Brendan Hoban was born in Castlebar, Co Mayo on 27th June 1946. He was educated by the Mercy Sisters, Castlebar, De La Salle Brothers NS and St Jarleth’s College, Tuam. He came to Dalgan in September 1964 and was ordained priest on 11th April 1971.
Appointed to Korea, after initial language studies he took up the role of assistant in the parish of Young Wol, Kang Wang Province. After further language studies he was engaged in administration in Won Ju Diocese with responsibilities for a radio programme, chaplaincy in a boys’ secondary school, chaplain to the Young Christian Workers and director of catechetics for the diocese.
After his first home vacation, he did a year’s pastoral work in Britain and then returned to Korea. There followed appointments to pastoral work in Sam Bong and Sa Da Dong in Seoul Archdiocese, and later as Pastor of Sam Cheong, Bu Cheon City, in the Diocese of In Cheon. From March 1981 until May 1984 he established the Parish of Man Duk in Pusan.
Back in Ireland he was a participant in the Justice and Faith Workshop, and later a staff member for the same workshop in Hua Hin, Thailand. From 1986 to 1990 he was involved in the Labour Apostolate and City Poor Apostolate in Kwang Ju Archdiocese. He established the ‘House of St Joseph the Worker’. From 1990 to 1996 he served as Director of the Addiction Education/Awareness Centre in Seoul, Korea.
In June 1996, he was appointed to Australia and worked in Paramatta Diocese on mission awareness and education. He was also involved in working with Koreans both in the church community and those with addictions.
Meanwhile he continued his own studies and qualified with the Australian Institute of Addiction Counselling. He spent four years counselling clients in Paramatta. From 2006-2008 he worked in Sydney as a member of the Mission Awareness and Education Team and did addiction education with both Korean and English speakers.
In 2008 he was assigned to Ireland and worked on Mission Awareness here as long as his health permitted it. He died on 24th February 2023 at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.
Brendan was always friendly, helpful, obliging and ever grateful. Even as his health deteriorated he continued to participate in the choir and to help out at reception. He also maintained contact with many Korean, Australian and other friends on social media. We will miss his gentle presence.
May he rest in peace.
Funeral Mass for Fr Brendan Hoban in Dalgan on 28th February 2023.
