Athlone nun 'devoted her life to those in need' in Korea

Sister Miriam Cousins, a native of Athlone who dedicated her life to helping HIV patients and prostitutes in Korea, has died at the age of 78.

A daughter of the late Andrew (Andy) and Bridget Cousins of St Joseph’s Villas, Athlone, Sr Miriam was a member of the Missionary Sisters of St Columban and spent the last 49 years in South Korea, where she established the country's first HIV patient shelter.

She was due to return to Ireland to celebrate her Golden Jubilee on August 24, but sadly passed away in hospital in Korea on Saturday, August 17, due to complications from surgery.

Her dedication to the poor and socially marginalised led to her being awarded the Korean Government's highest honour, the Mu Ghung Hwa medal, in 2005, and the following year she received an Athlone People of the Year award.

The Irish Embassy in Korea tweeted last week that it was "saddened by the passing of Sr Miriam Cousins who dedicated her life to the care of those in greatest need."

Miriam was born in 1941, the second eldest of eight children – Donald, who lives in London; Olive (Young) RIP; Patricia who lives in Auburn Heights; Rosemary (Holohan) who lives in St Coman’s Park; Eleanor (Kelly) who lives in Kiltoom; and two younger siblings, Bert and Andy, both RIP. 

She attended St Peter's National School and started working as a teenager, in the canteen in Custume Barracks and in 'The Bon Bon' eatery in Athlone, before going to London at the age of 18 to study nursing. After qualifying as a registered nurse she went on to to study midwifery, and qualified as a tutor.

Miriam was 24 years of age when she entered the Missionary Sisters of St Columban in Wicklow, and soon afterwards she went to Korea. She initially cared for underprivileged patients and pregnant women at various hospitals in Mokpo in the South Jeolla Province of South Korea, and Chuncheon in the Gangwon Province, as well as on Jeju Island.

In 1989, she set up a hostel to minister to prostitutes working in a red-light district of Seoul, where she became known by the women as “the Angel”.

In later years, struck by the lack of care facilities for people living with HIV, who were often abandoned by their families, she established the country's first support centre for HIV patients.

Writing about her experiences in Seoul for a Columban bulletin in 2016, she explained: “The area I visited in downtown Seoul, Korea, had nearly 200 brothels with around 1,500 young women working in them. I used to visit every evening. I will never forget my very first visit to the area. Embarrassed, uneasy and even ashamed, I wanted to run away...

“Slowly more and more people began to accept me and even look forward to my coming. One night a girl ran out to me and asked if I would teach her English. 'Of course,' I said and invited her to come to the small shelter where I lived in community with girls like her, all hoping for a way out of prostitution.

“She came and when I told her she was welcome to stay she was so surprised, she could not believe it was really happening to her. We were able to help her recover her true self and then get her a job and a new beginning in life.

“I was probably a good while in the area when some of the women started calling me Angel. 'Here comes the Angel,' they would say. One evening one of them said, 'You will surely go to Heaven.' 'Not without you,' I answered, 'I won’t go to Heaven alone.'”

In a message posted on their website this week, the Missionary Sisters of St Columban said: “Farewell Miriam, farewell, from your Columban Sisters all over the world. We will be united with you on your Golden Jubilee Day.”

Sr Miriam's funeral Mass was held at St Mary's Hospital Funeral Home in Seoul on Tuesday, August 20, followed by cremation and the placing of her remains in a burial space at Resurrection Parish Memorial Chapel in Chuncheon, South Korea.

A second Mass was celebrated in Korea last week to mark her Golden Jubilee.

Miriam's family expressed their gratitude to her friends and extended Columban family both in Korea and at its Irish base in Magheramore.

“They have been an amazing support to us over the past week, and provided Miriam with such compassion and support in her final days,” said a representative of the family.

A Mass in memory of Sister Miriam will be celebrated in Athlone next week. It will take place in the Church of Saints Peter and Paul on Thursday, September 5, at 11am.