In my feature of The Noodle Priest, I reference an interview with former Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Director Frank Carlin. He discusses the foundations of the organization in Asia, the so called “Four Horseman of Maryknoll” (a reference to Football rather than the apocalypse). Previously I have so far covered two of the Horseman: Msgr. George Carroll and Msgr. John Romaniello. Now I would like to shift the spotlight to another Horseman, Fr. Paul Duchesne (pronounced Doo-shane).
Fr. Duchesne spent nearly 30 years working in various countries across Southeast Asia. He was instrumental in laying the foundation for CRS in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Macao, and Taiwan. Amongst his many accomplishments, Fr. Duchesne fed refugees, opened medical facilities, offered clothing and housing, and supported the displaced. Join me as I dive into the long career of a man who laid the brickwork for Catholic relief work in Asia.
A Drive to Mission
Paul Duchesne was born April 5th, 1910 to French Canadian parents living in Cohoes, NY. From a young age, Paul knew he would become a priest, a vocation supported by his parents. He first learned of “Maryknoll” and mission life from his local pastor, a great friend of Maryknoll’s Founders. Paul’s early aspirations were affirmed by Fr. Hugh Lavery, MM, guiding him towards a missionary life.
At 16 years old, Paul left home for the Venard Minor Seminary. The next 13 years prepared Paul for the priesthood and mission life, ending in his ordination on June 11th, 1939. The now Fr. Paul Duchesne immediately set out for Kongmoon in Southeast China. He served there for a few years before transferring to Fachow in June, 1941. When the World War broke out, Fr. Duchesne was among the few Maryknollers not interned by the Japanese. He spent the war years running his mission station, evading the evolving front line, and weathering the storm.
Laying the Foundations
A New Assignment
With renewed peace comes renewed mission. In 1946, Bp. Adolph Paschang, MM of Kongmoon assigned Fr. Duchesne as executive secretary of the Catholic Welfare Committee of China. His role was to navigate the ongoing refugee crisis in the wake of Japanese Occupation. Fr. Duchesne served faithfully in this role, helping the Chinese people rebuild their lives after a long war. Fr. Duchense’s efforts were only interrupted by the Communist takeover in 1951. He was among many Maryknollers expelled from China.
Establishing Services in Hong Kong
Fr. Duchesne found residence in Hong Kong, where his first task was to welcome displaced priests from China. His role in the National Catholic Welfare Committee shifted to focusing on the Hong Kong refugee crisis. Millions were displaced and in need of food, shelter, clothing, and medical care.
Throughout the 1950s, Fr. Paul Duchesne created food distribution centers, provided housing, established dispensaries, and supported refugee families. His efforts laid the foundations for handling the ongoing refugee and overpopulation crisis in Hong Kong. In 1957, Fr. Duchesne handed off the role as director to fellow Maryknoller Msgr. John Romaniello, the titular Noodle Priest. Without the established foundations set by Fr. Duchesne, Msgr. Romaniello may not have fed so many with his famous noodle program.
Off to Southeast Asia
As Fr. Duchense finished his work in Hong Kong, he spent a short furlough in the United States. Eager to get back, he sought a new assignment with NCWC. Given his success in Hong Kong, Fr. Duchesne was the prime choice to negotiate setting up Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Indonesia. While Government Bureaucracy caused the venture to be unfruitful, it gave Fr. Duchense another opportunity. He used the year he spent in Jakarta to travel across Java and into Bali, interacting with the people and learning of their plights. These experiences became an important background for his next assignment: Vietnam.
Medical Relief in Vietnam
In late 1958, Fr. Paul Duchesne stepped off his plane onto an airfield in Saigon, filled with lofty aspirations. He became the Director of Catholic Relief Services in Vietnam, working directly with Bp. Paul Seitz of the Kontum Diocese. Fr. Duchesne spent 5 years diligently working in Saigon and the surrounding area. His particular focus was addressing the medical needs of the Vietnamese people.
To accomplish his goal, Fr. Duchesne worked with Dr. Patricia Smith, a Seattle native driven to use her medical knowledge to help the people of South Vietnam. Fr. Duchesne aided her in establishing a leprosarium in Kontum, and supported her medical work. In addition, Fr. Duchesne worked with the Sisters of Charity to establish a small hospital in Saigon. In 1964, rising conflict in Vietnam forced him out of the country, and to his next chapter.
Food for Taiwan
Upon leaving Vietnam, Fr. Paul Duchesne found a new home In Macao, a small fishing colony near his old China missions. Macao suffered similar problems to Hong Kong: too little space and food for the number of refugees. Fr. Duchesne worked to establish similar programs in Macao. He worked particularly with the local fisherman, attempting to find ways of sustainably supporting the local community. He kept this up until he was transferred again in 1967, this time to Taiwan.
Fr. Duchesne took over as director for all Catholic Relief Services in Taiwan, serving 7 diocese and millions of people. He created food-for-work programs and conducted general relief work across the island. Fr. Duchesne also oversaw the transition of the CRS Program to CARITAS, shifting from international to local funding. He oversaw this transition and the development of CARITAS until his retirement in 1975.
Following retirement, Fr. Paul Duchesne returned to Hong Kong where he lived out the rest of his life. On January 15th, 1983 Fr. Duchesne passed on at the age of 71. He left behind a long legacy of laying foundations, establishing and growing relief programs in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Macao, and Taiwan. Without his 44 years of missionary work, many would have gone hungry, homeless, and absent necessary medical care.
