Besides Patrick, the Quinns had 3 other sons, Andrew, Michael and Peter. Patrick, Peter and Michael chose to become priests. Michael stayed in Ireland to serve, while Patrick and Peter came to Mississippi to serve.
Patrick was ordained a priest in the summer of 1955 and emigrated to the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson, where he served in a number of parishes until Pope Pius XII began urging the Bishops of the world to send priests to the aid of the church in Latin America, where there was a terrible shortage of priests. Bishop Brunini asked the priests of Mississippi their opinion of whether to open a Mission in Latin America. The priests of the Diocese overwhelming voted to open a Mission.. Father Quinn volunteered to start a Mission and finally decided to open it in Saltillo, Mexico, because it was only 1000 miles from Mississippi, and Father Quinn wanted the people of Mississippi to share and support and visit the Mission. When he got to Saltillo he discovered that his new parish, with headquarters at Perpetuo Soccoro Catholic Church was vastly larger than any parish in Mississippi, and as large as many Dioceses. The Irish pastor had a parish of nearly 50,000. The parish now consists of 24 rancho churches and 7 churches in the barrios of City of Saltillo. The rancho churches are spread out over a vast area in the mountains and it was only possible for Fr.Quinn to visit each one only once a month.
In addition to the Perpetuo Socorro Church there was also several churches in the City of Saltillo, and in addition numerous villages or ranchos stationed in the distant Sierra Madre Mountains with their little chapels that he had to visit to say Mass. Some of the ranchos are 4 hours from the City of Saltillo.
Fr. Quinn relied heavily on hundreds of Mexican volunteers or catechists to work with him in the barrios and ranchos. The catechises served as religious education teachers.
During the early years Fr. Quinn had other priests from Mississippi who would stay for 4 years. The last priest to serve with Fr. Quinn was Fr. Patrick Mockler, who served the mission from 1986 to 1990. From that time on Fr. Quinn worked the parish as the only priest from Mississippi until his untimely death in January, 1997.
Fr. Quinn started a summer youth missionary esperience for the youths and adults from Mississippi to come and visit and work in the Mission. The first visits were for 3 weeks and then when it became so popular changed to one week each in order to be able to accommodate the tremendous response from the people of Mississippi. Fr. Quinn being such a charismatic person when people would visit they would be so moved by the man and his mission, those from other areas of the country would call and get their week and soon not only the summer months were filled up, but adults would visit at other times of the year bringing needed support. Thousands would visit the Mission each year to work, pray and wonder at being in the presence of this Great Hombre.
Fr. Quinn had an excellent memory and once he met you he would not forget you name and it was not unusual after meeting a group of 50 or 60 people to introduce them at the ranchos the next day by name.
Fr. Quinn left a lasting impression on the Mission and the people. He built churches in the ranchos and the City of Saltillo and then started a building program and was able to build thousands of homes in the barrios for the poor who were living in cardboard shacks, with no electricity or running water.
Upon his death in 1997, the Mission was moved to San Miguel Church in the barrios on the outskirts of town. Father Micheal Thornton, who had served with Fr. Quinn from 1973 to 1977 was appointed to take charge of the parish for a 6 year term.
No, Fr. Quinn will not soon be forgotten by the Mexican people or Americans who knew and worked with him year after year.
The present pastor, Fr. Benny Piovan, has petitioned the Bishop of Saltillo to begin a process of canonization for Fr. Quinn, who well deserves it. There is no doubt by anyone who knew him that he is indeed a Saint.
His funeral was attended by THOUSANDS of Mexicans and many Americans who dearly loved the El Santo de Saltillo and will be missed for some time. He is buried inside Perpetuo Socorro Church on Abasolo Street. The street next to the church is named for him In the new San Miguel Church, there is a room attached for the purpose of maintaining a place of remembrance of Father Patrick Quinn.
Bravo Padre Quinn, well done my man......
