Michael (Mike) Dodd was born on 25 January 1937 at Drumming, Ardagh, Co Longford. He was educated at Edgeworthstown NS and St Mel’s College, Longford. He entered Dalgan in September 1955 and was ordained priest on 20th December 1961.
Appointed to Korea in 1962, after language studies he spent his first term in Chindo, in Mokpo and in Kwangju City. In 1968 he was appointed to promotion in the USA.
He served in Bayside and later in Chicago before being reassigned to Korea in 1974. In his second term in Korea, Michael served in Sangkye Dong, Seoul and Kongdok Dong, Seoul.
He specialised in ministry to young industrial workers (JOC/YCW). He was appointed Regional Director from 1980-1984 and this included a generous amount of time spent in preparation for the visit of Pope John Paul II to Korea in 1984.
In May 1984 he was reassigned to the Region of Ireland to the Student Formation Programme and also served as a member of the Regional Council.
In 1986 he was assigned to the USA Region for promotion work of our Mission Education materials for Catholic Grade Schools, High Schools and Schools of Religion (formerly CCD) throughout the dioceses of New England.
He also did mission appeals on weekends, was appointed a Counsellor to the Region, ministered to two Korean communities in Connecticut, and promoted support for Amnesty International.
From 1994 to 2004, he was appointed as director of the Washington Justice and Peace Office. His public relations skills and his capacity as a public speaker enabled him to develop this office until he handed it over to Amy Woolam Echeverria.
From 1994 to 2013 he was appointed to Columban HQ in Omaha and to the Planned Giving Department. In 2013 he retired from active ministry and returned to Dalgan.
Mike will be remembered for his competence and his sense of humour during a long and varied career in so many different ministries. He died in Dalgan Nursing Home on 5th November 2023.
May he rest in peace.
