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Irish Jesuit chaplains
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Irish Jesuit chaplains

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  • 1895-2020

Irish Vice-Province of the Society of Jesus, 1830-

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ following Fr Willie Doyle’s death

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ following Fr Willie Doyle’s death in action on 17 August 1917, from Fr Kerr McClement, Archbishop’s House, Westminster, Fr William Feran SJ, English Province, Farm Street, London and Fr M. O'Connell, Senior Chaplain (R.C.), H.Q., 16th Division, B.E.F..

Feran, William, 1869-1942, Jesuit priest

Documents relating to Fr John FitzGibbon SJ during his time serving as a chaplain

Documents relating to Fr John FitzGibbon SJ during his time serving as a chaplain attached to 23rd and 16th Field Ambulance, B.E.F., France. Includes letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr FitzGibbon (14 March 1916 – [April 1918], 19 items) and documents relating to Fr FitzGibbon’s death in action on 18 September 1918, including official letters from General Headquarters, British Armies in France, solicitors’ letters and official certificate of death (20 September 1918 – 25 May 1919, 16 items).

FitzGibbon, John, 1882-1918, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Second draft of unpublished manuscript by Fr Henry Gill SJ recording his time as a chaplain

Unpublished manuscript by Fr Henry Gill SJ recording his time as a chaplain, entitled ‘1914 – 1918 As seen by a Chaplain with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles’. Completed in 1933. Includes newspaper and journal articles and fifteen pages of original photographs. Manuscript appears to be an amended version of CHP1/27.

Gill, Henry V, 1872-1945, Jesuit priest, scientist and chaplain

Photocopies of obituary of Fr John Gwynn SJ

Photocopies of obituary from the Sunday Freeman of Fr John Gwynn SJ and a photograph of him as published in a supplement given away with the Weekly Freeman. Includes photographs of Fr Gwynn’s Memorial Tablet and a transcript of the inscription and document relating to his death (obituaries and appreciation by Lord Desmond Fitzgerald).

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Stanislaus MacLoughlin SJ written while serving as a chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Stanislaus McLoughlin SJ written while serving as a chaplain attached 12th (2nd Reserve) Battalion and the 58th T.R. Battalion, The Welsh Regiment, Rhyl and 53rd S.W.B., Rhyl.

MacLoughlin, Stanislaus, 1863-1956, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters to Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Francis M Shaw SJ while serving as chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Francis M Shaw SJ written while serving as chaplain in France, India and Mesopotamia (3rd General Hospital, B.E.F., France; No. 37 and No. 17 Casualty Clearing Station, B.E.F., France; 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment, B.E.F., France; 11th Field Ambulance, B.E.F., France; No. 16 Casualty Clearing Station, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force).

Shaw, Frank M, 1881-1924, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Patrick Tighe SJ while serving as chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Patrick Tighe SJ written while serving as chaplain with the 15th Battalion, A.I.F., B.E.F. and on his way to Australia. Named places have been cut out of a letter (24 January 1917).

Tighe, Patrick, 1866-1920, Jesuit, priest, chaplain and missionary

Pamphlets issued by the War Office

Pamphlets issued by the War Office on ‘The Abolition of flies in camps, billets and hospital. Circular Memorandum No.8.’, 24 June 1916, (7pp) and ‘Roman Catholic Chaplains. Information and Hints. British Armies in France. January 1917’, (21pp), possibly in the possession of Fr Henry Gill SJ. A section of ‘Roman Catholic Chaplains’ is underlined, where the chaplain should live, p.11, ‘with the Transport when the Battalion is in the trenches, unless by arrangement with the Senior Chaplain, it is decided that he shall be in the trenches’. Material hand in by Margaret Doyle, Archivist, Clongowes Wood College, 9 January 2017.

Memoranda and notes, lists relating to chaplains in the Second World War

Memoranda and notes relating to chaplains and lists of those serving as chaplains. Includes:
– Memorandum on 'Emergency Arrangement for Irish Army Chaplains', Clongowes Wood College, 1939;
– Draft of letter sent by Irish Fr Provincial to Frs Thomas O'Donnell, James Bates, [James] Stephenson and Leo Donnelly; inquiring if they would be willing to ‘work for God as a military chaplain’ (n.d., 1p.);
– Note listing names of first two ‘batches’ of chaplains and the dates of their departures from Dublin (n.d., 1p.)
– Lists of ‘Volunteers for post of Army Chaplain’ (17 February 1942, 2pp, n.d., 1p.).

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Leo Donnelly SJ

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Leo Donnelly SJ written while serving as chaplain in Great Yarmouth and Stalham, Norfolk with the 11th York and Lancasters; in 35th Casualty Clearing Station; 73rd General Hospital, Hatfield; with 5th Kings Regiment in Scotland; 10th Beach Group in France; 9 [Lines of Communications] Unit in France and 2nd Battalion of the Irish Guards.

Donnelly, Leo, 1903-1999, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Gerard Guinane SJ

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Gerard Guinane SJ written while serving as chaplain with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Ulster Fusiliers in various locations throughout England, in Hawick, Scotland and in Catterick Camp, Yorkshire.

Guinane, Gerard, 1900-1971, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Documents and letters relating to Fr John Hayes’ career before becoming a military chaplain

Documents and letters relating to Fr John Hayes’ career before becoming a military chaplain. Includes:

  • Letter of John Hayes to the Irish Fr Provincial John Fahy SJ in reply to Fr Fahy’s instructions that Mr Hayes goes to Tullabeg (Novitiate), County Offaly on 1st September (Fr Hayes entered the Society on 1 September 1925) (5 August 1925, 1p);
  • John Hayes’ confidential medical report, prepared by Dr M.S. McGrath for the Provincial (25 June 1925, 1p)
  • ‘Informatio de Candidato’ – reports on John Hayes by five Jesuits for the Provincial (n.d., 5 items);
  • Letter from Mr John Hayes SJ to Irish Fr Provincial Laurence Kieran SJ regarding his application to go on the Mission in Alaska (6 August 1932, 1p) and
  • Copy letter to Mr John Hayes SJ from the Irish Fr Provincial Laurence Kieran SJ relating to ‘two faults…(that)…have been mentioned in the Informationes taken recently concerning you to which I must call your attention’ (26 July 1936, 1p);
  • letter to Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ from Fr Louis Lachal SJ, Loyola, Watsonia, Victoria, Australia (20 February 1945, 2pp) enclosing 'a letter for Frank Hayes, John's brother'...'The news of John's death was a big knock to those of us out here who knew him well'. Mentions Fr Victor Turner SJ in POW camp, Tokyo.
    See also CHP2/35 (43);CHP2/35 (44) and CHP2/31
  • Dog collar identification for Rev. John Hayes C.F. RC, 199879. See CHP2/18

Hayes, John, 1909-1945, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Conal Murphy SJ written while serving as chaplain

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Conal Murphy SJ, written while serving as a chaplain with the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers in Christchurch and Aldershot, Hants., Langholm, Dumfriesshire and The Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire; 587 Field Company, [Royal Engineers], Estate Camp, Inverkip, Scotland and in North Africa; 78th Division, British North Africa Force in Tunisia and 78th Division, Central Mediterranean Force (C.M.F.) in Sicily and Italy; 67 Garrison, B.N.A.F. in Tunisia and No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station, Italy, C.M.F., and Austria. Includes his first letter to the Irish Fr Provincial written from Salisbury (4 September 1941, 2pp); letter from Ursula Murphy [Fr Murphy’s sister] to Fr Coyne stating she had received word that Fr Murphy had gone overseas (1 December 1941, 1p.); letter to Fr Michael O’Meara (See CHP2/32) (13 October 1943, 1p.) and letter to Fr Provincial from Fr Murphy written on ‘a memorable day, the end of the war in Italy’ (2 May 1945, 2pp). Includes leaflets for the Service of Remembrance and Dedication at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin in which Fr Conal Murphy SJ contributed to (1976; 1978), and photograph of Fr Conal Murphy SJ in military chaplains uniform, with military ribbon rack underneath.

Murphy, Conal K, 1902-1979, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Conor Naughton SJ written during his time as a chaplain

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Conor Naughton SJ written during his time as a chaplain with the 10th Rifle Brigade in Saffron Walden, Essex; in Hadleigh Militia Camp, Chapel Lane, Hadleigh (an Anti-Aircraft unit); in Stoke Military Hospital, North Bovey, Devon; based in St Michael’s House, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot, Hants.; Richmond Arms Hotel, Goodwood, Sussex; 47th General Hospital, Mhow, Central India; with 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment in India; in No. 3 Indian British General Hospital, Poona, India; Combined Military Hospital, Wāltair R.S. and with 14th Battalion, [Durham Light Infantry] in Drake West Camp, Dorset. Fr Naughton took his final vows in Manresa House (England) on 4 February 1942. Includes letter to Irish Fr Provincial from T. Naughton (Fr Naughton’s [father]) (27 July 1942, 1p.) and numerous references to Fr John Hayes SJ (See CHP2/18).

Naughton, Conor I, 1907-1992, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Michael O'Meara SJ written during his time as a chaplain

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Michael O'Meara SJ written during his time as a chaplain in Squire’s Gate Camp, Lytham St Annes, Blackpool; Abbots Lea, Woolton, Liverpool; Dalton-in-Furness, Lancashire; Park Lea, Park Lane, Salford; Upper Chine School, Shanklin, Isle of Wight; with the 44th Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade, B.L.A. in France and Holland; 8th Infantry Brigade, B.A.O.R. in Egypt and I.S. Lan. R., M.E.F. in Egypt.

O'Meara, Michael F, 1909-1998, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Michael Pelly SJ written while serving as a chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Michael Pelly SJ written while serving as a chaplain with 11th York and Lancaster Regiment (218th Infantry Brigade); in Otley, West Yorkshire; The Military Hospital, York; with the British North Africa Force in North Africa; 1st Battalion, The Buffs, C.M.F. in Italy; in 93rd British General Hospital, C.M.F. and in the School of Infantry, Warminster, Wiltshire. Includes Fr Pelly’s first letter to the Provincial written from Bridlington (23 April 1942, 1p.) and letters describing the monastery of Cassino following the battle of Monte Cassino (30 May 1944, 2pp), being in Rome on the day it was taken by the Allies and his ‘semi-private audience with the Pope’ (30 June, 29 July 1944, 2 items).

Pelly, Michael C, 1907-1990, Jesuit priest and chaplain

History of the College of Technology, Bolton Street from the 1950s until 1968

‘An Historical Critique’. History of the College of Technology, Bolton Street from the 1950s up to the writing of the document, in relation to its development, education, student numbers and facilities. The writer, in an attempt to encourage the directors of the College to extend the facilities to cope with the changing needs of the students, warns of imminent revolt.

Documents relating to ‘The Archbishop’s Planning Commission for Third Level Colleges under the City of Dublin Vocational Education Authority’

Documents relating to ‘The Archbishop’s Planning Commission for Third Level Colleges under the City of Dublin Vocational Education Authority’, which was established to investigate the ‘religious, educational, emotional and intellectual needs of the students’ and to ‘determine the policy to be pursued and the measures to be taken for the adequate religious education of Catholic students attending Third Level Courses in the Colleges of the City of Dublin Vocational Education Group’. Includes a report of the Commission (4 May 1971, 11 pages).

Letters from Fr Willie Doyle SJ to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Willie Doyle SJ written during his time as a chaplain attached to the 8th Brigade Irish Fusiliers, 49th Brigade, and the 8th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, B.E.F., France. Missing original letter 31 December 1915, but have photocopy.

Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr James McCann SJ written during his time as chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr James McCann SJ written during his time as chaplain to the 4th Reserve Battery, R.G.A., Winchester and Sialkot C.F.A. 4th Cavalry Division, Supply Column, B.E.F., France. Also includes items relating to the ill health (The Prince of Wales', Hospital for Officers), renewal of Fr McCann’s contract as chaplain and his demobilisation. (See also CHP1/10/1 which is a letter from Fr McCann to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ 12 June [1917]).

McCann, James, 1875-1951, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters and postcards from Fr Hugh Mulhall SJ to the Irish Fr Provincial written during his time as a chaplain

Letters and postcards from Fr Hugh Mulhall SJ to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ written during his time as a chaplain to the 3/1st East Lancashire Division, Codford, Wiltshire and 5th East Lancashire Regiment, Witley Camp, Surrey and in Park Hall Camp, Oswestry.

Mulhall, Hugh, 1871-1948, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters and postcards from Fr Francis X O'Brien SJ to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ written while a chaplain

Letters and postcards from Fr Francis X O'Brien SJ to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ written while a chaplain attached to the No. 5 Prisoners of War Company, B.E.F., France and the 30th General Hospital, B.E.F., France.

O'Brien, Francis X, 1881-1974, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ concerning Fr Sydes’ death in London on 15 November 1918

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from the Senior Chaplain (R.C.), Australian Imperial Force, [Fr Thomas King] and Frs William Feran and John H Wright, Farm Street, London concerning Fr Sydes’ death in London on 15 November 1918 as a result of bronchitis and thrombosis.

Feran, William, 1869-1942, Jesuit priest

Correspondence between Thomas V. Nolan SJ, the War Office and T. Stratton, Staff Officer to Principal Chaplain

Correspondence between the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ, the War Office and T. Stratton, Staff Officer to Principal Chaplain (R.C.), concerning the demobilisation of various Irish Jesuits and the need for chaplains for transport ships to Australia.

Nolan, Thomas V, 1867-1941, Jesuit priest

Scrapbook belonging to Rev. Major Henry Gill SJ

Scrapbook belonging to Rev. Major Henry Gill SJ. Includes letters from the War Office and memorabilia relating to his tasks as chaplain to the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles.

Gill, Henry V, 1872-1945, Jesuit priest, scientist and chaplain

Obituaries of Frs Edward Sydes SJ

Obituary of Fr Edward Sydes SJ, who died 15 November 1918, taken from 'Letters and Notices', Vol.35, January 1919 and Fr Bernard Page SJ, born in India, raised in Australia.

Letters and Notices, 1863-

Correspondence between the Air Ministry and Chaplains Branch, concerning the R.A.F.’s request for Catholic chaplains

Correspondence between the Air Ministry and Chaplains Branch,R.A.F. H.Q., Northern Ireland, mainly from Monsignor H. Beauchamp, (Principal Chaplain (R.C.) R.A.F.) and the Irish Fr Provincial (Laurence J. Kieran SJ, then from 8 September 1941, John MacMahon SJ) concerning the R.A.F.’s request for Catholic chaplains; Fr Tony MacSeumais’ acceptance of a post with the R.A.F. in July 1943 and Fr Joseph McSweeney’s acceptance in 1945. Includes;

  • Letter from Mgr. Beauchamp to Fr MacMahon: ‘You are probably aware that I am very short of chaplains in the Royal Air Force. At many Stations there are as many as 300 young airmen who…have no chaplain to prepare them for their great ordeals…You probably know as well as I do the temptations that young Priests in the Services, particularly in the Royal Air Force come up against, hence you will know the special type of man that is wanted’ (12 March 1942, 1p.)
  • Letter from G.J. Corboy, Senior Chaplain (R.C.), R.A.F. H.Q., Northern Ireland to Fr MacMahon: ‘I met Father Sweeney (sic) last week, when I was down, and I am very grateful to you for the offer of his services, as a R.A.F. Chaplain’ (30 April 1945, 1p.).

Beauchamp, Henry, 1883-1948, Roman Catholic Monsignor and chaplain

Letters and notes to Irish Fr Provincial from various Jesuits during the Second World War

Letters and notes to the Irish Fr Provincial from various Jesuits (former Irish Fr Provincial Kieran) and others, including letters from A. Parisoth (H.Q. Northern Command, York), T.F. Duggan (H.Q. Northern Ireland District, Lisburn) and T.D. Roberts, Archbishop of Bombay. Includes references to chaplains Frs Thomas Martin SJ, Fergus Cronin SJ, Michael O'Meara SJ Michael Pelly SJ and John Hayes SJ, and doctor's bill for examining eight chaplains.

Parisoth, A.

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Matthias Bodkin SJ written during his time as chaplain in the Royal Navy

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Matthias Bodkin SJ written during his time as chaplain in the Royal Navy based at R.N. Base, Derry, Northern Ireland (refers to trips to the Arctic Circle and Western Australia) and serving on the battleship H.M.S. Anson in the East. Includes;

  • Letter concerning his finances (February 1945, 10pp) and draft of Fr Provincial’s reply (25 February 1945, 2pp);
  • Letter from Sergeant Major D.J. Fitzgerald (R.M. Detachment) of H.M.S. Anson describing Fr Bodkin’s activities in Malta (4 June 1945, 3pp);
  • Letters describing his trip to Hong Kong, his visit with the Mission there (12 August – 25 October 1945, 12 items);
  • News of the various Jesuits in Hong Kong and how they have fared during the occupation;
  • Description of Tokyo (December 1945, 2 items); a ‘rough memory draft’ of his expenditure (1p.)
  • Draft copy of letter from the Provincial to Fr Bodkin concerning his finances (5 January 1946, 2pp) (letter was never sent).

Bodkin, Matthias, 1896-1973, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Telegrams and letters to the Provincial from various sources following the death of Fr John Hayes SJ

Telegrams and letters to the Provincial from various sources following the death of Fr John Hayes SJ from typhus on 21 January 1945. Includes: telegram from the Rector of Crescent College Limerick to the Provincial (John McMahon SJ) informing him that the War Office had ‘wired Mrs. Hayes that Father John died of typhus Jan 21st’ (26 January 1945, 1p.);
– note of acknowledgement to the Provincial from Frank G. Hayes (Fr Hayes’ brother) (27 January 1945, 1p.);
– copy of letter sent to the Rector of Belvedere College (James Gubbins SJ) from Old Belvederian (1923-1931) and comrade of Fr Hayes, Captain W.A. Ward following the death of Fr Hayes (27 January 1945, 1p.);
– copy of letter sent by Joseph Gardner, S.C.F. (R.C.) (Senior Catholic Chaplain, Allied Land Forces, South East Asia) to Mgr. John Coghlan (Principal R.C. Chaplain, War Office, London) giving further details of Fr Hayes’ death (28 January 1945, 1p.);
– letter from Mgr. Coghlan to the Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ (29 January 1945; 2pp);
– letters from Rev. A. Clancy (Senior Catholic Chaplain, H.Q. 36th Division, South East Asia) and from Rev. J. Gardner, S.C.F. (R.C.) to Irish Fr Provincial John R McMahon SJ (29 January 1945, 2 items, 1p. each);
– copy of letter sent to Mrs. Hayes by her son’s Commanding Officer, Major-General Francis Festing, following his death (23 January 1945, 2pp);
– letter from Agnes Hayes to Irish Fr Provincial (13 February 1945, 1p.);
– letter to Irish Fr Provincial John R McMahon SJ from George Hickson, the chaplain who was with Fr Hayes before he died (15 February 1945, 3pp);
– copy of letter from Rev. J. Gardner to Fr D. Donnelly SJ (St. Stanislaus High School, Bandra, Bombay) listing the articles of ecclesiastical equipment of the late Fr Hayes, which Fr Gardner is sending to Fr Donnelly (17 March 1945, 1p.);
– copy of an Appreciation of Fr Hayes written by Rev. Terence M. Hogan, C.F. (R.C.)(Fr Hayes’ Senior Chaplain for six months) (19 March 1945, 1p.) and
– label tags ‘O.H.M.S. Deceased Officer’s Kit’ for Fr Hayes’ property (n.d., 3 items).

Coghlan, John, 1888-1963, Roman Catholic Monsignor and chaplain

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Laurence Kearns SJ written during his time as a chaplain

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Laurence Kearns SJ written during his time as a chaplain serving with various anti-aircraft units: 117 Z.A.A. Battery, 7 (M) Z.A.A. Regiment, Royal Artillery: Stockton-on-Tees; 107 Anti-Aircraft Brigade, Surrey; 32 Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade: France; 52nd Lowland Scottish Infantry Division, 157 Infantry Brigade: Holland, Germany, Belsen and in Garrisson Catholic Church, Bordon, Hants. Includes:

  • his first letter to the Provincial from Edinburgh (18 September 1943, 2pp);
    – photographs of Fr Kearns blessing the graves of British falen 1940 and his driver, Liet. Joseph McPatlan (November, December 1944, 6 items: 8½cm x 6cm);
    – copies of extracts from Irish Province News on the chaplains (14 – 28 January 1945, 2 items, 1p. each);
    – letters describing his car accident (24 June 1945, 8pp), operations to rebuild his damaged face and his convalescence (11 July – 21 December 1945, 5 items).

Kearns, Laurence M, 1912-1986, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Richard Kennedy SJ immediately after the Second World War

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Richard Kennedy SJ from the 5th Replacement Camp, Manila, Philippines, Military Hospital, Moira, County Down and the College of the Rhine Army, Göttingen, following his time as a Japanese POW. immediately

Kennedy, Richard J, 1906-1986, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr John Anthony MacSeumais SJ written while serving as a chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Anthony MacSeumais SJ written while serving as chaplain in the R.A.F. at R.A.F. Stations in Cosford, Wolverhampton, Staffs. and Leuchars, Fife, Scotland; with the 5023 Airfield Construction Squadron in Holland and Germany and 124 Wing in Lübeck. Includes his first letter to the Irish Fr Provincial written from Belfast (March 1944, 2pp) and letter in which he lists all the places he has served since arriving in Belgium (1 June 1945, 4pp). This letter also contains Fr MacSeumais’s only reference to Belsen Concentration Camp. Also includes Fr MacSeumais’s memorial card (with photograph) (Fr MacSeumais died on 13 January 1989).

MacSeumais, J Anthony, 1910-1989, Jesuit priest

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Thomas J. Martin SJ written while serving as chaplain

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Thomas J Martin SJ written while serving as chaplain with the 4th King’s Own Scottish Borders in Alloa, Clackmannonshire and Buckie, Banff, Scotland; with the 155th Infantry Brigade in Scotland; the 12th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment in Essex, France and Holland and while based in Palace Barracks, Holywood, Northern Ireland. Fr Martin was sent home from Holland as a result of an eye infection and was released from the Army on health grounds at the end of 1945/beginning of 1946.

Martin, Thomas, 1907-1978, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Michael Morrison SJ written while serving as chaplain

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial to Fr Michael Morrison SJ written while serving as a chaplain with 2/5th Bn. Welch Regiment in Sussex; M.E.F. (in a Convalescent Depot, unknown location); No. 13 General Hospital, M.E.F.; 2/8 Lancashire Fusiliers in Derry; 1/4th The South Lancashire Regiment in Castlewellan, County Down; 32 (Br.) Casualty Clearing Station, B.L.A. ; 121 (Br.) General Hospital, B.L.A.; 601 Regiment, Royal Artillery, B.A.O.R. and 113 Light Anti-Aircraft, R.A., B.A.O.R.. Includes letters describing Belsen Concentration Camp (18 April, 31 May 1945, 5pp) and letters concerning an article on Belsen written by Fr Morrison (Fr Morrison was one of the first priests to enter the camp) (17 July - 16 August 1945, 3 items).

Morrison, Michael, 1908-1973, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Documents relating to Fr Michael Pelly's time as a chaplain.

Documents relating to Fr Michael Pelly's time as a chaplain. Includes Fr Pelly's ‘British Military Identity Document’ with photograph (December 1943, 1 item) and photocopy from a newspaper [Irish Independent?] of an article on the ‘Mass of Reparation said in Monte Cassino Ruins’ by Fr Pelly (1944, 1p).

Pelly, Michael C, 1907-1990, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Daniel Shields SJ written during his time as a chaplain

Letters and telegrams to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Daniel Shields SJ written during his time as a chaplain with the Royal Artillery in Larkhill, Wiltshire; in the Imperial Hospital, Natal, South Africa; in Oribi Military Hospital, Pietermaritzburg, Natal; with the 8th Sherwood Foresters in Wrotham, Kent; on the hospital ship Atlantis; in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall and in the Army Technical School, Arborfield, Reading, Berks.

Shields, Daniel J, 1898-1986, Jesuit priest, chaplain and missioner

Jesuit Chaplains to Irish emigrants in Britain

In the late 1940s, Fr Leonard Sheil SJ (1897-1968) travelled to Britain in an effort to serve Irish emigrants. Fr Sheil was a familiar sight on his motorbike visiting building sites, construction camps, mines, steel works, oil refineries and industrial hostels. Frs Matthew Meade (1912-1992) and Kevin Laheen (1919-2019) also provided missions.

General papers on Irish Jesuit missions;

  • Letters to the Provincial from Irish Jesuit missioners which give their opinions and impression of mission work in England (1960-1961);
  • Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigrants Easter conferences (1960-1977) which concerns the attendance of the Jesuit Provincial (1960-1972) and reports of proceedings, minutes and addresses (1962; 1977);
  • Working Party on the Irish Emigrant Missions in England and Wales (1973);
  • Mission reports and statistics (1966-1975) including Jesuit missions (1966-1970) and Irish Catholic missions in England and Wales (1968; 1974-1975);
  • Jesuit Chaplains in Westminster and Birmingham Archdioceses (1966-1969);
  • Irish Chaplaincy Scheme (1971-1979) including conference reports (1978-1979), details of chaplains and services (1971; 1976-1977) and Jesuit appointments (1974-1979);
  • Irish Centre Advisory Service, Liverpool (1976) and
  • Lillie Road Centre London (1978).

Irish Vice-Province of the Society of Jesus, 1830-

Correspondence relating to the nominating of Jesuit priests as priest-teachers in the Vocational Schools

File of correspondence relating to the nominating of Jesuit priests as priest-teachers in the Vocational Schools (Bolton Street and Kevin Street). Includes letters from Monsignor John O'Regan (on behalf of the Archbishops of Dublin, John Charles McQuaid and Dermot Ryan) to the Irish Fr Provincials (Brendan Barry and Cecil McGarry), asking the latter to forward the names of their nominees, as well as the Provincials’ replies. These replies, as well as containing the names of nominees, often refer to the problems encountered by the priest-teachers in the Colleges in relations to their work-load, professional development, status within the Colleges etc. Also includes a letter from the Archbishop’s House to Irish Provincial Fr Patrick Doyle SJ, in relation to his nominations (22 June 1976, 1 page).

Irish Jesuit Chaplains in the First World War

Thirty-two Jesuit chaplains of the Irish Province served in the First World War. They served on the battlefields of France, Belgium, Egypt and Mesopotamia. Four Jesuits were killed: Frs John Gwynn (12 October 1915), William Doyle (17 August 1917), Michael Bergin (12 October 1917) and John Fitzgibbon (18 September 1918). Two Jesuits died from illness: Frs Austin Hartigan (16 July 1916) and Edward Sydes (15 November 1918).

Approximately eleven Irish-born Jesuit chaplains of the English Province served in in the First World War. They included Frs Timothy Carey (Cork) and Walter Montagu (Cromore, Portstewart, County Derry) who both died on active service. Fr William Keary SJ (Woodford, Galway) initially joined the Irish Province but transferred to the English Province.

The majority of letters are from individual chaplains to the Irish Jesuit Provincial Fr Thomas V. Nolan SJ, (1914-1919). There are some postcards, photographs and medals. Some are rich in details (Fr Daniel Roche SJ, 43 items) others have but an obituary. Includes letters to the Irish Jesuit Provincial from Archbishop’s House, Westminster, England concerning the nomination of various Irish Jesuits as chaplains to the forces and their demobilisation, letters on wages and expenditures of chaplains and the appeal for chaplains. Six Jesuits served with the Australian army.

Irish Vice-Province of the Society of Jesus, 1830-

Various memoranda sent to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ

Various memoranda sent to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ. Includes lists of Irish Jesuit chaplains and their addresses; estimates for chaplain’s uniform; memoranda concerning the appeal for military chaplains serving at home and abroad and their origins and ‘Memorial to the Irish Hierarchy re Shortage of Catholic Chaplains.’ Includes:

  • remembrance card for the 2nd Battalion of Irish Guards, attending mission in Cologne, January 1919;
  • name card (O.H.M.S) for wounded man's kit, belonging to Lieut Sheil, No 2. Squadron, R.A.F. (Frac. skull);
  • carte postale depicting Fr Frank Browne and Irish soldiers at Loudres, France, 30 October 1918;
  • carte postale depicting Fr Jerome O'Mahony's altar, 23 September 1918;

Letters and postcards from Fr Frank Browne SJ to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ

Letters and postcards to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Francis M. Browne SJ, written during his time serving as a chaplain to the forces – 1st and 2nd Battalions, Irish Guards, British Expeditionary Force, France and 2nd Battalions, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 16th Division.

Browne, Francis M, 1880-1960, Jesuit priest, photographer and chaplain

Documents relating to Fr Joseph Flinn’s during his time serving as a chaplain

Documents relating to Fr Joseph Flinn’s time as a chaplain attached to VI Corps Rest Station North, 10th Royal Dublin Fusiliers, the Munster Fusiliers, the 60th and 88th Brigade, R.G.A., B.E.F., France. Includes: certificate appointing Fr Flinn Chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class, Land Forces (Temporary) (22 March 1917, 1p.);
– letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Flinn written from the Front (31 January 1917 – 10 October 1918, 21 items).

Flinn, Daniel Joseph, 1877-1943, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters to Fr Henry Gill SJ from Mary Maura Ostyn, O.S.B., Prioress of Ypres

Letters to Fr Henry Gill SJ from Mary Maura Ostyn, O.S.B., Prioress of Ypres, 11 Harwood Avenue, London, England asking Fr Gill to salvage the contents of the Benedictine abbey at Ypres. Contains details of all the convent’s treasures and where they have been hidden. Includes letter from Baron H. Kervyn de Letterrhov[e] concerning the destroyed treasures.

Ostyn, Mary Maura, 1868-1940, Benedictine sister

Documents relating to Fr John Gwynn's service as a chaplain

Documents relating to Fr John Gwynn's service as a chaplain attached to the 1st Battalion of the Irish Guards, B.E.F., France. Includes:

  • letters written by Fr John Gwynn volunteering to be a chaplain (23 August – 8 November 1914, 2 items);
  • documentation dealing with Fr Gwynn's appointment as a military chaplain (9 November 1914 - 16 March 1915, 9 items) including the certificate appointing him chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class, Land Forces, (Temporary) (16 March 1915, 1p.);
  • certificate of safe conduct with attached photo of Fr Gwynn (4 July 1915, 1p.);
  • letters and notes sent to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ (n.d., 3 items);
  • official letters sent to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ following Fr Gwynn’s death in action on 12 October 1915 (11 October 1915 – 19 September 1921, 23 items);
  • pamphlet 'A Great Irish Chaplain: Father John Gwynn SJ' by John Bithrey SJ (n.d., 20pp);
  • material on centenary of Fr Gwynn's death - the Bishop of Arundel and Brighton celebrated Mass at the Sacred Heart Church, Caterham, Surrey, England where the Irish Guards have erected a tablet in Fr Gwynn’s memory (11 October 2015).

Gwynn, John, 1866-1915, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters from Fr Jerome O'Mahony SJ to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ written during his time as a chaplain

Letters from Fr Jerome O'Mahony SJ to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ written during his time as a chaplain in the 5th Canadian General Hospital Salonika, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, the 43rd General Hospital Salonika, H.M.H.S. “Egypt,” the 78th General Hospital Alexandra and P.L. of C., Haifa, Palestine, E.E.F.

O'Mahony, Jerome C, 1869-1930, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Bernard Page SJ written during his time as a chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ from Fr Bernard Page SJ written during his time as a chaplain with the No. 2 Cavalry Field Ambulance, B.E.F., France. Includes letter of complaint to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ (12 April 1917, 6pp) re Fr Page and Fr Page’s replies (22 – 30 April 1917, 3 items).

Page, Bernard F, 1877-1948, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Obituary of Fr Walter Montagu SJ

Obituary of Fr Walter Montagu SJ (English Province) who was killed 31 October 1918, taken from 'Letters and Notices', Vol.35, January 1919, pp28 - 30.

Letters and Notices, 1863-

Obituaries of Irishmen who joined the English Province and served as chaplains in the First World War

Obituaries from 'Letters and Notices' of Irishmen who joined the English Province and served as chaplains. Obituaries collected are highlighted in bold (Fr Bernard Page SJ, born in India, but Australian has an obituary, see CHP1/71). This list in not exhaustive (consult document British Jesuit Chaplains in World War I). See CHP1/72 for the obituary of Fr Walter Montagu SJ (English Province) who was killed 31 October 1918, taken from Letters and Notices, Vol. 35., pp28 - 30,

Carey, Timothy, Letters and Notices 35 (1919)
Duffy, John, Letters and Notices 66 (1961)
Fleming, Francis (1876-1939), no entry in Letters and Notices
Gallagher, George, Our Dead, III (1944-45)
Gallagher, James, Letters and Notices 66 (1961)
Irwin, Francis, Letters and Notices 52 (1957), 53 (1938)
Keary, William, Letters and Notices 63 (1958)
Wolfe, Patrick, Our Dead, II (1941-43)
Woodlock, Francis, Our Dead, I (1939-40); BH/4*
Woodlock, Joseph, Letters and Notices 57 (1949)

Letters and Notices, 1863-

Obituary for Fr Frederick Peal SJ

Obituary for Fr Frederick Peal SJ taken from 'Letters and Notices'. Fr Frederick Peal SJ (sometimes spelt, Peel). Born in India, 1864, he belonged to the Belgian Province and later worked and died in India, 1934...he was in the Irish Catalogue in 1917, 1st Connaught Rangers, Lahore Div. He wrote 3 books called 'War Jottings' published in 1916 by the Catholic Orphan Press Calcutta. Book 3 is Mesopotamia.

Letters and Notices, 1863-

Irish Jesuit Chaplains in the Second World War

Twenty-one Irish Jesuit chaplains served as chaplains in the Second World War in the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Fr John Hayes SJ, who died of typhus on 28th December 1944, was the single casualty to the Irish Jesuit Province.

The papers of the Irish Jesuit Chaplains in the Second World War consist mainly of letters and telegrams from individual chaplains to the Irish Jesuit Provincial - Fr Laurence J. Kieran SJ was the Irish Provincial at the outbreak of the War and on 8 September 1941, Fr John R MacMahon SJ became Provincial. Also includes letters to Irish Father Provincial Laurence J. Kieran SJ from various Jesuits volunteering to become military chaplains (1 September 1939-7 April 1941); letters and telegrams from Monsignor John M. Coghlan (Principal Chaplain (R.C.) and Vicar General, British Army, War Office) seeking chaplains to serve in the forces and thanking Father Provincial for those he has offered (1941-1944); memoranda and lists (1942); volunteers’ letters (April 1941-July 1942); correspondence with the Royal Air Force (1941-1945); letters from newly appointed chaplains (1941); miscellaneous letters to Provincial (1941-1945).

1st four left Dublin, 26 May 1941: Richard Kennedy (Tertian); Michael Morrison (Tertian); Conor Naughton (Tertian); Cyril Perrott.
2nd batch, left 1 September 1941: John Burden; Leo Donnelly; John Hayes; Sydney Lennon; Conal Murphy.
9 September 1941: Fr Gerard Guinane.
29 December 1941: Fr Maurice Dowling.

Michael O’Mahoney (1905-1981), County Tipperary, part of the Australian province of the Society of Jesus, served as chaplain in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

Irish Vice-Province of the Society of Jesus, 1830-

Responses to Irish Fr Provincial’s letter seeking volunteers to serve as chaplains

Responses to Irish Fr Provincial's letter seeking volunteers to serve as chaplains. Includes;

  • Copy of Provincial’s letter (16 February 1942, 1p.)
  • Responses from Frs Michael O'Meara SJ (2 letters, See also CHP2/32), Peter MacSeumais SJ, Brian MacMahon SJ, Fergus Cronin SJ (See CHP2/14), Thomas J. Martin SJ (See CHP2/28), Aidan Ennis SJ, Gerard Perrott SJ (brother of Cyril Perrott SJ) (2 letters) (See CHP2/35), Brendan Lawler SJ, Gerard MacLoughlin SJ and Thomas O'Callaghan SJ.

Letters to Irish Fr Provincial Laurence J. Kieran SJ from Fr Richard L. Guilly SJ regarding proposed trip to Dublin and the chaplains under his care

Letters to Irish Fr Provincial Laurence J. Kieran SJ from Fr Richard L. Guilly SJ (Senior Catholic Chaplain, British Troops, Northern Ireland) concerning his proposed visit to Dublin, news of the Jesuit chaplains under his care and arrangements for chaplains regarding banking in England (encloses a list of the ‘ordinary emoluments due to chaplains’ (17 May 1941, 3pp and 1p.).

Guilly, Richard Lester, 1905-1996, Jesuit priest, bishop and chaplain

Letters to Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Alan Birmingham SJ written during his time as a chaplain

Letters to Irish Fr Provincial John MacMahon SJ from Fr Alan Birmingham SJ written during his time as a chaplain attached to the 2nd Battalion, The Loyal Regiment in Sussex and Northern Ireland; 32 Casualty Clearing Station in England and France; 4 Army Group Royal Artillery, B.L.A. in France and Germany; 150th Infantry Brigade in Southern India and the Indian Artillery Centre, Kamaredi. Includes description of his role in the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944 (16 November 1944, 4pp) and his last letter written on his way home (29 September 1946, 2pp).

Birmingham, Alan, 1911-1991, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr John Burden SJ

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr John Burden SJ written while serving as chaplain in Catterick Camp, Yorkshire and with the 6th King’s Own Scottish Borders in Northumberland; in Nottingham (where he was promoted to Senior Chaplain (S.C.F. (R.C.) ); in India, South Africa and Iraq with Paiforce (Persian and Iraq Forces); 114th Rest/Transit Camp; 162nd Transit Camp in Damascus and Palestine. Some letters in the form of airgraphs. Includes his last letter written on 28 March 1946 concerning his release from the Army in May.

Burden, John, 1907-1974, Jesuit priest and chaplain

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Fergus Cronin SJ

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Fergus Cronin SJ written during his time as a chaplain while serving in the Royal Artillery Service Corps in Barry, South Wales; the Faeroe Islands; 101 Military Convalescent Depot, Grange Camp, Bedford and with Paiforce in Iraq. Includes:

  • His first letter reporting that he has been informed by the War Office of his appointment as military chaplain effective from 11 May 1942 (24 April 1942, 1p.);
  • References to the question of his direct repatriation to Hong Kong (9 January – 22 July 1946, 5 items) and waiting in Haifa in July 1946 to go to Cairo, there to await repatriation to Hong Kong.

Cronin, Fergus, 1909-1990, Jesuit priest

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Maurice Dowling SJ

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Maurice Dowling SJ written during his time serving as a chaplain in the 11th General Hospital in Peebles; Military Hospital, Drymen, Scotland; with the Shetland Defence Forces in Lerwick; in North Africa with the 58th [Heavy Anti-Aircraft] Regiment, Royal Artillery, B.N.A.F.; 3 L.C.U.; with the 167th Field Ambulance, C.M.F. and 2nd A.G.R.A., C.M.F.; with the 4th Battalion, Oxford and Bucks. in Norfolk and 2nd Army and 21st Army Group in Germany. Includes his first letter written to the Provincial from the 11th General Hospital (1 January 1942, 2pp), Fr Dowling’s memorial card (with photograph), and airgraphs from North Africa.

Dowling, Maurice, 1896-1965, Jesuit priest, chaplain and missioner

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