Biographical information on Fr Doyle
- IE IJA J/2/1
- File
- 1873-1917
Part of Irish Jesuits
Biographical information on Fr Doyle including a copy of his birth certificate and memorial card.
Irish Vice-Province of the Society of Jesus, 1830-
Biographical information on Fr Doyle
Part of Irish Jesuits
Biographical information on Fr Doyle including a copy of his birth certificate and memorial card.
Irish Vice-Province of the Society of Jesus, 1830-
Part of Irish Jesuits
Copy of 'The Irish Messenger of the Sacred Heart' containing an article entitled ‘Dublin, and Proud of It!’ on Fr. Doyle (p.65-67).
Irish Messenger Office, 1888-
Letters to the Irish Provincial on various matters, including financial
Letters to the Irish Provincial on various matters. Includes letters concerning financial matters and;
– a complaint about an individual Jesuit with regard to his behaviour while conducting a retreat for nuns (See also ADMN/3/36);
– a draft deed of trust for the Father Delany Exhibition (See also ADMN/3/13);
– the health and financial affairs of various scholastics;
– the proposal for the establishment of a [school] at Tullabeg by the Society of Pious Missions;
– a conference of Jesuit Fathers in Chicago for the purpose of adopting a Provisional Constitution of the ‘Frequent Communion Guild’;
– requests for money from various individuals;
– the campaign to appoint a Catholic Director to the Board of Directors of the Clogher Valley Railway (the Society are shareholders in the Railway);
– the appointment of Jesuits to various offices;
– a petition to the British government ‘to show mercy to Roger Casement’;
– a proposed portrait of Archbishop Walsh by Sir John Lavery;
– a profit and loss account of the Irish Monthly for year ending 31 August 1914 (See also ADMN/3/20; 66; 67);
– the work of St. Joseph's Young Priests (See also ADMN/3/53);
– lists of locations of Retreats and names of priests giving Retreats for 1912 and 1913 (See also ADMN/3/36; 41);
– suggestions for Retreats given by Jesuits, by Dr Patrick Foley, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin (1896-1926) and memorandum on the scheme to establish a small lending library in Milltown Park for priests (See also ADMN/3/12; 38).
Servant of God Willie Doyle SJ
Part of Irish Jesuits
William Joseph Gabriel Doyle was born (1873) at Melrose, Dalkey Avenue, Dalkey, county Dublin. Known as Willie, Billie or Sloper (a comic book hero of the time), he was the youngest of seven children of Hugh Doyle, registrar of the insolvency court, and Christine Doyle (née Byrne). Growing up, Willie was devout, caring and cheerful. Educated at Ratcliffe College, Leicestershire, in 1891 Willie followed his older brother Charles into the Jesuits. After two years as a novice, he taught at Clongowes Wood College, where he produced The Mikado and founded the school magazine, The Clongownian. His Jesuit formation included periods in Belgium and England, and further teaching at Clongowes and Belvedere Colleges. After ordination at Milltown Park on 28th July 1907, Willie began work as an urban missionary and retreat giver in Ireland. His positive attitude made him a great success, and he travelled all around the British Isles. He was also the author of best-selling pamphlets on retreats and vocations.
Volunteering as a military chaplain in First World War, Fr Doyle was sent to France with the Royal Irish Fusiliers in early 1916. Within days of his arrival at the Front, he showed himself outstanding in the work of a chaplain. Lt Col HR Stirke noted that Fr Doyle was ‘one of the finest fellows that I ever met, utterly fearless, always with a cheery word on his lips and ever ready to go out and attend the wounded and the dying under the heaviest fire’. Present at the battles of the Somme and Messines, Fr Doyle was killed during the third battle of Ypres on 16th August 1917, while going to the aid of a wounded man near Frezenberg. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial, Belgium. Fr Doyle was awarded the Military Cross, and he was put forward for the Victoria Cross posthumously but did not receive it. Writing to Willie’s father, Hugh, in December 1917, Major General WB Hickie remarks that: ‘I could not say too much about your son. He was loved and reverenced by us all. His gallantry, self sacrifice and devotion to duty were all so well known and recognized. I think that his was the most wonderful character that I have ever known.’
Doyle, Willie, 1873-1917, Servant of God, Jesuit priest and chaplain
Article in 'The Messenger of the Sacred Heart'
Part of Irish Jesuits
Copy of 'The Messenger of the Sacred Heart', containing an article on Fr Doyle (p.86-87).
Irish Messenger Office, 1888-
Article in 'Revue d’Ascétique et de Mystique'
Part of Irish Jesuits
Copy of 'Revue d’Ascétique et de Mystique' containing an article on Fr Doyle by Léonce de Grandmaison (p.128-146).
Society of Jesus, 1540-
Booklet 'Korte Levensschets van Pater William Doyle, S.J. 1873-1917'
Part of Irish Jesuits
Booklet 'Korte Levensschets van Pater William Doyle, S.J. 1873-1917' by Fr J. Van Rijckevorsel SJ.
Society of Jesus, 1540-
Retreat Library at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin with portrait of Fr Willie Doyle SJ in the background
Part of Irish Jesuit houses of formation
Retreat Library at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin with portrait of Fr Willie Doyle SJ in the background – photograph by Gay O’ Brien
Gay O'Brien, photogrpaher
Article in 'Messager du Coeur de Jésus'
Part of Irish Jesuits
Article in 'Messager du Coeur de Jésus' containing an article on Fr. Doyle by Fr Wery-Lacouagne SJ (p.75-95).
Society of Jesus, 1540-
Part of Irish Jesuits
Article from The Commonweal entitled ‘Father William Doyle, S.J.’ by Henry Longan Stuart.
Society of Jesus, 1540-
Copy of 'La Vie Spirituelle. Ascétique et Mystique'
Part of Irish Jesuits
Copy of 'La Vie Spirituelle. Ascétique et Mystique', Vol. XIX, No. 3 containing an article on Fr. Doyle by F. de Lanversin (p.323-341).
Society of Jesus, 1540-
Part of Irish Jesuits
Pamphlet “Fr. Willie” Father William Doyle, S.J. His World-wide Appeal and Favours Attributed to His Intercession, ‘Irish Messenger’ Series.
Irish Messenger Office, 1888-
Notebooks written by Fr Willie Doyle SJ on retreats
Part of Irish Jesuits
Series of notebooks written by Fr Willie Doyle SJ on retreats given and attended, and notes on missions, meditations, prayer, considerations, mortifications and triduums.
'“ Snatched from the Brink” A True Story of Fr. William Doyle, S.J.’
Part of Irish Jesuits
Copy of 'The Irish Messenger of the Sacred Heart' containing an article entitled ‘ “Snatched from the Brink” A True Story of Fr. William Doyle, S.J.’ (p.364-367).
Irish Messenger Office, 1888-