Showing 277 results

Baptismal name: William Curran
Religious name: Br. Benedict Curran OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 24 January 1914
Place of birth: Portaferry, County Down (Diocese of Down & Connor)
Name of father: William Curran
Name of mother: Isabella Curran (née Marron)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 26 July 1941
Date of first profession: 27 July 1942
Date of final profession: 27 July 1945
Date of death: 20 May 1974
Place of death: London
Place of burial: Foulkstown Cemetery, County Kilkenny

William Leahy was born in Blackrock, Cork, on 9 February 1939. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in January 1957 and took Angelus as his religious name. He completed his postulancy and novitiate in Kilkenny. His first assignment was in the Theology House at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal. After nearly three years in Donegal, he returned to Cork and worked as a cook in Rochestown College. He was solemnly professed as a Capuchin friar on 7 April 1961. Aside from a short stint questing for the Church Street Friary in Dublin, Br. Angelus spent most of the next eighteen years working as a cook in communities in Rochestown, Ard Mhuire and Raheny. In 1980 he volunteered to travel to New Zealand where the Irish Capuchins had established a mission custody. His initial assignment was at the friary in Henderson, a suburb in Auckland. Ill-health forced his return to Ireland in 1992 and he died in the Bon Secours Hospital in Cork on 16 September 1992. He was buried in the cemetery adjoining the Capuchin Friary in Rochestown, County Cork.

Baptismal name: William Leahy
Religious name: Br. Angelus Leahy OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 9 February 1939
Place of birth: Blackrock, Cork
Name of father: Michael Leahy
Name of mother: Margaret Leahy (née Deasy)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 6 Jan. 1957
Date of first profession: 7 Jan. 1958
Date of final profession: 7 Apr. 1961
Missionary activities: Travelled to the New Zealand mission custody in 1980. He returned to Ireland in 1992.
Date of death: 16 Sept. 1992
Place of death: Bon Secours Hospital, Cork
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork

Joseph Francis Brunton was born in Kilkenny on 19 March 1894. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in September 1911 and took Ambrose as his religious name. He was ordained to the priesthood on 15 March 1919 in Cork. Following his ordination, he volunteered for missionary work in the United States in 1920. His initial ministry was in Roseburg in Oregon. In 1923 he became the first Irish Capuchin pastor of St. Anthony’s parish in Willits, Mendocino County, in California. In 1929 he spent a short period of time with Fr. Joseph Fenlon OFM Cap. at St. Francis parish in Los Angeles. From there he went to the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Elk, Mendocino County, in California, where he served as pastor. Illness forced him to temporarily retire from ministry and to recuperate with the community at Mission Santa Inés near Solvang in California. In 1954, he was assigned to St. Mary’s parish in Ukiah, California. A year later he was transferred to St. Lawrence of Brindisi parish in Watts, Los Angeles. He remained in Los Angeles until his death on 8 March 1974. The renowned Irish tenor Brenda O’Dowda (1925-2002), a nephew of Fr. Ambrose, sang at his Funeral Mass which took place in St. Lawrence of Brindisi Church. He was buried in Los Angeles.

Baptismal name: Joseph Francis Brunton
Religious name: Fr. Ambrose Brunton OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 19 Mar. 1894
Place of birth: James Street, Kilkenny (Diocese of Ossory)
Name of father: Patrick Brunton
Name of mother: Christina Brunton (née Byrne)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 17 Sept. 1911
Date of first profession: 17 Sept. 1912
Date of final profession: 8 July 1916
Date of ordination (as priest): 15 Mar. 1919
Missionary activities: Travelled to the United States mission in May 1920
Date of death: 8 Mar. 1974
Place of death: Los Angeles, California

George Albert Ratigan was born in County Roscommon on 4 October 1906. He entered the Capuchin novitiate at the age of twenty-four and took Robert as his religious name. He spent the three years of his simple profession at St. Bonaventure’s Hostel in Cork and took his philosophy degree from University College Cork. He was solemnly professed as a Capuchin friar on 4 October 1934. Following four years of theological study at Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal, he was ordained to the priesthood in St. Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny on 19 June 1938. His first assignment was in Kilkenny (1938-41) which was followed by two years with the Church Street community in Dublin. He returned to Kilkenny in 1943 and he remained there until 1952. He volunteered for missionary work in the Irish Capuchin custody in the United States in 1955. He did parish supply work in several parishes on the East Coast of the United States while stationed at St. Patrick’s Friary in Wilmington, Delaware. In 1964 he spent some time at Our Lady of Angels in Burlingame, California. From there he went to St. Joseph’s Parish in Oregon. He also conducted missions and was active in parish work in Ukiah, California, and in Roseburg, Oregon. He returned to Ireland in 1969 and was appointed once again to Kilkenny where he remained until his death on 1 February 1983. He was buried in the Capuchin plot in Foulkstown Cemetery, County Kilkenny.

Baptismal name: George Albert Ratigan
Religious name: Fr. Robert Ratigan OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 4 Oct. 1906
Place of birth: Rathmore South, Kilbride, County Roscommon (Diocese of Elphin)
Name of father: Michael Ratigan
Name of mother: Catherine Ratigan (née Doyle)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1930
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1931
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1934
Date of ordination (as priest): 19 June 1938
Educational attainments: BA (1934)
Missionary activities: Travelled to the United States mission in 1955. He returned to Ireland in 1969.
Date of death: 1 Feb. 1983
Place of death: Kilkenny
Place of burial: Foulkstown Cemetery, County Kilkenny

James Jennings was born in Ballintober (or Ballintubber) in County Mayo on 12 May 1928. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in October 1946 and took Pacificus as his religious name. He was solemnly professed as a friar in October 1950 and was ordained to the priesthood on 19 May 1955. He spent five years at University College Cork and earned a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Arts, and a Higher Diploma in Education. He served as Dean of Rochestown College in County Cork from 1955-6 and was Master of Novices in the adjoining friary from 1956-8. He filled the same role in Kilkenny Friary for a further four years. He taught at St. Bonaventure’s Hostel in Cork from 1962-4. He subsequently returned to Rochestown for three years as Vice-Rector before moving to Ard Mhuire Friary in County Donegal where he served as guardian (local superior) from 1970-3. There followed spells as a curate (1975-80) in Priorswood parish in County Dublin and later as spiritual director of the diocesan seminary in Carlow. He later acted as retreat master in Raheny Friary in Dublin and spent a year (1985-6) in ministry with Irish Capuchin missionaries in New Zealand. He returned to Raheny and was appointed a chaplain to Irish schools in the Dublin Archdiocese and acted as editor of ‘The Capuchin’ periodical publication. His final appointment was to Ard Mhuire Friary and Retreat House in County Donegal. He died at Ard Mhuire on 18 March 2006 and was buried in the adjoining cemetery.

Baptismal name: James Jennings
Religious name: Fr. Pacificus Jennings OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 12 May 1928
Place of birth: Ballintober, County Mayo
Name of father: Patrick Jennings
Name of mother: Catherine Jennings (née Lavelle)
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): 19 May 1955
Educational attainments: BA 1st class hons. (1950); MA, 1st class hons. (1951); Higher Diploma in Education.
Date of death: 18 Mar. 2006
Place of death: Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, County Donegal
Place of burial: Cemetery, Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary, County Donegal

Baptismal name: Francis O’Neill
Religious name: Fr. Honorius O’Neill OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 7 February 1925
Place of birth: Dublin
Name of father: Andrew O’Neill
Name of mother: Margaret O’Neill (née O’Connell)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 24 Oct. 1944
Date of first profession: 25 Oct. 1945
Date of final profession: 25 Oct. 1948
Date of ordination (as priest): 12 June 1952
Educational attainments: BA (1948)
Missionary activities: Travelled to Cape Town, South Africa, on 11 Sept. 1957
Date of death: 16 Sept. 1973
Place of death: St. Mary of the Angels Friary, Athlone, Cape Town, South Africa
Place of burial: Maitland Cemetery, Cape Town, South Africa

Maurice Buckley was born in Kilnamartyra, County Cork, on 25 January 1920. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in January 1940. He was a postulant and novice in Kilkenny and took his solemn vows on 8 April 1944. He was part of the community in Rochestown Friary in County Cork until 1952. He then spent three years in Raheny in Dublin and a further eighteen months in Holy Trinity Friary in Cork. In 1956 he volunteered for missionary work in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). He spent twenty years in Africa as a missionary. He laboured in construction work in many of the mission stations established by the Irish Capuchins in Zambia including Kalabo, Sichili, Mongu and Lukulu. He returned to Ireland in 1978 and was initially stationed in Kilkenny before moving to Rochestown in County Cork. He died on 24 November 2003 and was buried in the cemetery attached to Rochestown Friary.

Baptismal name: Maurice Buckley
Religious name: Br. Maruice Buckley OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 25 January 1920
Place of birth: Kilnamartyra, County Cork (Diocese of Cloyne)
Name of father: Patrick Buckley
Name of mother: Mary Buckley (née Healy)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 25 January 1940
Date of first profession: 16 Jan. 1941
Date of final profession: 8 Apr. 1944
Missionary activities: Travelled to Livingstone, Northern Rhodesia (later Zambia) on 19 Apr. 1956. He returned to Ireland on 10 Aug. 1978.
Date of death: 24 Nov. 2003
Place of burial: Cemetery, Rochestown Capuchin Friary, County Cork

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

Leo Dominic Ward was born in Dublin on 8 October 1919. He was educated in Rochestown Seraphic College (County Cork), University College Cork, and at the theology house at Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal. He entered the Capuchin Franciscan Order in 1939 (taking Sebastian as his religious name) and was ordained to the priesthood in 1947. From 1947, he was involved in various ministries of the Capuchin Franciscans in what is now the Province of Our Lady of Angels in the United States. His various roles included Professor of Metaphysics and Psychology at Old Mission Santa Inés in Solvang, California, Associate Pastor at St. Joseph’s Church in Roseburg, Oregon, Master of Novices at St. Patrick’s Novitiate in Wilmington, Delaware, and parish mission preacher. For periods, he also served as vocation director at San Lorenzo Seminary in Santa Inés, California, hospital chaplain in Roseburg, Oregon, and in Ukiah and Fresno, California, and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On his brief return to Ireland in the early 1970s, he acted as director of students in Raheny Capuchin Friary in Dublin. He held similar roles in St. Augustine’s Friary in Oakland, California, and at San Buenaventura Friary in San Francisco. He was a definitor (councillor) in the Irish Capuchin Province from 1973 to 1976. He was also spiritual director and retreat master at San Lorenzo Friary in Santa Inés. He died in Lompoc, Santa Barbara, California, on 29 October 2003. He was buried in the cemetery attached to San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Inés, California.

Baptismal name: Leo Dominic Ward
Religious name: Fr. Sebastian Ward OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 8 Oct. 1919
Place of birth: 18 Sigurd Road, Stoneybatter, Dublin
Name of father: Nicholas Ward
Name of mother: Joanna (Jennie) Ward (née Moulton)
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1939
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1940
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1943
Date of ordination (as priest):5 June 1947
Educational attainments: BA (1943)
Missionary activities: Travelled to the United States Mission on 9 Jan. 1948. He returned to Ireland on 31 Jan. 1971. He returned to the United States on 29 Sept. 1976.
Leadership positions: Provincial Definitor, 1973-6; Appointed Director of Theology Students, Raheny Capuchin Friary, Dublin, on 25 July 1972.
Date of death: 29 Oct. 2003
Place of death: San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Inés, California
Place of burial: Cemetery, San Lorenzo Seminary, Santa Inés, California