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Since the formation of the Irish Province in 1860, Irish Jesuits have undertaken three main overseas missions (Australia, Hong Kong and Zambia). More than 120 Irish Jesuits have worked in Zambia. The Vice-Province of Zambia was formed in 1969 and the Province of Zambia and Malawi was established in 1992. The Irish Jesuits' work in Zambia is complemented by other Jesuit Provinces such as: Canada; Croatia; Oregon; Poland and Slovenia. The papers of the Zambian Mission chronicle the life and work of Irish Jesuits since their arrival, in what was then Northern Rhodesia, in 1946. The files of correspondence between Irish Jesuits working in Zambia and their Irish Provincials in Dublin illustrate the areas of work that they laboured in: parish work, education and development. Geographically, this took place in the southern part of the country and in the capital, Lusaka. The impact of the Irish presence is seen especially in Canisius High School and Charles Lwanga College of Education in Chikuni, the parishes in the Monze Diocese, and development projects around the diocese.

The Sodality of Our Lady, an association formed by the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and approved by the Holy See, was a religious body which aimed at fostering in its members an ardent devotion, reverence and filial love towards the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary & St Patrick was canonically erected in the Church of St Francis Xavier, Upper Gardiner Street on 1st May, 1853. Members of a sodality would attend devotions in the evening time or at weekends.

The material documents the creation of sodalities in Ireland from 1863 to 1960. This is known as ‘aggregation to the Primae Primariae’ and sodalities were formed in many colleges, convents, hospitals, parishes, and schools. Sodality booklets and newsletters provide background and history to the work of sodalities in Ireland.

The Isle of Man Mission material details the building of chapels and schools in Douglas and Castletown by Fr Matthew Gahan SJ (1782-1837) and his work on the island. Born in Dublin, he entered the Society at Hodder, Lancashire, England in 1805 and left for the Isle of Man in 1826. He had previously spent 3 months on the island in 1817 and 1825. When he died there in February 1837, the Jesuit mission to the island ended.

Many Jesuit Provinces had missions in China before 1926 when the Vicar Apostolic of Hong Kong, Fr Henry Valtorta (1883-1953), invited the Irish Jesuits to his vicariate. In October 1926, Frs George Byrne (1879-1962) and John Neary (1889-1983) left Dublin for Hong Kong, which became a Mission for the Irish Province. They were joined, in early 1927, by Fr Daniel Finn (1886-1936) from Australia and later by Frs Richard Gallagher (1887-1960), Patrick Joy (1892-1970) and Daniel MacDonald (1891-1957).

The initial work of the mission concentrated in Hong Kong, with some teaching in Canton and Macao. Their works involved: reviving the Catholic journal, ‘The Rock’; the opening of a hostel (Ricci Hall) for Chinese Catholic students at the University of Hong Kong (1929-); their involvement in the Regional Seminary, Aberdeen, Hong Kong (1931-1964), Wah Yan College, Hong Kong (1932-) and Wah Yan College, Kowloon (1952-). Some lecturing occurred in the university, in areas such as archaeology, education, engineering, and geography. In Canton, Frs Michael Saul (1884-1932) and Joseph McCullough (1892-1932) died from cholera. Hong Kong was under Japanese occupation 1941 - 1945. The Irish Jesuits organised a school for refugees from Hong Kong in Macao and the Regional Seminary was also moved to Macao. Wah Yan College was closed in 1941 and reopened in 1945. Fr Thomas Ryan’s account “Jesuits under Fire in the siege of Hong Kong 1941” deals fully with this time.

After World War Two, the Irish Jesuits established a language school, student centre and parish in Canton. They were expelled by the Communists in [1953]. Wah Yan College grew and developed and further works included the foundation of a university hostel at Kingsmead Hall, Singapore and at Xavier Hall, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Other works of note that Irish Jesuits had a hand in establishing and running in Hong Kong include: the Hong Kong Housing Society (1938); Wah Yan Relief Association (1938); Shoeshine Boys Club (1952-1962); the Credit Union Movement (1962); Rehabilitation Centre for the Handicapped (1962); Catholic Marriage Advisory Council (1963); Road Safety Association for Schools (1964); Industrial Relations Institute (1968); Chinese Opera in English (1960s); Fisherman’s Children School (1960s) and Welfare for Police in the Training School. In 1966, Hong Kong became a Jesuit Vice-Province and in 1985, the Province of Macau-Hong Kong was established. Today, Hong Kong is a unit within the Chinese Jesuit Province.

Over a hundred Irish Jesuits have served in Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and Singapore - 30 of whom are buried in St. Michael’s Cemetery in Hong Kong and two in mainland China.

The Irish Jesuit Mission to Australia was initiated due to the will of Fr John Joseph Therry (1790-1864), who named the Irish Jesuits as beneficiaries to his property in Australia, and by an invitation to the Irish Province by James Alipius Goold, Bishop of Melbourne (later Archbishop) (1812-1886) to set-up a mission in his diocese. The first two Irish Jesuits, Frs William Lentaigne (1805-1884) and William Kelly (1823-1909), arrived in Melbourne in September 1865. Previously, two Austrian Jesuits, Frs. Kranewitter (1817-1880) and Klinkowstroem (1819-1896) had arrived in 1848 after Jesuit expulsion from Austria. The Austrian Mission centred on South Australia and the Northern Territory. In 1901, the Austrian and Irish missions amalgamated. Australia was made a Vice-Province in 1931 and Fr Austin Kelly SJ (1891-1978) was named the first Provincial of the Australian Province in 1950.

The papers of the Australian Mission provide a comprehensive history of the Irish Jesuit Mission, concentrating on the years 1865-1931. The Irish Jesuits worked as missionaries, educators, writers, chaplains, theologians, scientists, pastors and directors of retreats, mainly in the urban communities of eastern Australia.

Subjects touched upon include: agreements with Archbishops in establishing Jesuit houses in a particular diocese; reflections on the journey to and from Australia; administration of schools, colleges, universities and Jesuit residences - (St Patrick’s, Melbourne; St Francis Xavier College, Kew, Melbourne; St Aloysius, Dunedin (NZ); St Aloysius College, Sydney ; St Ignatius College, Riverview, Sydney; St Louis, Claremont, Western Australia; Newman College, University of Melbourne); parishes - (Norwood and Sevenhills in South Australia; Invercargill (NZ); Melbourne; Sydney; Toowong and Indooroopilly in Queensland); financial documents; expansion of the Mission; and correspondence between Father Provincial in Ireland and Jesuits in Australia. By far the greatest number of letters sent to Father Provincial in Ireland was from Fr John Ryan SJ (1849-1922) (Superior of the Mission from 11 February 1901-14 June 1908; 9 April 1913-24 October 1917). Until the creation of the Australian Mission as a Vice-Province, the Irish Provincial was kept informed of every minor detail about the Mission and often decision making in Australia was delayed until approval from Dublin was given.

Although this collection provides a comprehensive history of the Australian Mission, there are some gaps. For example, the collection does not contain any deeds or other legal documents relating to property obtained by the Society of Jesus in Australia and it is presumed that these documents would have been kept by the Superior of the Mission and later the Vice-Provincial of the Vice-Province in Australia, where they remain today.

Superiors of the Irish Jesuit Mission to Australia (1865-1931)
Fr Joseph Lentaigne SJ 1865-1866
Fr Joseph Dalton SJ 1866-1872
Fr Thomas Cahill SJ 1872-1879
Fr Joseph Dalton SJ 1879-2 September 1883
Fr Aloysius Sturzo SJ 2 September 1883-5 April 1890
Fr Patrick Keating SJ 5 April 1890-1 February 1895
Fr Timothy Kenny SJ 1 February 1895-11 February 1901
Fr John Ryan SJ 11 February 1901-14 June 1908
Fr Thomas Brown SJ 14 June 1908-9 April 1913
Fr John Ryan SJ 9 April 1913-24 October 1917
Fr William Lockington SJ 24 October 1917-20 June 1923
Fr Jeremiah Sullivan SJ 20 June 1923-19 March 1931

Vice-Provincials of the Vice-Province of Australian (1931-1950)
Fr John Fahy SJ 19 March 1931-25 August 1939
Fr John Meagher SJ 25 August 1939-1 October 1947
Fr Austin Kelly SJ 1 October 1947-1 November 1950

Notebook containing Lists of Preachers of Novena to the Sacred Heart (1899-1957) and Sodality Day (1940-1954).

A file relating to the Irish Jesuit Mission Office (The Ricci Mission Unit) based in Ireland. The file contains financial information (accounts, donations and burses) relating to the Hong Kong mission, letters by Fr Thomas Martin SJ, relating to the administration of the Hong Kong mission and personnel/volunteers for the mission.

Correspondence between the Archbishop of Lusaka, Fr Adam Kozlowiecki SJ, Fr John Kerr SJ , 87 Eglinton Road, Dublin 4 and Irish Fr Provincial Cecil McGarry SJ, relating to the illness and medical expenses of Fr Patrick Walsh SJ, Secretary to the Archbishop.

Scrapbook with calendars of St Francis Xavier's Church, Upper Gardiner Street for Lent (1896-1957), November-Advent-January (1896-1934) and May-June-July (1896-1957) including calendars for Novena to the Sacred Heart.

Booklet entitled 'Irish Jesuits in Northern Rhodesia' by Rev Joseph McSweeney SJ published by the Irish Messenger Office.

List of the numbers of retreats and tridua (three day retreat for religious communities) given [for statistical purposes].

Correspondence mainly between Irish Fr Provincial, Fr Leonard Sheil SJ and the English Provincial, relating to Fr Sheil’s Mission work in England. Includes:
– incomplete letter from Fr Sheil to the Provincial referring to a Mission he and Fr Robert L. Stevenson SJ are to give in Peterborough, ‘We will run one mission in a hostel, and another in the church at the same time. There are 180 Irish in the hostel; and there are believed to be about 400 in lodgings around the town. We may, or may not, be able to get at them.’ Also describes his recent travels on the Continent (third page of letter is missing) (12 Sep. 19--, 2pp);
– letter from Fr Sheil to the Provincial describing a ‘country mission in Northampton’ where he “was told to take a different village every day, say Mass in some Catholic house, visit every house – Catholic or no, and ‘hold a service’ on the village green in the evening” (2 September 19–, 7pp);
– covering letter and note (January 1953, 2pp) from Fr Sheil to the Provincial enclosing a memorandum entitled ‘Relations between Irish and English Jesuit Missioners’ (n.d., 3pp);
– covering letter from Fr Sheil (13 April 1953, 1p.) to the Provincial, enclosing a letter he received from the Archbishop of Cius and English Apostolic Delegate following Fr Sheil’s report to him of 1952 Mission work. The Archbishop writes ‘I have read with deepest interest the reports sent to me by the Reverend Father L. Sheil, S.J. and I have informed the Holy See of all the splendid work that has been accomplished. For this most necessary apostolate, certainly the Delegate of the Holy Father must send a cordial blessing in the name of His Holiness and he is confident that, with God’s help, more and more will be achieved for those who stand so much in need of the ministry of their own priests’ (9 April 1953, 1p.);
– copy letter from the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne to the English Fr Provincial Desmond Boyle SJ, regarding Fr Boyle’s ‘wishes concerning the activities of the Irish Mission staff in England’. States ‘I have…instructed Father Leonard Sheil to confine his activities in future to Camp Missions during the autumn months, and, once he has fulfilled his programme in London this autumn, to approach no parish priest about a parish Mission nor to accept any parish Mission without a specific request from Father Farrell.…I think he (Fr Sheil) has done good work for the Irish in England, some of which, such as the Confraternity in Birmingham, may be of permanent worth. But whatever good he has achieved is due in no small measure to the co-operation of the English Province and the support he received from the English parish clergy’ (22 Apr. 1953, 1p.);
– Fr Boyle’s reply thanking Fr Byrne for his co-operation and stating ‘I only hope that we of this Province have not seemed too difficult or dog-in-the-manger-ish. The position was getting rather confused and it seemed desirable to regularize it. Your mission Fathers have done wonderful work in England, and I am quite sure that Fr Sheil will be approached either directly or through Fr Farrell for further missions’ (29 Apr. 1953, 1p.);
– letter to Fr Sheil from Dr James Staunton, Bishop of Ferns in which he remarks ‘I was glad to know that you are going to St. Wilfrid’s York, and I hope your Fathers and yourself will be invited to give many missions in the secondary modern schools, and pioneer in this sphere’ (20 Aug. 1958, 2pp);
– letter to the Provincial from Fr Sheil describing the work of two Irish chaplains in London – Fr Cullen in Warwick Street and the chaplain in Bayswater (Sep. 1967, 2pp).
Also includes list drawn up by Fr Sheil of Jesuits who ‘should give a very good priests’ retreat’ (n.d., 2pp).

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).

A file of letters from the Superior of the Australian Mission Fr Joseph Lentaigne SJ, St Patrick's College, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia to Fr Daniel Jones SJ (Socius) concerning the Australian Mission and the work being carried out.

Minutes of council meetings of the Men’s Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Ignatius, Galway. Refers to retreats and retreat directions, details members present and those proposed for membership.

28 September 1890-1 December 1912;
13 December 1912 - September 1937;
April 1946 - November 1951;
14 May 1961-14 January 1974;

Lists of places which obtained Diplomas of Aggregation to the Primae Primariae: Includes date of aggregation, date and by whom.

Villa (holiday) journal for Irish Jesuit scholastics (Juniors).

Kinnagh Hill, Killiney, County Dublin, 1922;
Bayview House, Wickow, County Wicklow, 1923;
'Elton' & 'Albany', Kilcoole, County Wicklow, 1924;
Clydagh Hotel, Greystones, County Wicklow, 1925;
Clydagh Hotel, Greystones, County Wicklow, 1926;
Clydagh Hotel, Greystones, County Wicklow, 1927;
Gormanstown Castle, County Meath, 1928;
Castlebellingham, County Louth, 1929;
Charleville House, Enniskerry, County Wicklow, 1930;
Gormanstown Castle, County Meath, 1932;

Retreat notes compiled by Mr Michael Egan SJ.

Letter from Thomas Keogh, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Braganza House, Carlow to Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ complimenting Fr Counihan's retreat to priests in Carlow.

Óglaigh na hÉireann Week End Retreatants, with Fr Patrick Barrett SJ, Director of Retreats at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin, and Reverend R. J. Casey, Military Chaplain. By J. J. O'Reilly, 36 St. Thomas Tcr, S.C.R., Dublin. With names.

Spiritual notes and letters belonging to Fr Willie Doyle SJ. Includes typewritten notes on ‘Samuel’, ‘Acts of Immolation’, ‘The Prayer of Christ’; spiritual letters.

Series of notebooks written by Fr Willie Doyle SJ on retreats given and attended, and notes on missions, meditations, prayer, considerations, mortifications and triduums.

Copy letter from the Superior of the Australian Mission Fr Joseph Lentaigne SJ, St Patrick's College, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia to Father General Peter Beckx SJ, Rome, Italy concerning the Australian Mission and his visit to Australia.

Volume of candidates (male) proposed and received into the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary and various guilds. Handwritten entries divided by name, occupation, date when admitted, residence, guild and remarks.

A file of letters written during the year 1950 relating to the Chikuni Mission, Northern Rhodesia. Includes numerous letters relating to the announcement that eight Irish Jesuits are to be sent to the Chikuni Mission and the need for these men to learn the language (Chitonga). Many letters express concern over the lack of preparations being made for their arrival and a reluctance to comply with Fr General's instructions that all eight men are to be housed together for one year to obtain a firm grasp of the language.

• Includes a letter from the Apostolic Delegation, PO Box 468, Mombasa to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ concerning the division of the mission between the Irish and Polish Jesuits. Advises Fr Byrne to send a suitable Jesuit to Northern Rhodesia to take on the role of Vicar Apostolic of Lusaka when the division takes place (12 June 1950, 1p).
• Includes a memorandum by Fr John Collins SJ concerning Bantu courses in London University (nd, 2pp).
• Includes a photograph published in the Irish Independent of the nine Irish Jesuits (eight priests and one brother) before their departure for Chikuni, Northern Rhodesia (19 July 1950, 1p).
• Includes a letter from Fr Brian MacMahon SJ to Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ announcing their safe arrival in Lusaka (7 August 1950, 2pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Patrick J Walsh SJ describing a trip he and Fr Louis Meagher SJ made in the Zambesi Valley (22 September 1950, 2pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Brian McMahon SJ, Chikuni Mission PO Chisekesi, Northern Rhodesia to Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ describing the school system here and the training colleges for African teachers (2 October 1950, 7pp).

File of documents related to Sodality history and surveys. Includes 'Sodality Conference, 1955', 'A Sodality Venture: St Francis Xavier's Boys' Club' by Charles Molony SJ, '350 years - The Irish Sodalities 1598 - 1948' by Rev. E. O'Connor SJ, 'Memorandum on Sodalities of Our Lady in Ireland, 1958', Extracts from 'A History of the Society of Jesus' by Fr William Bagert SJ, 'General report on Irish Sodalities, 1966', 'The Sodality of Our Lady in Ireland', 'Sodalities of Our Lady: Survey: May 1967', 'The Sodality of Our Lady in Ireland in the Nineteenth Century' by Rev. E. O'Connor SJ, 'Report on the present state of the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin in Ireland' by T F Ryan SJ, 'Nursing Sodalities', 'Common Sample Commentary Constitution for a Diocesan Sodality Federation', 'Sample Constitution and By- Laws for Union of Adult Sodalities', 'Popes who were Sodalists', calendar of 'Sancti et Beati Sodales Mariani' and record of donations from the sodality to Pope Pius XII, 1954.

Villa (holiday) journal for Irish Jesuit scholastics (Juniors).

Milltown Park, Dublin, 1907;
Redford House, Greystones, County Wicklow, 1908;
Ashby, Greystones, County Wicklow, 1909;
Ivanhoe, Greystones, County Wicklow, 1910;
Rochfort House, Portland Road, Greystones, County Wicklow, 1911;
Bayview, Wicklow, County Wicklow, 1912;
Bayview, Wicklow, County Wicklow, 1914;
Warrenpoint, County Down, 1915;
New Brighton, Monkstown, Dublin, 1916;
St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly, 1917;
St Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, County Offaly, 1918;
St Joseph's, Laytown, County Meath, 1919;
Clongowes Wood College SJ, County Kildare, 1920;
Bayview House (Mrs McPhail), Wicklow, County Wicklow, 1921.

Pamphlet “Fr. Willie” Father William Doyle, S.J. His World-wide Appeal and Favours Attributed to His Intercession, ‘Irish Messenger’ Series.

Group of retreatants at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin.

Typed memorandum for Irish Fr Provincial listing the number of Irish missions given by Fr Leonard Sheil SJ from 1933 to 1947; his work in Britain which began in 1948, ‘Since then Fr Sheil has given five missions most years and never less than three – during the autumn period in Britain’; and listing his work from 1933 to 1947 in Ireland in the autumn as ‘mostly with the convent school-girls, and occasional retreats in convents and in Jesuit churches.’

Obituary for Fr Thomas Shuley SJ from the 'Irish Province News' (July 1965) and small photographic album belonging to Fr Shuley with thirteen images of the west of Ireland while on villa [1916-1930].

Correspondence with Dr John Charles McQuaid, Archbishop of Dublin (mostly holograph letters from the Archbishop and copies of Fr. Provincial’s replies) on various matters. Includes letters concerning:

• the purchase of additional land from Mr Bewley adjoining Milltown Park, on which to build a secondary school (See also 1940s correspondence with Archbishop McQuaid);
• the question of the payment of workers for work on parochial and ecclesiastical buildings on Holy Days of Obligation;
• the Statement issued on behalf of the Hierarchy with regard to ‘the raising of military forces and the waging of war’ (persuading ‘young men not to join the new I.R.A. and kindred groups, or if they have joined, to disassociate themselves from such groups’);
• the proposed acquisition of new buildings on Eglinton Road (now the Province Curia, No. 87 Eglinton Road) for the Society to ‘relieve a certain congestion we are experiencing at present in our Dublin Houses’;
• the appointment of Jesuits to various ecclesiastical offices;
• the Commission considering the question of Licensing Laws;
• Jesuit Missions to the Irish in Britain (see also ADMN/3/62);
• the Technical Schools – ‘It is not in any sense an exaggeration to say that the assistance of the Society has made possible the establishment of a firm system of Religious Instruction, for the first time, in the Vocational and Technical Schools’ (letter of Archbishop McQuaid to Fr Provincial, 8 June 1959, 1p.) (see also ADMN/3/61);
• the formation of a committee to select candidates for beatification among the Irish martyrs (see also ADMN/3/24; 43; 48 and 49);
• the publication of spiritual books in Irish by the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary attached to Gardiner Street Church (see also ADMN/3/59 and 65);
• the appointment of Jesuit lecturers in University College Dublin;
• the proposal to establish a federation of the Sodalities of Our Lady in the Dublin Diocese.
  Also includes covering letter and copy of the minutes of the General Meeting of the Irish Actors’ Equity Association held on 27 April 1958.

Letters from the Consultors of the Chikuni Mission including Frs John Counihan, Arthur Clarke and Bernard Collins.

Copy letter from Fr Superior (Fr Robert Tyndall SJ), St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin to the Sodalists concerning the Annual Sale of Work to raise money for the missions in Canton and Hong Kong.

General Annual Histories of the Chikuni Mission with sections on Religious and Intellectual Life, Ministry and Health.

Register of the Sodalities, Confraternities and Associations of the Church of St Francis Xavier, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin, detailing name, when founded, whom for, time of meetings, dates of retreats and location of meetings.

Letters written from Jesuits in Northern Rhodesia to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ.

• Includes a letter from Fr Patrick J Walsh SJ, PO Box 87, Broken Hill, Northern Rhodesia referring to the imminent opening of the secondary school in Chikuni. Remarks that without Frs Dowling and Gill they would not have been able to open the school. Remarks that they are still waiting for the rains to come so that the maize crop can be sown (4 January 1949, 4pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Patrick J Walsh SJ, PO Box 87, Broken Hill, Northern Rhodesia describing the difficulties of the mission while it remains under complete control of the Polish Province (30 October 1949, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Patrick J Walsh SJ, PO Box 87, Broken Hill, Northern Rhodesia concerning the possibility of the Irish Province taking over the Lusaka Prefecture. Remarks that he would welcome the development as long as it was entirely independent of the Polish Jesuits (5 December 1949, 4pp).

A file of letters concerning retreats given by Fr John Counihan SJ to the novices in the Society of African Missions.

Grotto erected by employees of the Dublin United Tramways Co., Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin - Independent Newspapers. With committe names.

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).

Copy of a letter from Irish Fr Provincial Edmund O'Reilly SJ, Milltown Park, Dublin to the Bishop of Melbourne, James Alipius Goold, concerning the arrival of Frs Lentaigne and Kelly in Australia in order '...to take preliminary steps for the establishment of our Society in Melbourne.'

Register for the Holy League of the Sacred Heart, Daily Mass, at St Ignatius Church, Galway giving name and address.

Souvenir of the Novena of Grace, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

Historiae Domus for houses forming part of the Chikuni Mission, divided into sections relating to personnel, apostolic and spiritual life and events of import.

Photocopy of photograph from 'The Evening Herald 'of the congregation in St Francis Xavier's Church at the annual Novena of Grace.

Prayer card for the souls of deceased members of the Garda Síochána Sodality, based at St Francis Xavier's Church, and calendar of names of deceased members.

Letters, memoranda and reports concerning the various Sodalities in Irish Jesuit works.

Calendar of the Young Men's Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

Article from The Commonweal entitled ‘Father William Doyle, S.J.’ by Henry Longan Stuart.

Letters written from Jesuits in Northern Rhodesia to the Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ.

• Includes a letter from Fr Patrick J O'Brien SJ (one of the two Jesuits sent out to Northern Rhodesia by Irish Fr Provincial) remarking 'The situation here is desperate. There is no other word to describe it. It was already critical when the first appeal was made to the Irish Province. And while Fr Patrick J Walsh SJ and myself were waiting for a boat to come here, 3 fathers died. Since then we have lost a fourth…' (7 January 1948, 2pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Patrick J O'Brien SJ, PO Box 125, Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia to Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ thanking him for agreeing to send two more Jesuits to the mission (Fr Maurice Dowling SJ & Fr Daniel Shields SJ, although Fr Joseph Gill SJ subsequently went in Fr Shield's place) (7 April 1948, 2pp).

Account book of the Irish Jesuit Province. Includes insert for Tullabeg villa, August 1887.

Handbook entitled 'Parish Sodalists Red Book' belonging to Fr John B Kerr SJ. Includes booklets, sample membership cards and sodality seals. The articles are aimed at a American audience. Includes 'An Introduction to the Sodalities of Our Lady' by Fr Douglas E. Daly SJ and 'Moderator's Manual for the St. Mary's Integrated Four-Year High School Sodality Program'.

A file of notices and order of time for retreats conducted by Fr John Counihan SJ at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin.

A. G. S. Group - Retreatants at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin. With Fr Patrick Barrett SJ, Director of Retreats - by Keogh Brothers Ltd.

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial, mostly from Fr Leonard Sheil SJ, relating to his Mission work throughout Ireland. Includes:

• letters concerning a Retreat given by Fr Sheil in Killorglin, County Kerry, a lecture in Cashel, County Tipperary and Missions in Cobh, County Cork and Harrington Street, Dublin (24 November 1943 - 7 August 1945, 6 items);
• letter from Fr Sheil offering to ‘go to any country where…I would be of use in the service of God, Africa, Australia, China or the Continent.’ Also seeks permission to become the Spiritual Director of the International Catholic Girls’ Protection Society (see also J16/5). ‘Their work (they are some thirty years in existence in Dublin) was chiefly the meeting and protecting of girls travelling, especially to England. Now it includes a registry office of which the object is to find work for girls in Ireland and so obviate the necessity of going to England.…They hope to start a small training hostel for domestics. The Archbishop is very favourable.…I have given their radio broadcast for the past five years, bringing in £100 more or less each year. The work of the Spiritual Director would be to attend the monthly meeting of the Committee…and on these occasions to give what assistance he can as a priest.…In favour of it,…it offers a field of work for youth; and…perhaps no class of youth needs help more than the young country girl, perhaps from a convent orphanage, who comes to Dublin to domestic service…’ (21 Feb. 1946, 3pp);
• letter from Socius Fr John Coyne SJ to the Irish Provincial relating to a report in the 'Irish Press' of a lecture on ‘Friends of Soviet Russia’ given by Fr Sheil to the Ringsend C.Y.M.S. in which Fr Sheil referred to Dáil Éireann members as ‘frightful loafers’. Encloses clipping of report (2 Dec. 1946, 1p.) and letter from Fr Sheil to Fr Coyne explaining the circumstances of the lecture (n.d., 2pp);
• letter from Fr Sheil reporting on a number of young men who wish to join the Society and his activities on a recent visit to the North of Ireland (2 Apr. 1947, 4pp) and
• letter to the Irish Provincial Fr Thomas Byrne SJ from Dr Edward Doorly, Bishop of Elphin stating ‘Father Sheil did not give any offence worth mentioning and further…he gave a splendid Retreat to the priests’ (18 May 1949, 1p.).

Copy letter from the Superior of the Australian Mission Fr Joseph Lentaigne SJ to Father General Peter Beckx SJ concerning the Australian Mission.

Register for the Confraternity of the Bona Mors at St Ignatius Church, Galway giving names, address and date.

Letters to the Irish Provincial on various matters. Includes letters concerning:

• Polish scholastics coming to Ireland to study;
• the censuring individual scholastics;
• financial matters of the late Fr Henry Browne SJ;
• the taking of villas during wartime;
• a report on Irish theologians in Hong Kong;
• the question of censorship of various publications (See also ADMN/3/1 and 23);
• the question of Jesuit support for the Catholic Association for International Relations;
• a proposal by Fr Patrick J Connolly SJ to open a Jesuit school in Dartry;
• the Secret Instruction of the Holy See: Normae Quaedam De Agendi Ratione Confessariorum Circa VI Decalogi Praeceptum;
• the prohibition of female characters in plays produced by scholastics;
• comments on Director’s Service from Sodality reports of summer 1944 (See also ADMN/3/65 and 74);
• the publication of a book entitled Selected Writings of Father Ledochowski (See also ADMN/3/44);
• an invitation to the Irish Fr Provincial to the inauguration of President Seán T. Ó Ceallaigh (see also ADMN/3/43 and 76) in June 1945, signed by Taoiseach Éamon de Valera;
• relations with the Confederación Nacional de Congregaciones Marians;
• the proposal to purchase Crawfordsburn Estate, County Down (see also ADMN/3/6);
• the Chair of Education in University College, Dublin and
• some suggestions about choirs in the Province.

Photocopy of newspaper report of the Golden Jubilee of the Young Men's Sodality at St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

Photocopy of newspaper report on an address given by Fr Bernard Vaughan SJ to the Sodality of Our Lady Help of Christian, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

Calendar for the annual retreat for the officers and men of an Garda Síochána, Church of St Francis Xavier, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

Notice and prayer leaflet of the annual retreat for the members of the Dublin Metropolitan Police Force held in the Church of St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

Photocopy of report from the 'Daily Nation' regarding the end of the annual retreat for the Dublin Metropolitan Police held in St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

Notice advertising a retreat for men engaged on night work in St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

File of documents (found in the possession of Fr Francis Finegan SJ) concerning retreat, sodality groups and An Cór.

• Cullach Muire is Brighe, (1917 - 1920);
• Naomh Damhnait (1950 - 1955);
• An Cór (1950 - 1957);

Information pertains to the Task Force on Spiritual Exercises, known as HOP, and the re-evaluation of Retreat and Retreat Houses.

File containing Richard Maguire's admission papers and correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials relating to retreat and mission work and his time as chaplain at the Royal Hospital of the Incurables, Donnybrook, Dublin.

Notice advertising a 3 day retreat for legal, medical and university students in the Ignatian Chapel, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

Photograph of the mission community, Zambia. Names on rear, given by Fr John Fitzgerald SJ (25/06/2010).
Seated L - R: Colm O'Riordan, Louis Meagher, Sean McCarron, Thomas Byrne, Jim Corboy, Des O'Loghlen, ?, John Fitzgerald.
1st row: L - R. Barney Collins (?), Eddie O'Connor, Tom McGivern, Joe McDonald, Teddy O'Brien (?), Joe Conway, Bob Kelly, Tommie O'Meara, Danny Byrne, Charlie O'Connor and Shaun Curran.
Back row: L - R. Sean O'Connor, ?,?, Des O'Connell, Fred Moriarty, Pat McDuff, Brother Joseph Duda, Jim Carroll, Br. McKinney, ?, Br. Charlie O'Connor, Paul Brassil, Jim Dunne, Paul Cullen, ?, Paddy Sherry.

File of handwritten sermon, retreat notes, considerations (Catholic University, 1862), Triduum and retreats. Includes long retreats at Cork (1860), Tullabeg (1861 - 1862; 1868 - 1871); Laval (1872 - 1875); Tronchiennes (1875 - 1877); Clongowes Wood College (1877) and meditations, attributed to the following Jesuits: Frs. Peter Kenney (Palmero), Aloysius Sturzo, Daniel Jones, Patrick Hughes, Charles Aylmer, John St. Leger, Robert St. Leger. Michael Kelly, Charles Plowden, John Cunningham, James Mullen, Alexander Kyan (with history of Kyan family), John Shine, Bartholomew Esmonde, Thomas Betagh, Patrick Bracken, P. O'Reilly, Stephen Farrell, Charles McKenna, Edmund O'Reilly, Pubrick.

Photograph of Irish Jesuits John Coyne, Daniel Meagher and Joseph McCarthy.

File of documents related to retreats given by Jesuits which includes: ‘A short catechism for the instruction for those who are preparing to make their first Communion’- Addressed to Parents’ (12 January 1767); ‘A sermon on the duties of parents to their children (1803); ‘Analysis or General Notion of Discourse in various religious subjects’ (1806); ‘A discourse on the 2nd Precept of Charity’ (1 July 1809); ‘novena in preparation for the festival of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – chiefly taken from the Italian of Father Charles Borge’; scholars’ retreat (1839); ‘A sermon on the Love of God’.

Article in 'Messager du Coeur de Jésus' containing an article on Fr. Doyle by Fr Wery-Lacouagne SJ (p.75-95).

Letters to the Irish Fr Provincial from Fr Leonard Sheil SJ, various Jesuits and others relating to Fr Sheil’s work in the Jesuit church in Galway. Includes:
– letters from Fr Sheil and the Secretary of the International Catholic Girls’ Protection Society (Veritas House, Lower Abbey Street, Dublin) regarding radio broadcasts for Irish emigrants in England and an appeal for funds for the I.C.G.P.S. (see also J16/6) (7 November 1941 - 6 June 1942, 3 items);
– letters from Fr Hugh Kelly SJ (Rector, Rathfarnham Castle) and Fr Patrick O'Kelly SJ (Director of the Pioneers Association) reporting complaints about Fr Sheil’s behaviour with regard to the content of his lectures to secondary school girls, his running of the Sodalities in Galway and his comments to a young girl who came to him for religious instruction (17 November - 20 December 1942, 4 items);
– letters from Fr Sheil, Fr Hugh Kelly SJ and the Superior of the Presentation Convent, Dundrum, County Tipperary requesting permission for Fr Sheil to give various lectures and retreats and to act as Special Confessor to the nuns of Dundrum Presentation Convent (26 January - 24 May 1943, 3 items) and
– letter from Fr Sheil enclosing a list of his sodality work in Galway, to help his successor, ‘I have tried all these two years to get these works into such order that anyone could carry them on, but I have not had the time. Many details of organization have still to be put into practice. The walls are built but the roof is not yet on. However there is plenty of brains and holiness among the men and women engaged in the work. If I could have any wish where obedience is concerned, I would wish to stay with them’ (8 August 1943, 3pp).

Letter from Fr Patrick J Connolly SJ, 35 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin urging him to consider taking over the Jesuit Mission of Northern Rhodesia from the Polish Province. Remarks 'The mission is a going concern: to take it over would cost nothing save in man-power. It has its residences, chapels, schools, landed property (some thousands of acres waiting to be exploited)'.

Letter from the Irish Fr Provincial Edmund O'Reilly SJ, Milltown Park, Dublin to [ ] concerning two fathers setting out from Ireland to establish the Australian Mission (Fr William Kelly SJ and Fr Joseph Lentaigne SJ). Refers to Fr Therry's brother in Cork who has agreed to co-operate in anyway so that the Jesuit fathers may secure their bequest.

Register for Apostleship of Prayer, St Ignatius Church, Galway giving names, address and date.

Altar in the chapel at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin - College Studios, 31 Westmoreland Street, Dublin.

Hardback loose leaf binder containing documents related to Madonna Sodality Prints. List and details readings for Sundays of the year, Sundays of Lent and Easter, social enquiries and preliminary articles.

Volume containing information on retreats and triduums given by Irish Jesuit priests. Includes information on the date of the retreat, the type of group to whom the retreat was given and the name of the person who gave the retreat. Includes inserts of totals.

Notes complied from retreats given by Fr Michael Browne SJ at the Convent of the Sisters of Charity, Mount St Anne's, Milltown, Dublin.

Retreat groups at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin with various Jesuits - Br Byrne and Fr Patrick Barrett SJ.

2. L-r: Br John Adams, Fr Joe Erraught, Irish Fr Provincal Brendan Barry, Jack McDonald and Ted McAsey [1962]-[1968];

A file of letters written during the year 1958 relating to the Chikuni Mission, Northern Rhodesia.

• Includes a memorandum on the Ecclesiastical Administration of the Chikuni Mission in the Vicariate of Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia by Fr Joseph McCarthy SJ (9 August 1958, 2pp).
• Includes the minutes of a missionary conference held in Lusaka (28 October 1958, 32pp).

Published letter from Fr Michael Watson SJ, St Patrick's College, Melbourne, Australia to the novices of the Irish Province concerning missions given by the fathers in Australia in various parts of the country.

A file of letters written during the year 1957 relating to the Chikuni Mission, Northern Rhodesia. This mission was set up as a separate mission from Lusaka (Polish) in 1 January 1957.

• Includes a letter from Fr Daniel Meagher SJ, Superior of the Mission, Loyola to Irish Fr Provincial Michael O'Grady SJ concerning a consultation of the mission with Fr Visitor where it was agreed to ask the Christian Brothers to take over the Teacher Training College. Remarks 'Our own Bishop is somewhat disappointed at the decision but has given his full approval to the asking of the Bros to come into his Vicariate for this work,' (7 February 1957, 2pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr Joseph McCarthy SJ, Chiuvna, Box 13, Monze to Irish Fr Provincial concerning the division of the mission. Remarks 'Our immediate need is to expand in the Southern Province…the Irish Province now has the responsibility for all this area…we are (also) informed that to get our own Vicariate we must have more stations…I think we should start this year at Namwala and Choma.' (7 February 1957, 2pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr J. Boyle SJ, British Province SJ, Garret House, 31 Camp Road, Wimbledon, London to Irish Fr Provincial informing him that the British Province is hoping to open a Novitiate in Rhodesia in February 1958 with the Irish Province supplying the Socius (29 December 1957, 1p).

Letters from Fr William Gleeson SJ to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ concerning a debenture and the giving of a parish mission in Kerry.

Minutes of meetings of the Christian Doctrine Confraternity, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

Handwritten alphabetical register of names (male), 1933 - Sodality of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Francis Xavier's Church, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

Supplementary register containing names of all live members transferred from old register up to 13 November 1932.

Handwritten alphabetical register of male names of all live members transferred to supplementary register 1942 - Sodality of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Men, Church of St Francis Xavier, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin. Stamp, Jan. 1937 indicates lapsed members and these are not in 1937 Guild Books. First date of admission is November 1894. Index to sections (Patron: St Patrick, St Kevin...) given on inside page.

Handwritten register of names (male), Sodality of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Francis Xavier's Church, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin. Dates of enrolement 1933 onwards until 1967.

A file of letters written during the year 1956 relating to the Chikuni Mission, Northern Rhodesia.

• Includes a memorandum concerning the Teacher Training College, namely the adaptation and expansion of Chikuni as the Training College and the building of a new secondary school near Lusaka ([ ] 1956, 1p).
• Includes a first draft for presenting the Inter Racial Catholic Institute to the public ([ ], 2pp).
• Includes a letter from the Commissioner of Taxes, PO Box 126, Causway, Southern Rhodesia to Coghlan Welsh and Guest, Solicitors acting on behalf of the Irish Jesuits, Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia concerning the change of status of Lusaka from Prefecture Apostolic to Vicariate Apostolic under the care of the Society of Jesus. Discusses the financial implications of this (March 1956, 2pp).
• Includes a letter from Fr M. Schurmans SJ, Visitor, Lusaka to Irish Fr Provincial Michael O'Grady SJ concerning the juridical division of the Lusaka Mission. Remarks 'I think the only alternative left would be that the Irish Province take over the whole mission from the Polish' (19 November 1956, 4pp).

Lists of spiritual books suitable for distribution by Directors at Diocesan Retreats.

Retreat Library at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin with portrait of Fr Willie Doyle SJ in the background – photograph by Gay O’ Brien

Handwritten register of attendance for the Congregation of the Children of Mary, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin. Includes name, address, date of reception and attendance. See also CM/GARD/2/2/3/14

A file of photographs, of landscapes and a house, of villa (holiday) at Mornington, Victoria.

Minutes of meeting for The Sodality of Our Lady Blessed Sacrament Section, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street. Includes register of members.

Note advertising the Annual Retreat for St Joseph's Young Priests Society which was conducted by Fr John Murphy SJ at St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

Handwritten account for the sodality of B.V.M - Lorcán Ua Tuathail (In Irish). Includes a list of those who attended a week-end retreat conducted in Irish by Fr Michael McGrath SJ (1872-1946), 29 - 31 January 1916. This Irish retreat was arranged with M. Colman, 1 Edward Terrace (sic) Dalkey.

Attendance register for St Berchmans Sodality at St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street. Entries are arranged under headings by day of the week and remarks, which include 'Sick', 'On vacation'.

Catholic Young Men's Society with Fr Patrick Barrett SJ at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin - College Studios.

A file of letters written during the year 1955 relating to the Chikuni Mission, Northern Rhodesia.

• Includes a letter from Fr Robert Thompson SJ, PO Box 125, Lusaka to Irish Fr Provincial Michael O'Grady SJ concerning the Teacher Training College. Remarks that the establishment of a new Training College was formally passed in principle and that a decision on the proposed site at Monze-Lubwe will be made shortly (5 January 1955, 2pp).
• Includes a newspaper cutting reporting on the appointment of Fr Adam Kozlowiecki SJ as Bishop-Elect of the Lusaka Vicariate (22 August 1955, 1p).
• Includes a copy of the minutes of a consultation held at Chikuni Mission. The first item relates to the partition of goods between the Vicariate Apostolic of Lusaka and the Society of Jesus (15 & 16 September 1955, 6pp).

Retreat Group, Traffic Department, A.G.S. & Co., Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin. Keogh Brothers. With names.