Photographs showing the visit of Dr. Hendrik Verwoerd (1901-1966), Minister of Bantu Affairs in the South African government (he was later Prime Minister), to the Holy Family Mission at Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi Strip (situated in present-day Namibia but then under South African control). A typescript note is extant in the file. It reads: ‘The purpose of his visit to the Mission was to assess the possible implications of implanting the infamous Bantu Education Act into the Caprivi where, at the time, all the schools were administered by the Capuchins with the aid of a very meagre subsidy from the S.A. government. Dr. Verwoerd (the “architect of apartheid”, was assassinated during his reign as Prime Minister) enforced the Bantu Education Act, in the late 1950s, as a means of preventing black South Africans from receiving an education anywhere near the standard enjoyed by other ethnic groups, e.g. whites and coloureds’. One of the photographs shows Verwoerd (identified with an 'X') with various religious including Bishop Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap. and Fr. Bartholomew Prendiville OFM Cap., superior of the Katima Mulilo Mission. See also CA AMI/2/10/3/110.
A small collection of prints relating to the South African mission assembled by Fr. Benjamin O’Connell OFM Cap. (1938-2010) for historical research purposes. The file includes: • The exterior of St. Theresa’s School in the Welcome Estate, Cape Town, South Africa. The annotation reads: ‘This part was built in 1933. Two moveable partitions made it one large room for Mass (3 classrooms). The third room (back part) added to the original 2 classrooms’. • Capuchin friars with Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap. on the occasion of his visitation to South Africa in 1957. The friars include Fr. Jerome McQuillan OFM Cap., Fr. Carthage Ruth OFM Cap., Fr. Damascene McKenna OFM Cap., Fr. Raphael Curran OFM Cap., Fr. Agathangelus Herlihy OFM Cap. and Fr. Didacus McGrath OFM Cap. • The exterior of Parow Church and Presbytery in Cape Town. • Fr. Raymond Dillane OFM Cap., Fr. Albert Hayes OFM Cap. (1915-2005) and Fr. Bernard Cronin OFM Cap. in the Welcome Estate, Cape Town, in c.1980. • Fr. Albert Hayes OFM Cap. and Br. Kees Thönissen OFM Cap. in the Welcome Estate, Cape Town, in c.1980.
Professions at St. Mary of the Angels, Athlone Parish, Cape Town, South Africa. The file includes caption information for some of the photographs compiled by Fr. Eustace McSweeney OFM Cap., Provincial Minister. Includes images of Fr. Mattew Gormley OFM Cap., Br. Kees Thönissen OFM Cap. and two novices from Holy Trinity Parish, Katima Mulilo, Caprivi Strip.
Views of Parow parish, Flats District, Cape Town, South Africa. The prints are annotated on the reverse: ‘This is Parow in the Cape Flats. We could build a church and convent in the foreground. … The orphanage is in the distance’. ‘Parow / the ground in front is Vicariate-owned. Building on left is church. The other buildings are the orphanage’. ‘Three of the coloured orphans at the little Oratory, Parow’. ‘Fr. Kelly’s Church in the heart of the Flats. Typical flat country with occasional roads thro it. But he has very few residents in such a place. He is very old now and I expect we shall be asked to take it later. He has his own house and four mission churches attached – all built by his own parishioners’ hands’.
Photographic prints showing the visit of Nelson Mandela to the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, Athlone, Cape Town, South Africa, on 12 September 1993. Mandela was accompanied by Allan Boesak. Some of the photographs are annotated on the reverse by the donors: James P. Rigney and Fr. Macartan Hyland OFM Cap. The photographs were printed in 'The Cape Argus' newspaper. The file also includes: • A description of the circumstances surrounding Mandela’s visit to Athlone Parish Church by Fr. Wilfrid Aherne OFM Cap. (1923-2004). • An annotated copy of the sermon preached on the occasion by Fr. Wilfrid Aherne OFM Cap. A copy of Mandela’s brief address after communion referring to the support offered by the local congregation during the apartheid era • The welcome address given by Huxley Joshua, a prominent member of the ANC in the locality. • Documents (including a copy newspaper cutting from 'The Southern Cross', 26 Sept. 1993) referring to the controversy over Mandela’s taking of communion during the Mass.
35 mm colour Kodachrome slides of photographs taken by Fr. Jarlath Gough OFM Cap. (1902-1983). The majority are images of missionary friars and religious sisters in South Africa. The file includes images of: • Fr. Jarlath departing for South Africa • Local children performing in religious pageants • Local Zulu warriors performing a ritual dance • Table Mountain, Cape Town • The townships around Cape Town • The grave of Fr. Eustace Burke OFM Cap. (1915-1949) in Cape Town • Local weddings • Fr. Carthage Ruth OFM Cap. and Fr. Agathangelus Herlihy OFM Cap. on board a ship in Cape Town Harbour • Convent of the Holy Cross Sisters in Cape Town • Parish excursion with Capuchin friars • A local football team in Cape Town • Religious sisters at a local orphanage • Fr. Jerome McQuillan OFM Cap. with local religious sisters • Group photograph of Capuchin friars in Cape Town including Fr. Colga O’Riordan OFM Cap., Fr. Salvator Quinn OFM Cap., Fr. Jerome McQuillan OFM Cap., and Fr. Carthage Ruth OFM Cap. • St. Theresa’s Church, Welcome Estate, Cape Town The file also includes images taken by Fr. Jarlath of various scenic and tourist places around Ireland including Glasnevin Cemetery, Clonmacnoise, Blarney Castle, Glendalough, and a view of a Dublin versus Kerry Gaelic football match in Croke Park, Dublin.
Two local children in Cape Town, South Africa. Manuscript annotations on the reverse read ‘Little Mother / Cape Town’ and ‘Two little friends – Cape Town’.
The Church of St. Mary of the Angels, Athlone, Cape Town and the adjacent school of St. Raphael’s. With annotations on the reverse by the depositor, James P. Rigney (a nephew of Fr. Alban Cullen OFM Cap.), who visited Cape Town and met with Fr. Wilfrid Aherne OFM Cap.
Photographic prints of Capuchin friars celebrating the silver jubilee of Fr. Seán Cahill OFM Cap. in Parow, Cape Town, South Africa. The group includes Fr. Marcartan Hyland OFM Cap. (1939-2000), Fr. Albeus McQuillan OFM Cap., Fr. Raymond Dillane OFM Cap., and Fr. Flannan Buckley OFM Cap.
