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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.

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

Account sheet of income and expenditure relating to building work carried out in the Chinese mission.

Map of Victoria and Kowloon.

Copy of the appendix to the Report of the Commission on Seminary Training.

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).

Copy of the a preliminary report on the construction of new buildings at Wah Yan College, Hong Kong by Philip Will Jr.

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 containing notes on issues relating to the Hong Kong mission, discussion points for the Superior of the mission and an agenda for Irish Fr Provincial concerning various issues relating to 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.

Copies of documents sent to the Province entitled 'China. Secretive Directives on how to Destroy the Church' from International Fides Service.

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

A file containing financial accounts of the Chinese mission.

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.

Photograph of Fr Daniel J. Finn SJ's grave stone in London.

A file of medical reports for candidates for the Chinese mission.

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

Cassette tape of reminiscences of Fr Albert Cooney SJ concerning the attack on Singapore and surrender, the Japanese attack on Hong Kong, life under the Japanese, journey to China and life in a Chinese village, journey to Hanoi, North Vietnam, recall to Macau and the Jesuit school in Macau (1943 - 1945).

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 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.

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).

Typescript entitled 'Steer Neutral in Troubled Waters, Hong Kong 1941 - 1945' describing the experience of Irish Jesuits during the Japanese occupation by Fr Eddie Bourke SJ. Not related to Fr Thomas Ryan's 'Jesuits Under Fire'.

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 of press clippings from the 'Irish Press' and 'Irish Times' concerning the safe return of Irish Jesuits from Hong Kong following the Japanese surrender.

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.

Booklet published by the Irish Messenger entitled 'The Irish Jesuits in China'.

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.

Photographic album with original and copy inserts of scenes from Hong Kong, Canton and China. The copy photographs (seem to be mass-produced and touristic) have numbers in the bottom left hand corner, with white handwritten captions, for example, 'A chair at Hong Kong', while original photographs are often described on reverse with pencil, 'The Seminarians 1926', and underneath in light pencil. The first number of photogrpahs are missing. The album appears to contain a large number of photographs of Franciscans in China and of Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, Inc. (Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers), and some Jesuits. Includes: the consecration of Bishop Valtorta [with the] Band from the Salesian Industrial School, Macao (1926); Fr Crochet SJ and his Chinese flock; Bishop Wittner OFM and his Chinese priests; seminarians of the regional seminary at Tatungtu, Shansi; Fr Netto; Fr Pradel with lepers at Sheklung; Fr Nugent (Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America), Ningpo, Fr Gleeson, Frs Driscoll, Malone and Murphy (Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America). The Irish element to the album may perhaps why it ended up with the Irish Jesuits.

Mission bulletin No.2 entitled ‘Irish Jesuits in China’, which mentions the work and demand for the services of Fr Gallagher. Gives brief background information on Fr Gallagher.

Carte postale from Fr Richard Gallagher SJ, Catholic Mission, Shiu-Hing, West River, China to Mrs M. A. Archibald (aunt), 16 Lower Gardiner street, Dublin, describing Chinese students and his teachings.

Photographs of the Hong Kong mission. Includes group photos of the community at Loyola House. Included in those present are Fr Donald Lawler SJ, Fr Chambers OFM, Fr D’yalla (Milan Mission) and Mr Basto (Architect of “Loyola”). Also includes group photos of schoolboys.

Material relating to Fr John J Neary SJ, including catalogue entry, correspondence regarding his time in Hong Kong and biographical information.

Mission office material relating to Fr Gerard Casey SJ. Includes photographs, photographic plate, announcement of death and correspondence between Fr Casey and Fr Thomas J Martin SJ, Mission Office, Dublin.

File of mission material relating to Fr John Moran SJ. Includes passports; passport photographs of Fr Moran; announcement of death; obituary; personal record; and mainly correspondence between Fr Moran and Frs. Vincent Murphy and Thomas J. Martin, Mission Office, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

File of mission material relating to Fr Derek Reid SJ. Includes announcement of death and newspaper articles; obituaries; personal record; and correspondence between Fr Reid and Fr Thomas J. Martin SJ, Mission Office, Dublin.

Documents for Ireland and Hong Kong.

• House Histories (Historia Domus);
• Annual Letters (Litterae Annuae);
• Lives of those who have died (Summarium vitae defunctorum);
• Province Accounts (Status temporalis trienalis domorum et arcarum Provinciae);
• Index of authors and books published by Ours (Index auctorem et librorum a Nostris editorum).

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.

A Priest in a Japanese Jail.
Dublin : Office of the "Irish Messenger", 1948.

The Irish Jesuits in China

Irish Jesuits Go East - Part 1

File of material relating to Fr Martin Cryan SJ taken from the Mission Office, 28 Upper Sherrard St (12 July 2011). Includes passport photographs; menology; personal record; announcement of death; obituary; and correspondence between Fr Cryan and Fr Thomas J. Martin SJ, Mission Office, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

File of mission material relating to Fr Roger Maguire SJ. Includes photograph; personal record; and correspondence between Fr Maguire and Fr Thomas Martin SJ, Irish Jesuit Mission Office, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

File of mission material relating to Fr Timothy Doody SJ. Includes passport photograph; identity papers; personal record; announcement of death; obituary; Ten Yuan Held Bank Note - The Bank of Ming Tung - Currency for the Other World (1941); ‘residence and identity card issued by puppet government in Shanghai’; invitations to weddings; and correspondence between Fr Doody and Frs Thomas J. Martin, Vincent Murphy and Thomas O'Brien, Mission Office, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin.

Documents for:

• Second Catalogue (Catalogus Personarum Secundus);
• Annual Letters (Litterae Annuae);
• Catalogue of those apt for governing (Catalogus Aptorum ad Gubernandum);
• Lives of those who have died (Summarium vitae defunctorum) et arcarum Provinciae);
• Index of authors and books published by Ours(Index auctorem et librorum a Nostris editorum);
• Examples of Deeds (Exemplar Contractus Perpetui);
• Supplement to First and Second Catalogue (Supplementum Triennale ad Catalogum Personarum Primum & Secundum).

Map depicting a view of Hong Kong harbour, souvenir of the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Regional Seminary of Hong Kong.

Group photograph of the first year of Aberdeen Seminary, Hong Kong. The photograph includes Bishop Valtorta and Fr Thomas Cooney SJ (Rector) and other Irish Jesuits.

A file of letters sent by the house consultors, Prefect of Studies and Rector of the Regional Seminary to Irish Fr Provincial.

A file relating to Wah Yan College, Hong Kong and Wah Yan College, Kowloon. Includes minutes relating to the salaries of lay masters and the purchase of school buildings in Wah Yan, finances of the college. Includes a relatio as to the advisability or otherwise of admitting Portuguese or European students in to Wah Yan College by Fr Richard Gallagher SJ, Vice-Rector ([1933], 6pp). Includes a general memorial of visitation (1936, 3pp).

A file of letters from scholastics studying in the scholasticate, Zi-Ka-Wei, Shanghai, China to Irish Fr Provincial concerning their studies and lives in Shanghai.

A file relating to the Language School, Loyola, Tai Lam, Ch'ung, Un Long, Hong Kong.

A file of letters sent by the house consultors of St Ignatius House, Canton to Irish Fr Provincial.

House consultor's letter from Frs John Collins, Donal Taylor, John O'Meara, Francis McGaley, James Hurley and Joseph Mallin, and John Gannon, St Francis Xavier's, (Language School, Novitiate and Retreat House) 27 Cheung Chau Island, Hong Kong.

A file relating to the possibility of working with lepers in China.

Letters from Rt. Rev. R. O. Hall, Lord Bishop of Victoria, Hong Kong and The Home Farm, Lewknor, Oxford to Irish Fr Provincial John R. MacMahon SJ, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin concerning grant in aid schools and the possibility of obtaining an advance of the grants in order to get schools started. Includes a copy of a reply from Fr MacMahon SJ.

Memoranda on Chinese post-secondary colleges in Hong Kong and on the problem of staffing a Catholic post-secondary college.

Memorandum written by Fr Thomas Fitzgerald SJ at Fr Patrick Joy's request concerning the activities of Irish Jesuits in Macao.

Copy of Memorandum written by Fr Thomas Fitzgerald SJ at Fr Patrick Joy's request concerning the activities of Irish Jesuits in Macao.

A file of copies of letters from Irish Fr Provincial to the Superior of the Hong Kong Mission concerning the administration of the mission and men destined for work in Hong Kong.

Memorandum on points affecting the Hong Kong mission discussed at a mission consult.

Custom book for the Chinese mission. Includes comments on the Custom book.

Details of the Chinese mission of the Irish Province entitled 'The Hong Kong Letters'. See MSSN/HONG/2/8, 2/10

A file relating to a questionnaire circulated by the Sacred Propagation of the Faith in order to obtain up to date information for the Dictionary of Missions.

Copy of a letter from Fr Patrick Joy SJ (Superior of the mission), Wah Yan College, Hong Kong to Bishop Valtorta, Vicar Apostolic of Hong Kong concerning the Bishop's approval for the Jesuits to have their own church in Hong Kong. Discusses possible sites. Includes a copy of the Bishop's reply.

Copy of a letter from Fr John Hannon SJ (English Assistant), Rome to Fr Patrick Joy SJ (Superior of the mission) concerning the Hong Kong mission. Encloses a copy of a letter from Fr General to Fr Hannon raising a number of points about the work of the Hong Kong mission.

Summary of the Annual Letters from the Hong Kong mission, including a summary of the Apostolates in each house in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaya.

Letter from Fr Thomas Fitzgerald SJ, Catholic Cathedral, 3 Farquhar Street, Penang to Fr Pat [ ] SJ concerning a questionnaire about Chinese Rites. Asks for Pat [ ], SJ's opinion on some points relating to Chinese Rites.

Advertisement leaflet for a sale of work in aid of the Irish Jesuit mission to China.

General financial statement of the Hong Kong mission.

Correspondence between Fr J. O'Leary PP, Dunmanway, Cork and Irish Fr Provincial Laurence Kieran SJ concerning a donation from Fr O'Leary for the Chinese mission.

Telegram from Fr Eddie Bourke, SJ concerning masses said. Requests money.

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.

List of volunteers for the Chinese mission.

A file relating to the deaths of Frs Michael Saul SJ and Joseph McCullough SJ from cholera.

Photographs of Hong Kong missionaries. Most of the individuals are identified. Inlcudes a letter from Br E Connolly, Secretaritus Missionum, Borgo S. Spirito, Roma, Italy to Fr John Coyne SJ, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin enclosing a list of photograph in their archives of missionaries on the Hong Kong mision.

Includes photograph of visit of Fr General Pedro Arrupe SJ to Wah Yan College

Letter from Fr Patrick Joy SJ, Mungret College, Limerick to Fr Coyne concerning Fr Bourke's wish to return to Ireland from Hong Kong by air.

A file of letters from Fr Daniel MacDonald SJ to Irish Fr Provincial concerning the Hong Kong mission, describing his work in villages around the West River (Shiuhing).

A file of letters from Fr Patrick Joy SJ to Irish Fr Provincial concerning the Hong Kong mission.

A file of letters from Fr Joseph McCullough SJ to Irish Fr Provincial concerning his journey to Hong Kong and his work in China.

A file of telegrams and one letter from Fr Eddie Bourke SJ to Irish Fr Provincial concerning the Hong Kong mission.

A file of letters from Christopher Hollis, Burns, Oates and Washbourne Ltd., 28 Ashley Place, London to Irish Fr Provincial John R. MacMahon SJ, St Francis Xavier's, Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin concerning Fr Thomas Ryan's book. Refers to a proposal to publish the book in Australia. Includes reviews of the book.

A file of letters from Fr Thomas F. Ryan SJ to Irish Fr Provincial concerning the Hong Kong mission during the Second World War and his work in Hong Kong afterwards.