Showing 351 results

A file relating to a scholastic, William Tucker SJ, his poor health and his unsuitability for the Society. Includes a letter from Fr John Ryan SJ, St Ignatius, Richmond, Melbourne to Fr Charles Farley SJ concerning Mr Tucker's expenses at the sanatorium. (18 November 1918, 1p).

'Informationes' for Br Vincent Johnson SJ and copy letter from St Francis Xavier Residence, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin indicating that materiel sent is incomplete.

A file relating to Michael O'Mahony's entry into the Society of Jesus.

A file of letters from Fr David Gallery SJ, St Patrick's College, East Melbourne to Irish Fr Provincial James Murphy SJ. Includes a letter asking to be recalled to Ireland. Remarks 'My standard is different from the standard adopted here and I do not feel justified on "levelling down". Neither have I much hope of being able to raise the body to mine.' (18 November 1902, 12pp).

Letter from Fr Martin Maher SJ, St Aloysius College, Sydney to Irish Fr Provincial James Murphy SJ concerning his return to Ireland to take up a new position as Rector in the Crescent College, Limerick and as Socius to Fr Provincial.

Letter from Thomas O'Dwyer SJ, St Patrick's College, Grey Street, East Melbourne to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ concerning news from St Patrick's college. Refers to the question of closing St. Patrick's and discusses general administrative and community matters.

Letter from Fr Peter O'Flinn SJ, Manresa, Hawthorn to Fr Patrick Keating SJ concerning the acceptance of an offer of Norwood, Sevenhill and a site for a church college and residence in Adelaide.

Letter from Fr Thomas McEnroe SJ, St Mary's, Invercargill, New Zealand to Irish Fr Provincial James Tuite SJ concerning the drawing up of his will. Refers to the Mission in New Zealand. Remarks 'The decision you will come to regarding the acceptance or non-acceptance of this mission will be no doubt for the best.'

Letter from Fr Thomas McEnroe SJ, St Mary's, Invercargill, New Zealand to Fr Joseph Dalton SJ (Superior of the Mission) concerning his health and expressing himself willing to take on any task to which he is appointed.

A file of letters from Fr Michael J Watson SJ to Irish Fr Provincial. Includes a letter describing the voyage to Australia. Remarks 'I wish you could have seen Fr Nulty, S.J. at the end of our voyage. He allowed his beard to grow, as indeed did Father Hughes and myself but Father Nulty's grew to a surprising degree and presented a bushy and fierce appearance. How imposing he looked as he walked about the deck...' (10 April 1873, 4pp). Includes letters written as a Consultor for St Francis Xavier's College, Kew. Includes a letter remarking that Fr Sturzo SJ (Superior of the Mission) wishes to transfer the Novitiate to Kew (4 January 1886, 4pp).

A file of letters from Fr Michael J. Watson SJ, Australian Messenger of the Sacred Heart, St. Patrick's College, Melbourne to Irish Fr Provincial. Includes a letter referring to the Irish Monthly and encouraging its continuance and advising how it should be run (15 October 1912, 2pp). Includes a letter referring to property in Athlone bequeathed him by his sister and the selling of this property (25 November 1913, 3pp).

A file relating to the establishment of a foreign mission to China and the foundation of a school for higher studies in Hong Kong.

Copy of a letter from the Vicar Apostolate of Hong Kong, Enrico Valtorta to [ ] (not a Jesuit but somebody in Rome) concerning the Chinese mission. Remarks that the Irish Jesuits would be advised to take on a hostel or a college or both and revive the publication 'Rock'. Remarks that men are available to go to China. Suggests that some Irish Jesuits should be sent to study Chinese in the Benedictine University in Peking prior to teaching in the Jesuit college in Hong Kong.

Covering letter from Fr Daniel J Finn SJ, 16 Caine Road, Hong Kong to Fr Patrick Connolly SJ, Dublin enclosing an article [written for 'Studies'] inspired by a recent visit to a town called Wai-Chan.

Letters from Fr Daniel J Finn SJ, 62 Robinson Road, Hong Kong to Fr Aubrey Gwynn SJ concerning his life and work in Hong Kong. Describes his surroundings and discusses Chinese culture. The second letter is incomplete.

Letter from Fr Daniel J Finn SJ, 62 Robinson Road, Hong Kong to Fr Brennan SJ concerning the Chinese mission, his work and the Chinese people.

A file relating to the Regional Seminary, Aberdeen, Hong Kong. Includes documents relating to the establishment of the Regional Seminary, finances, annual report detailing the opening of the Seminary in 1931 (24 January 1933, 6pp). Includes letters relating to the Terna for the Rector of the Seminary (12 - 15 April 1937, 5 items and 30 June 1937 - 2 July 1937, 7 items).

A file relating to the accounts of the Language School in Canton. Includes a note concerning the Procurator of the mission who was to reside permanently in Ireland.

A file relating to the Church of St Francis Xavier, Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Federation of Malaya. Includes documents relating to the proposed contract between the Society and the Bishop of Kuala Lumpur.

House consultors letters regarding the Church of St. Francis Xavier, Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Federation of Malaya to Irish Fr Provincial.

Copy of a letter, unsigned, Sacred Heart School, Taai San Road, Canton to the Superior of the mission, Fr Thomas Cooney SJ concerning a request by the Bishop of Swatow for the Irish Jesuits to take charge of a college in the town. Remarks that he was asked by the Bishop and the Rev. Procurator, Fr Desruelles to put their case before the Superior of the mission.

A file relating to visitors to the Chinese/Hong Kong mission. The letters relate to the administration of the mission and the Jesuits working in the mission. Includes a copy of a letter from the Superior of the mission Fr Thomas F Ryan SJ to Fr Visitor, Fr Burkhardt SJ concerning the mission in light of the communist occupation of the neighbouring provinces of China. Describes the effects of this occupation on the work of the mission (15 January 1950, 11pp).

Circular from the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith concerning the manner and approach of religious to teaching.

Letter from Fr Patrick Joy SJ, St Mary's, Emo, Portarlington to Fr Coyne SJ concerning the sale of Loyola in Hong Kong and Fr Harold Craig SJ and his work in Calcutta.

Copy of a draft of a letter from Irish Fr Provincial Michael A O'Grady SJ to Fr General J. B. Janssens SJ concerning the question whether the Irish Jesuit Mission of Hong Kong (including Singapore and Malaya) should be constituted a dependent Vice-Province or retain its status as a mission under the jurisdiction of the Irish Provincial. Outlines the opinions of the consultors of the Irish Province the Superior and consultors of the Hong Kong mission and the Provincial of the Irish Province.

A file relating to requests received from the Hong Kong mission for financial assistance.

Letters from J. P. McCarthy SJ, Heythorp College, Chipping, North Oxon. to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ concerning the finances of Hong Kong, in particular Canton.

Letter from Fr Albert Chan SJ, Boston College High School, 761 Harrison Avenue, Boston to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ concerning his studies.

A file of letters and telegrams from the Superior of the mission, Fr Thomas Cooney SJ to Irish Fr Provincial.

A file containing letters relating to Ternae for Superior of the Hong Kong mission.

A file of letters from the Superior of the mission, Fr Thomas F Ryan SJ to Irish Fr Provincial.

A file of letters from the Superior of the mission, Fr Thomas Byrne SJ to Irish Fr Provincial.

A file of letters from Fr Gerald L Kennedy SJ to Irish Fr Provincial concerning his work in Hong Kong. Includes a letter concerning his voyage home. Remarks 'Just a line to tell you that Frs Fitzgerald, Gallagher and myself are ploughing our way through the Gulf of Aden on our way home after 3½ years of hunger and deprivation…' Discusses the other Jesuits still in Hong Kong (24 October 1945, 2pp).

A file relating to the imprisonment of Frs Patrick Joy and Gerard Casey by the Japanese.

Letter from J. E. Walsh, Superior General, Maryknoll, New York to Irish Fr Provincial John R. MacMahon SJ, St Francis Xavier's Church, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin concerning notes sent from China intended for the Irish Province.

Letter from the Maryknoll Fathers, Maryknoll, New York addressed 'Dear Friend' offering the services of the Maryknoll Fathers in Chungking, Free China in forwarding mail to people in China.

A file of letters from Fr Patrick Grogan SJ to Irish Fr Provincial written from India where many of the Irish Jesuits went to from Hong Kong during the war. Describes the work he has been assigned to in India.

A file relating to Irish Jesuits working and living in China and Hong Kong during the rise in communism after the Second World War. Includes newspaper cuttings and descriptions by the Irish Jesuits of their experiences.

A file relating to an article by Fr Gerald Kennedy SJ on China. Includes the MS of the article (92pp) and censor's reports on the article - relates to Fr Kennesy's voyage to Hong Kong,and travelogue about Rotterdam, Germany, Colombo and Manila.

Letter from M. Belhumeur SJ, Zi-Ka-Wei, Suchow Vicariate, French Mission to two fellow French Jesuit scholastics, Labonté SJ and Bouchard SJ concerning his impressions and memories of his ordination and first ministry. Includes a photograph of the church and residence at Suchow and a map of the Suchow Vicariate.

Letter from Fr John F. Hurley SJ, Superior, The Philippine Mission of the Society of Jesus PO Box 272, Manila, Philippines to Fr Cooney SJ concerning praise for the Irish Jesuits and their hospitality.

A file relating to Fr Francis Chan SJ and his qualifications and suitability to take a course in Education in Manresa College, Roehampton, London.

Copy of circular sent by Irish Fr Provincial John Fahy SJ to Jesuit houses in Ireland announcing Fr General's decree for an Irish foreign mission to the Chinese province of Nan-King.

Letter from Fr Ladislaus Zabdyr SJ, Chikuni, PO Chisekesi, Northern Rhodesia to Irish Fr Provincial John R MacMahon SJ, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin concerning the news that the Irish Province is to send Irish Jesuits to Northern Rhodesia. Explains the situation in the mission. Remarks 'Any man that can be spared and is willing to come will be welcome because at any time one can expect that some one of those still at work here may break down…'.

A file of letters written during the year 1951 relating to the Chikuni Mission, Northern Rhodesia.

• Includes a report on the Lusaka Mission and Fr Visitor's suggestion that the Irish Fathers take over a part of this mission from the Polish Province (nd, 1p).
• Includes a letter from Fr Patrick J Walsh, SJ, Chikuni Mission, PO Chisekesi Siding, Northern Rhodesia to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ, concerning the starting up of new mission stations. Refers to the division of the Vicariate and remarks '…the Polish Fathers are inclined to be resentful of us….I know there is a great effort being made to ensure that…we shall not get Lusaka.' (30 January 1951, 2pp).
• Includes a memorandum concerning the establishment of a Junior Trade School ([February] 1951, 2pp).
• Includes a letter from Rev. A Chichester SJ, Vicariate Apostolic of Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, Campion House, Rhodes Avenue, Salisbury, Southrrn Rhodesia to Irish Fr Provincial enquiring if the Irish Province has plans to open a school for European boys in Northern Rhodesia. A note on the letter remarks 'Nothing doing: will ask Xtian Brothers if he wishes.' (6 October 1951, 2pp).
• Includes a letter from Adam Kozlowiecki SJ (Apostolic Administrator), Vicariate Apostolic of Lusaka, PO Box 125 to Irish Fr Provincial stating the urgent need for a school for Catholic European boys in Northern Rhodesia. Includes a rough plan of a suitable site (16 November 1951, 3pp).
• Includes a letter from David Mathew, Apostolic Delegate, PO Box 468, Mombasa to Irish Fr Provincial referring to the division of the Vicariate between the Irish and Polish Jesuits (24 November 1951, 3pp).

A file of letters written during the year 1953 relating to the Chikuni Mission, Northern Rhodesia.

• Includes a letter from David Mathews, Archbishop of Apamea, Apostolic Delegate, PO Box 468, Mombasa to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas Byrne SJ concerning his meeting with Fr General regarding the nomination of the Vicar Apostolic of Lusaka. Remarks that Fr General is anxious that the new Bishop, when named, would open a preparatory school for European boys in Lusaka (20 February 1953, 1p).
• Includes a letter from Fr Patrick J. Walsh SJ, PO Box 125, Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia to Irish Fr Provincial informing him that the residence at the Regiment Church has been completed (6 March 1953, 2pp).
• Includes a statement of the Chikuni Mission statistics for the year ending 30 June 1953 (June 1953, 1p).
• Includes a copy of a letter from the Educational Secretary-General to the Northern Rhodesia Catholic Missions, PO Box 29, Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia to the [Archbishop] concerning the Catholic Teacher Training College proposal (5 September 1953, 3pp).
• Includes a document relating to a survey on leprosy in Northern Rhodesia made in 1950 (10 December 1953, 11pp).

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).

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).

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.

Letter from Mr Daniel Fitzgibbon SJ, St Ignatius College, Riverview, Sydney to Irish Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan SJ asking to return home to complete his studies. Remarks that his health has improved.

A file of letters from Fr Richard Gallagher SJ to Irish Fr Provincial concerning his journey to Hong Kong, learning Chinese, his work in the Chinese mission and in Wah Yan College.