OLMITZ — Father Ultan Patrick Murphy, 94, passed away February 12, 2021, at River Bend Assisted Living, Great Bend. He was born January 6, 1927, in Quarrylands, Dunboyne, County Meath, Ireland, to James & Katherine (Connolly) Murphy.
He attended Batterstown National School and St. Finian’s College in Mullingar and studied philosophy and theology, as a seminarian, at St. Peter’s College in Wexford, Ireland, from 1947 to 1953. Father Murphy was recruited as a seminarian by the Diocese of Wichita. He was ordained into priesthood June 7, 1953, by the Most Rev. James Staunton, bishop of Ferns, at St. Peter’s Seminary, Wexford, and offered his First Holy Mass in Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Dunboyne. Following his ordination, Father Murphy was sent to the newly-established Diocese of Dodge City by Bishop Mark K. Carroll with classmates, Fathers Eugene Kenny, Andrew McGovern and Kieran Murray.
Father Murphy served as assistant pastor of St. John’s, Hoisington, and St. Rose of Lima, Great Bend. His pastorates included: St. Mary Help of Christians, Loretto, (1960-65); St. John, Kiowa, (1965-66); St. John’s at St. John, with St. Francis Xavier, Seward as a mission (1966-1970); Holy Rosary, Medicine Lodge, with St. John, Kiowa (1970-80) and St. Ann, Olmitz, with Holy Trinity, Timken (1980-2014). At the time of his retirement on Jan. 3, 2014, Father Murphy, then 87, had the distinction of being the oldest active Catholic pastor in Kansas. He was resident pastor at Olmitz for 33 years.
He was a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus for the Olmitz Council #2100. He was always ready to share a good joke, and enjoyed fellowship with friends, golf, horse racing, and in his younger years, long walks.
Survivors include many nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Joanie Phelan. He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, James Murphy, Vincent Murphy, Brendan Murphy, O’Connell Murphy, Eithne Sheridan and Rosaleen Shanahan; and a nephew, Con Murphy.
Visitation will be held from noon to 9 p.m., Monday, February 15, 2021, at Bryant Funeral Home, with Knights of Columbus Rosary and Vigil service at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 16, 2021, at St. Ann Catholic Church in Olmitz, with Bishop Jerry Vincke presiding. Interment will be in St. Ann Cemetery, Olmitz. Memorial contributions may be made to Women’s Initiative Network, in care of Bryant Funeral Home, or to the Seminarian Fund in care of the Dechant Foundation, PO Box 137, Dodge City, KS 67801, or to Bryant Funeral Home.
Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS 67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Feb. 14, 2021
