Invitation card to the Liturgical Reception of Most Rev. Gerald P. O’Hara.

Copy letter from +McQuaid to +O’Hara stating that he wishes the Nuncio to use his throne and carry the crosier at the Pontifical Mass for the anniversary of the coronation of the Holy Father.

Copy of typed letter to Most Rev. Gerald P. O’Hara, Apostolic Nuncio, from +McQuaid. Encloses a memorandum on the White Paper on Health Services. Points out the profound difference that the Hierarchy must expect to find between the Government of de Valera and that of Costello. Costello’s Government, with exception of Dr. Browne and Mr. McBride, was in sympathy with the Church. Regarding de Valera, his policy towards the Church is one of distance. He would not make any reference to the Hierarchy in case of jeopradising Protestant support and that of the Liberal Independents. Neither did he want to antagonize the North of Ireland Protestants as this could affect Partition.

Letter from +O’Hara to +McQuaid regarding the Maria Duce group. They have asked to meet with the Nuncio and he wishes the advice of the Archbishop.

Letter from +O’Hara to +McQuaid regarding the grief of the Holy Father in relation to the outcome of the communist trial in Sofia against the Church. He is anxious that the widest possible publicity is given to this matter. The Bishop of Nicopoli, Most Rev. Eugene Bossilkoff and three priests have been condemned to death and 24 others have received long prison sentences in Bulgaria. The Holy Father wishes the Catholic world is protest most vigorously to these unjust sentences. It is left up to each Diocese to decide its own course of action. He also wishes that no acknowledgement of his letter is made in any pronouncements. He will forward the programmes drawn up by each diocese, in relation to Bulgaria, to the Holy Father.

Letter from +McQuaid to +O’Hara returning correspondence from Patrick McDonell and enclosing a letter from Canon Turley, McDonell’s Parish Priest. The man caused a ‘great stir’ in The Standard by ‘…representing his dire poverty as unrelieved by parochial or other agencies’. He suggests that the man may not contact the Nuncio again when his letter fails to draw any money.

Copy letter from +McQuaid to +O’Hara enclosing a copy of the Relatio Status for the year. He states that ‘…by reason of my attendance in 1950 at the Solemn Definition of the Dogma of the Assumption, [he is] dispensed from a personal visit ad limina.

Letter from + Gerard O’Hara to Dr. Michael J. O’Connell seeking his advice in helping Margaret O’Leary obtain employment.

Letter from +O’Hara to +McQuaid regarding newspaper article on the Marian Year and the enthusiasm with which it has been inaugurated in Ireland. He mentions he has spent time with Mgr. Marella and staff of the Paris Nunciature. He describes it as a ‘…dark and gloomy place’.

Letter from +O’Hara to +McQuaid wishing him a Happy Christmas and stating how much he misses Ireland.