Letter from +O’Hara to +McQuaid in relation to the Legion of Mary. The Holy See is becoming more interested in their work and is anxious to see if something could be done to help develop this form of Lay Apostolate. Before doing anything, they would like to have the views of the Irish Hierarchy.

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 +O’Hara to +McQuaid enclosing the ‘Diploma’ for Rev. John Horgan, who has been appointed a Domestic Prelate of His Holiness. The amount due for this is £13. He asks that his personal congratulations be given to Fr. Horgan when he is presented with the honour.

Letter from +O’Hara to +McQuaid acknowledging receipt of the copies of the Relation Status which will be sent to Rome. He admires the manner in which they are prepared. He also confirms the exemption from the visit ad limina.

Letter from +O’Hara to +McQuaid thanking him for the information on Patrick McDonell. He dislikes rejecting such cases until he knows the full facts. He believes the man is not as poverty stricken as he makes out as he travels frequently to England.

Letter from +O’Hara to +McQuaid thanking him for the information on Patrick Murphy. He knows that not all people claiming to be in distress are and he appreciates the Archbishop’s efforts to establish the truth.

Letter from +O’Hara to +McQuaid inviting him to dinner at the Nunciature in honour of Cardinal D’Alton. The President has agreed to attend and he hopes the Archbishops of Tuam and Cashel will do likewise. He enjoyed his time at Clonliffe the previous day and was glad to have met the Parish Priests of the Diocese.

Copy letter from +McQuaid to +O’Hara enclosing the Quinquennial report on Catechetical Instruction. He also refers to an anti-Catholic attack by Mr. Blanchard in the Irish Times.

Letter from +O’Hara to +McQuaid thanking him for the tickets for the ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the Holy Father’s coronation. He thinks the arrangements are satisfactory and will see him at the event.

Letter from +O’Hara to +McQuaid, marked ‘Confidential’. He wishes to give a mark of Papal recognition to the present President of Maynooth College, Rt. Rev. Mgr. Edward Kissane. He has made a great contribution to the College and feels he should be appointed a Protonotary Apostolic Supernumerary by the Holy Father. This honour would be hailed in Ireland and abroad. He asks for the Archbishop’s opinion which can be sent to Mgr. Benelli as he is leaving for America in a few days.