‘Renaissance Man With A Light Touch’

Msgr. Joseph C. Mulqueen, a retired priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, died on Feb. 6 at age 93. He was born in New York on June 23, 1931, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 1, 1957.

Msgr. Mulqueen served the Diocese of Brooklyn as pastor of the parish of St. Pius V (Jamaica) and as parochial vicar for the parishes of St. Robert Bellarmine (Bayside), St. Bonaventure (Jamaica), and Our Lady of the Angelus (Rego Park).

He also served as a diocesan judge and defender of the bond of the tribunal, assistant to the apostolic nuncio in Washington, D.C., permanent observer mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, and military chaplain of the United States Navy. He was in residence at the parish of St. Mary (Long Island City) and at the Bishop Mugavero Residence for Senior Priests in Douglaston.

On Sept. 24, 1998, Msgr. Mulqueen was named a prelate of honor. He was also a member of the Priests’ Purgatorial Society.

“Msgr. Mulqueen was a renaissance man in his priestly journey, who always delivered his messages with an engaging, light touch,” said Msgr. Sean Ogle, who knew Msgr. Mulqueen during his residence
at St. Mary and who delivered the homily at his vigil Mass. “He knew a lot about the Church and a lot of history, and he used it all in the service of God.”

A wake for Msgr. Mulqueen was held on Feb. 13 at Martin A. Gleason Funeral Home, Whitestone. A vigil Mass was celebrated on Feb. 14 at the Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston. The principal celebrant was Bishop Emeritus Nicholas DiMarzio, and the homilist was Msgr. Ogle.

A funeral Mass was celebrated on Feb. 15 at St. Mel Church, Flushing. The principal celebrant was Bishop Robert Brennan, the homilist was Father Joseph Fonti, and special concelebrants were Msgr. John H. Maksymowicz and Father Christopher Turczany. Burial was at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.