, he became founding pastor of the newly established St Mark the Evangelist Parish, to provide pastoral ministry to those living in the New Tampa area for the next seven years.
He served in Beverly Hills until his retirement in 2011 before moving to John Knox Village Retirement Centre, where he offered masses, reconciliation, anointing of the sick and other pastoral services to the residents.
Monsignor Mullen also held a number of roles including diocesan coordinator of parish councils, vicar forane and member of the incardination committee.
He was given the title of Monsignor in 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI and in 2016 was the recipient of the Father Luis de Cancer Award for Distinguished Priestly Service in the Diocese of St Petersburg.
His funeral will take place in Tampa tomorrow with his ashes to be returned to Ireland and interred with his late brother, Monsignor Kevin Mullen.
