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Baptismal name: Alfred O’Shea
Religious name: Br. Andrew O’Shea OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 17 Sept. 1907
Place of birth: Cork
Name of father: George O’Shea (merchant)
Name of mother: Ellen (‘Nellie’) O’Shea (née Rice)
Date of parents’ marriage: 5 Nov. 1903
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 24 Nov. 1938
Date of first profession: 25 Nov. 1939
Date of final profession: 25 Nov. 1942
Missionary activities: Travelled to the Prefecture of Victoria Falls, Northern Rhodesia (later Zambia) on 29 Sept. 1953; Master of lay novices; missionary archivist
Date of death: 24 Dec. 1986
Place of death: Katima Mulilo, Zambia

Mortimer O’Shea was born in Glengarriff in County Cork on New Year’s Day in 1897. His early studies were in the local national school. In 1908 he enrolled in the Seraphic College in Rochestown, County Cork. He entered the Capuchin novitiate in August 1914 and took Cassian as his religious name. He was awarded a degree in Irish studies from University College Cork in 1919. Following the completion of his theological studies, he was ordained in Holy Trinity Church in Cork on 29 June 1923. Soon after his ordination, he went to Rome for further studies. He received a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1926. On his return to Ireland, he spent seventeen years teaching Canon Law to theological students at Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal. He served as guardian (local superior) of Ard Mhuire from 1937 to 1943. A gifted Irish scholar, he published several works in the language. Following the completion of his term as guardian at Ard Mhuire, he was transferred to the Kilkenny Friary and served as Vicar and Master of Lay Novices. In 1947 he volunteered for the American Mission. His initial assignment was in St. Patrick’s Friary in Wilmington in Delaware where he served as guardian for six years. He moved to the West Coast in 1958 and spent one year as assistant pastor in St. Mary’s Parish in Ukiah, California. From there he moved to Our Lady of Angels Friary in Burlingame. Other assignments included associate pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Los Angeles and chaplain at St. Charles Hospital in Bend, Oregon. He died in Los Angeles on 16 February 1981 and was buried in the cemetery attached to San Lorenzo Seminary at the Santa Inez Mission in California.

Baptismal name: Mortimer O’Shea
Religious name: Fr. Cassian O’Shea OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 1 Jan. 1897
Place of birth: Glengarriff, County Cork
Name of father: Patrick O’Shea
Name of mother: Elizabeth O’Shea (née O’Sullivan)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 27 Aug. 1914
Date of first profession: 8 Sept. 1915
Date of final profession: 29 June 1923
Date of ordination (as priest): 29 June 1923 (Holy Trinity Church, Cork)
Educational attainments: BA, 1919; Doctorate in Canon Law (Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome), 1926
Missionary activities: Travelled to the United States on 29 July 1947
Date of death: 16 February 1981
Place of death: Los Angeles, California
Place of burial: Cemetery, San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Inez Mission, California

Baptismal name: John Aloysius O’Shea
Religious name: Fr. Michael O’Shea OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 26 June 1892
Place of birth: Ballincollig, County Cork
Name of father: James O’Shea (commercial traveller)
Name of mother: Elizabeth O’Shea (née O’Neill) (national school teacher)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 4 Oct. 1909
Date of first profession: 16 Oct. 1910
Date of final profession: 21 Dec. 1913
Date of ordination (as priest): 3 May 1918
Educational attainments: BA (1914); MA (1915)
Date of death: 9 Nov. 1958
Place of death: Bon Secours Hospital, Cork
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork
Observations: In 1927 the Feis Maitiú Corcaigh was established by Fr. Michael O’Shea OFM Cap. as a platform for the performing arts in Cork. He also served as President of Father Mathew Hall on Church Street in Dublin from 1934-7.

Michael O’Shea was born in Cork on 14 November 1926, the son of Mortimer O’Shea and his wife Catherine O’Shea. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans on 3 October 1946 at Rochestown Friary in County Cork where he received the habit and was given Venantius as his religious name . He professed his solemn vows on 4 October 1950. He was ordained to the priesthood on 23 May 1954 at Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal. He studied at University College Cork and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History and Philosophy with a minor in English literature. Following his ordination he was sent to California in September 1954. He taught religion at St. Francis High School in La Cañada-Flintridge in California. He was Associate Pastor at St. Mary’s Church in Ukiah, California, Old Mission Santa Inés in Solvang, California, St. Francis of Assisi Church in Los Angeles, California, Our Lady of Angels Church in Burlingame, California, Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Fort Bragg, California, and in St. Joseph’s Church in Hermiston, Oregon. In 1970 he taught Franciscan History at San Lorenzo Capuchin Novitiate in Santa Inés. In 1977 he was appointed as first Provincial Secretary of the Capuchins in Western American. In 1987 he obtained a Masters’ Degree in Applied Theology from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. In 1988 he was a chaplain at the Federal Penitentiary in Lompoc in California. In 1995 he was a chaplain at Nazareth House in Fresno, California. In 2000 he was appointed Provincial Historian and resided at St. Conrad Friary in Berkeley, California. In 2005 he was Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Angels Church in Burlingame, where he ministered to the sick at Peninsula Hospital and heard confessions in the local parish. He retired in 2014 and was cared for at Mercy Care Center in Oakland, California. His last few months were spent at Herman Health Care Center in San Jose, California. He died on 16 January 2020 and was buried in the cemetery attached to San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Inés, California.

Baptismal name: Michael James O’Shea
Religious name: Fr. Michael O’Shea OFM Cap. (previously Fr. Venantius O’Shea OFM Cap., he reverted to his baptismal name after the Second Vatican Council)
Date of birth: 14 Nov. 1926
Place of birth: Cork
Name of father: Mortimer O’Shea
Name of mother: Catherine O’Shea (née Meighan)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1946
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1947
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1950
Date of ordination (as priest): 23 May 1954
Educational attainments: BA (1950)
Missionary activities: Travelled to the United States Mission on 27 Sept. 1954
Date of death: 16 Jan. 2020
Place of death: Herman Care Center, San Jose, California
Place of burial: Cemetery, San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Inés, California

Timothy O’Shea was born near the village of Clondrohid in County Cork on 30 June 1902. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in Kilkenny in September 1920 and took Phelim as his religious name. After taking his usual course of studies in philosophy and theology he was ordained to the priesthood in Holy Trinity Church in Cork on 29 June 1928. He spent the first three years of his priestly life as a member of staff in Rochestown College in County Cork. In September 1931 he left Ireland to become one of the founders of the newly established mission in what was then Barotseland, a protectorate of the British colony of Northern Rhodesia (now the Western Province of Zambia). He was elected as one of the consultors (discreet) to the Regular Superior of the Mission in June 1935 and would hold this position until he was elected Regular Superior in 1946. From 1946 to 1950 he acted as guardian (local superior) and principal of teacher training at the Lukulu mission station in western Zambia. On 24 May 1950 the Holy See appointed him Vicar Apostolic of the Livingstone Vicariate and he was ordained Titular Bishop of Hierocaesarea in St. Mary of the Angels, Church Street, Dublin, on 8 September 1950. On 25 April 1959 the Diocese of Livingstone was canonically established, and he became the Ordinary of the new diocese. He was awarded the Medal of Honour for services to the Zambian nation by President Kenneth Kaunda in 1970. To further the interests of the Zambiansation of the Catholic Church in the country, he resigned as Bishop of the Livingstone Diocese on 17 December 1974. Following a long period of illness, he died on 26 May 1979 and was buried in the cemetery attached to Sancta Maria Church in Lukulu, Zambia

Baptismal name: Timothy Peter Paul O’Shea
Religious name: Fr. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 30 June 1902
Place of birth: Curra, Clondrohid, County Cork (Diocese of Cloyne)
Name of father: Timothy
Name of mother: Abina O’Shea (née McSwiney)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 17 Sept. 1920
Date of first profession: 18 Sept. 1921
Date of final profession: 29 Dec. 1925
Date of ordination (as priest): 29 June 1928
Educational attainments: BA, University College Cork (1924); Higher Diploma in Education, University College Cork (1928)
Missionary activities: Travelled to South Africa on 11 Sept. 1931, later to Barotseland, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia).
Date of death: 26 May 1979
Place of death: Lukulu, Zambia
Place of burial: Cemetery, Sancta Maria, Lukulu, Zambia

Observations: He was noted for his numerous translations of religious texts primarily into the Lozi language spoken in Barotseland. His publications included: ‘Katekisema ni Litapelo za Bakreste’ translated from Sisuto and printed in Rome in 1937 by the Sodality of St Peter Claver; ‘Litapelo ni Lipina’ compiled with aid of Sisuto texts, printed in 1960 by the Sodality of St Peter Claver; ‘Katekisema’ by Bishop Timothy Phelim O’Shea, printed by Teresianum in Lusaka, Zambia, in 1967; ‘Linyalo’ (1963); ‘Evangeli ya Mulen’a luna Jesu Kriste’ (St. Mark) translated in 1948; ‘Likuta le li Katoliki ili Eklesia ya Niti’ (1963); ‘Nzila ya Sifapano’ (Stations of the Cross); in Siluvale language, ‘Vilombelo na Myaso’ (Prayers and Hymns) 1963; ‘Vihande vya Mazu a Kalunga’ (Bible Stories) 1969.

James O’Sullivan was born in Cork on 2 April 1887. He was the only son of James and Mary O’Sullivan of Deane Street and later of Lower George’s Street in the city. His early education was with the Christian Brothers and at the Seraphic College in Rochestown in County Cork. He entered the Capuchin novitiate in August 1902 and took Cyril as his religious name. Following a course in philosophy and theology, he was ordained on 29 May 1910. Shortly after his ordination he undertook a postgraduate course in the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium obtaining a Doctorate in Philosophy from the Philosophical Institute of Leo XIII. Returning to his native city, he completed a Master of Arts and was appointed a lecturer in philosophy (Mental and Moral Science) in University College Cork. He was instrumental in the opening of St. Bonaventure’s Capuchin Hostel in Cork and was appointed its first guardian (local superior) in 1919. An enthusiastic supporter of Gaelic games and a fluent Irish speaker, he was involved in the promotion of hurling in various schools and colleges in Cork. He died (following a brief illness) in Cork on 9 December 1921. He was buried in the cemetery attached to the Capuchin Friary in Rochestown in County Cork.

Baptismal name: James O’Sullivan
Religious name: Fr. Cyril O’Sullivan OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 2 Apr. 1887
Place of birth: 14 Deane Street, Cork
Name of father: James O’Sullivan
Name of mother: Mary O’Sullivan (née O’Brien)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 24 Aug. 1902
Date of first profession: 17 Sept. 1903
Date of final profession: 31 July 1908
Date of ordination (as priest): 29 May 1910
Educational attainments: BA (RUI), 1909; MA (RUI), 1915; Doctorate in Philosophy (Louvain)
Date of death: 9 Dec. 1921
Place of death: Cork
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, Cork

John Joseph O’Sullivan was born on 23 March 1904 in the town of Charleville in County Cork. His initial education was in the local national school and later at the Capuchin College in Rochestown, County Cork. He was an active member of the Fianna Éireann organisation in Cork during the War of Independence. He joined the Capuchin Order in Kilkenny in September 1923 and took Ephrem as his religious name. After his ordination in Cork in 1931 he was transferred to the Irish Capuchin mission custody in the Western United States where he ministered for several years. In 1936 he was appointed a pastor in the Sacred Heart parish in Lincoln, Nebraska. He held this position for only one year (1937) since financial difficulties and other considerations forced the Capuchin friars to withdraw from the Lincoln Diocese. After leaving Nebraska he assisted in parish missions and novenas. In 1938 Ephrem returned to Ireland and joined the community residing in St. Mary of the Angels Friary on Church Street in Dublin. He also resided for brief periods in both Kilkenny and in the Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. He died in St. John of God Hospital in Stillorgan, County Dublin, on 12 July 1958 and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.

Baptismal name: John Joseph O’Sullivan
Religious name: Fr. Ephrem O’Sullivan OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 20 Mar. 1904
Place of birth: Charleville, County Cork (Diocese of Cloyne)
Name of father: Michael O’Sullivan (Signalman)
Name of mother: Catherine O’Sullivan (née McDermott)
Date of reception into Capuchin Order: 17 Sept. 1923
Date of first profession: 18 Sept. 1924
Date of final profession: 18 Sept. 1927
Date of ordination (as priest): 29 June 1931
Educational attainments: BA, NUI (1927)
Missionary activity: Travelled to the mission custody in the Western United States on 20 Nov. 1932. Returned to Ireland in 1938.
Date of death: 12 July 1958
Place of death: St. John of God Hospital, Stillorgan, County Dublin
Place of burial: Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin

Henry O'Connor was Provincial of the Irish Vincentian Province 1932-1942. He was also President of Castleknock College 1926-1932.

John Francis O’Connor was born on 13 Feb. 1883 in County Cork. He was born into a devoutly Catholic family. His father, John O’Connor, a teacher, and his mother, Mary Ann Sheehan, were both tertiaries of the Third Order of St. Francis attached to Holy Trinity Capuchin Church, Cork. A brother of Many Ann Sheehan had already joined the Capuchin Franciscan Order. Fr. Luke Sheehan OFM Cap. was one of the first Catholic missionaries to minister in the American state of Oregon. A good number of John’s siblings also entered religious life. John entered Rochestown College, Cork, in the Autumn of 1897. Having successfully completed his secondary education, he entered the Capuchin novitiate on 1 Oct. 1899 and received the religious name of Dominic. A year later he took his simple vows and in the Autumn of the same year began studying for a philosophy degree in the Royal University, Cork. He was ordained a priest on 17 Mar. 1906 in the Capuchin Friary in Kilkenny. He later enrolled in the Catholic University in Louvain where he obtained a Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureus (Bachelor of Sacred Theology). In response to a call from Cardinal Michael Logue, Archbishop of Armagh, Fr. Dominic volunteered for chaplaincy work with the British armed forces during the First World War. After spending two months with a Scottish brigade in England, he transferred to a hospital unit bound for Salonika, Greece. After approximately two years of service, Fr. Dominic resigned his post in 1917, returned to Ireland and was appointed to the Capuchin community in Holy Trinity Friary, Cork. Fr. Dominic soon attained notoriety in nationalist circles and was appointed chaplain to the Cork Brigade of IRA Volunteers by Tomas MacCurtain. As chaplain, Fr. Dominic was the first to appear at the MacCurtain home in Blackpool, Cork, on the morning the Sinn Féin Lord Mayor was killed by British forces (20 Mar. 1920). He also served as chaplain to MacCurtain’s successor as Lord Mayor of Cork, Terence MacSwiney, who was arrested on 12 Aug. 1920. Fr. Dominic ministered to MacSwiney throughout his hunger strike in Brixton Prison and was present for his death on 25 Oct. 1920. Soon after his return to Ireland, Fr. Dominic was arrested at the Capuchin Friary on Church Street, Dublin. He was taken to Dublin Castle and in January 1921 was court martialled and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. During his confinement, he became acquainted with two notable republican detainees, Ernie O’Malley and Pádraig Ó Caoimh. Fr. Dominic served about a year of his imprisonment in Parkhurst Prison. Following the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921, there was a general amnesty for prisoners and Fr. Dominic was released in January 1922. On 25 February 1922, he was granted the freedom of Cork ‘as a mark of respect for his valuable services rendered to the first two Republican Lord Mayors of Cork’. With the onset of the Civil War the Capuchins in Church Street were once more involved in ministering to besieged republicans. In June 1922 the Four Courts, located only a couple of hundred meters from the Church Street Friary, was attacked by Free State forces. Fr. Dominic (assisted by Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap.) provided spiritual comfort, assisted in the evacuation of the wounded, and later facilitated the surrender of the defeated garrison. Soon afterwards, Fr. Dominic returned to Holy Trinity Friary, Cork. On 26 Nov. 1922 a decision was made by the Provincial Definitory of the Irish Capuchins to have Fr. Dominic transferred to the Province’s Mission in Bend, Oregon, United States. This was the location of Fr. Luke Sheehan’s (Fr. Dominic’s uncle) pioneering missionary work some years before. For the remainder of his life Fr. Dominic performed routine duties associated with the missionary apostolate of a Capuchin friar. He was appointed temporary rector of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral and published the first of a two-volume history of the Diocese of Baker in 1930. In August 1935 he sustained serious injuries in a car accident from which he never fully recovered. He died on 17 Oct. 1935 and was buried in Bend, Oregon. His remains (along with those of Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap.) were later repatriated to Ireland and he was buried in the cemetery of Rochestown Capuchin Friary, Cork, on 14 June 1958

Baptismal name: Martin O’Connor
Religious name: Fr. George O’Connor OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 21 May 1927
Place of birth: Currow (Farranfore), County Kerry
Name of father: David O’Connor
Name of mother: Nora O’Connor (née O’Sullivan)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1946
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1947
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1950
Date of ordination (as priest): 23 May 1954
Missionary activities: Travelled to Livingstone, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), on 31 August 1954. He returned to Ireland on 12 January 1981.
Date of death: 5 April 1988
Place of death: Kilkenny
Place of burial: Foulkstown Cemetery, Kilkenny