Showing 18 results

File relating to the admission of Patrick Guidera to the the Society and his Jesuit life in particular his work at the Jesuit house at Tullabeg. Includes copy of his ‘The Story of My Life’ (199, Cherryfield Press, 80pp) with illustrations from the Fr Frank Browne Collection.

Correspondence between Fr Leonard Sheil SJ and Irish Fr Provincial Laurence J. Kieran SJ on the content of Fr Sheil’s mission sermons. Includes:
– censors’ judgements on the manuscript of a sermon on ‘Sin’ by Fr Sheil (Jun 1936, 2 items); copy of summary of censors’ judgements (n.d., 2pp) and letter from Fr Sheil to the Irish Fr Provincial after receiving the censors’ reviews (24 June 1936, 2pp);
– letter from Fr Sheil in which he explains his delay in sending the Irish Fr Provincial the texts of his sermons, ‘My delay, and indeed serious negligence, has not been due, I think, to wilful disobedience, or to the opinion that they did not need censoring, but to this. I have eight fully written sermons in my drawer at present, but my dissatisfaction with them has caused me to cross out and amend lines and pages, so that none of them are yet in fit condition to send.…also…between missions my head is so tired that I am loathe to work.’ Also refers to the Sodality and the Legion of Mary (see J16/3) (12 Oct. 1936, 2pp);
– copy letter to Fr Sheil from the Irish Fr Provincial calling attention to Fr Sheil’s ‘want of prudence and discretion’ and warning him that if he continues ‘on present lines’ he may be ‘removed from the mission staff and given work in a College. With a view to rendering such a change unnecessary I forbid you in future to speak in the pulpit on questions of sex or, on general, matters relating to the VI commandment, without having first submitted your MS to the Socius for censorship. I wish also that you give up mentioning in public estimates or conjectures regarding the number of Irish emigrants who lose the faith or give up its practice’ (24 Jan. 1938, 2pp);
– note from Fr Sheil to the Irish Fr Provincial in which he lists the topics of his sermons that have been passed by the censor (12 Mar. 1940, 3pp);
– letter from Fr Tom Counihan SJ to ‘Fr. John’ in which he refers to Fr Sheil’s sermons, ‘You should have heard his sermons on sin, temptation, holyhour, family life & Holy Communion to feel utterly ashamed of the twaddle neither here nor there (sic.) No Scripture, no sound reasoning & abundance of crudity & naked realism…It is very unfortunate & I am not at all comfortable when I have to hand over an out-church to his tender mercies!’ (15 May 1940, 2pp) and
– copy letter from the Irish Fr Provincial to Fr Sheil in which he states, ‘I have been regretfully obliged to change you from the mission staff, and it is only fair that you should know the reason of this change. From information I have received from many different quarters it seems clear that you are greatly lacking in prudence in the things you say; and I cannot help thinking that if you were allowed to continue working as a missioner you would land both yourself and the Society into serious trouble…you allow your zeal to get the better of you with the result that you act contrary not only to the advice of your colleagues but also to that of your Superiors. I am afraid also that your knowledge of theology is very much wanting in accuracy…As to your work in Galway in the coming year, I must forbid you to preach anything in the Church without first having shown the MS to Fr Rector…’ (30 Jul. 1940, 2pp).

File of correspondence between Fr Robert Nash SJ and Irish Fr Provincials concerning his schedules of missions and retreats, publications, places of residence, donations and issues arising from his articles in the ‘Irish Press’. Also contains the censor’s report on an early pamphlet, ‘Not Yours’ and death notice and obituaries.

A file relating to correspondence of bequests made to Irish Fr Provincial regarding the Hong Kong and China missions.

• Perpetual burse in memory of Fr WM. Doyle SJ in the new seminary in Hong Kong (1936);
• Perpetual burse in memory of Fr Walsh SJ in Hong Kong (1936);
• Memorial burse in memory of Fr Fegan SJ in China (1936);
• List of burse money for the education of Chinese Jesuits (13 September 1940);
• Statement of accounts for quarter the Ricci Mission Unit (1 July - 30 September 1943).

File containing ordination papers, biographical material and some letters relating to Fr Brian J Cullen SJ.

A file relating to Fr James G Tormey SJ, including application to join the Society, correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials and catalogue entries.

Letter from Fr John J. Coyne SJ, St Mary's, Emo to Irish Fr Provincial concerning the order of time in the novitiate, St Mary's, Emo.

Letter from Fr John J. Coyne SJ, St Mary's, Emo to Irish Fr Provincial concerning the teaching of Irish in the novitiate, St Mary's, Emo.

Letter from Fr Rupert Coyle SJ, Belvedere College, Dublin to Irish Fr Provincial explaining the requirements for matriculation.

Letter from Irish Fr Provincial Laurence Kieran SJ St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin to Rector [St Mary's, Emo] concerning books needed by the Australian Province for five scholastics from Hong Kong. Refers also to a Scholastic who wishes now to be a Brother. Asks if the individual must do the Noviceship again. Includes a page with pencil notations.

A file of letters from Fr Laurence Kieran SJ, Clongowes Wood College, Naas, County Kildare to Fr Richard Devane SJ concerning his campaign for cinema censorship. Encourages him and wishes him success.

File of material relating to the admission of Michael J Connolly to the Society of Jesus and his subsequent Jesuit life including his time as rector of the Jesuit house at Tullabeg, County Offaly and as Tertian instructor at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin, catalogue entries, memorial card and obituary.

Documents relating to a report prepared by the Irish Fr Provincial for Fr General on the activities of the Irish Province for ‘the promotion of Catholic Action’. Includes covering letter and questionnaire sent out by the Irish Fr Provincial to Jesuit houses and individuals with detailed replies from: St Francis Xavier’s, Upper Gardiner Street; Milltown Park, Dublin; Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin; St Stanislaus’ College, Tullamore; St Mary’s, Emo Court; University Hall, Hatch Street; Belvedere College; Clongowes Wood College; St Ignatius’ College, Galway; Sacred Heart College, Limerick; the editors of the following periodicals: 'Madonna', 'The Messenger of the Sacred Heart', 'An Timire' (The Gaelic Messenger), and 'Studies'. Also includes handwritten draft report entitled ‘The Society of Jesus in Ireland and Catholic Action’ (Summer 1936) and final printed Latin version 'De Actione Catholica in Hibernia'.

A file relating to formation, order of time, customs, discipline amongst the Jesuit Juniors at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin. Includes correspondence between Irish Fr Provincial and Fr Rector.

Material relating to Fr Richard J Kennedy SJ including correspondence with Irish Fr Provincials and curia, personal record and application to join the Society.

Letters and circular letters concerning a circular letter from Fr General on economy measures and assisting the poor during the ‘severe economic crisis’. Includes draft of circular letter sent by Irish Fr Provincial to Jesuit houses on ways and means of economising in order to carry out the wishes expressed in Fr General’s letter and replies following House Consultations from Belvedere College; Milltown Park, 35 Lower Leeson Street; St Francis Xavier’s, Upper Gardiner Street; St Ignatius’ College, Galway; S. Stanislaus’ College, Tullamore; Clongowes Wood College, Naas; Sacred Heart College and Mungret College, Limerick and St Mary’s, Emo Court. Also includes circular list of economy measures issued to all houses.

A file relating to the decision take by the Forestry Department to sell 32 1/4 acres of State owned forestry land at Emo Park to the Jesuit Fathers.

Documents relating to the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Legion of Mary, mainly concerning the relationship between the Society of Jesus and the two organisations.