Letters from Fr. Callistus Lopinot OFM Cap. (1876-1966), a Capuchin friar from Geispolsheim, Germany, Capuchin General Curia, Vice-Secretary of the Missions, to Fr. Kevin Moynihan OFM Cap. and Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Provincial Ministers, re the appointment of a Regular Superior for the Irish mission in Northern Rhodesia.
Draft and copy letters of Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap. relating to the Irish Capuchin missions in Africa. The file includes copy letters to Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, Fr. Sylvester Mulligan OFM Cap., General Definitor, and Fr. Maurice Dowd OFM Cap., and a letter from Fr. Hilary McDonagh OFM Cap. On 21 May 1948, Fr. James wrote ‘We feel that there is great future for the Irish Province in South Africa where the Irish Capuchins were the first, and still stand alone, in their mission to pure natives in the Langa Compound’.
Copy of the Lenten Pastoral Letter (with Lenten Regulations) from the Most Rev. William MacNeely (1888-1963), Bishop of Raphoe, for 1932. The file also includes printed Lenten Regulations for the diocese for 1964 and 1967.
A vocations’ flier for the House of Theological Studies at Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary. It is noted that ‘since 1932 Ard Mhuire has produced well over a hundred priests. They are now labouring on the Irish Capuchin foreign mission in Africa, in the United States of America, and at home in Ireland’. The flier also has a photographic print of the exterior of the old Ard Mhuire Friary (formerly Ards House).
Copy report by Fr. Killian Flynn OFM Cap. on the mission of Livingstone-Barotseland in the Prefecture of Broken Hill, Northern Rhodesia. The report is divided into the following sections: I. Situation, area, population etc. II. Historical Survey I. Prior to the coming of the Capuchin Fathers II. Coming of the Capuchin Fathers Livingstone Loanja Loanja Out-Schools Momba Mulobezi III. Applications for New Stations Translations of Catechisms IV. Details and Statistics Babemba Church and School, Livingstone Church of the Little Flower, Livingstone Barotse Church and School, Livingstone Loanja Momba Mulobezi V. Sphere of Influence of each Station Loanja Kabompo Lumbi VI. Method of Converting the Locals Results Secured VII. Working of Schools Babemba school, police camp, Livingstone Zambesi Saw-Mills Compound School, Livingstone School at Loanja Mission School at Saw-Mills Compound, Mulobezi VIII. Difficulties Hampering Work Influence of Protestant Missionaries Poverty of Districts Transport IX. Prospects for the Future X. Tribes XI. Languages XII. Financial Outlay of Mission from Beginning A manuscript note by Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap. reads: ‘This amount does not include monies spent in building church and schools in Athlone parish and church in Parow parish, South Africa, amounting to over £7,000’.
Report on the Livingstone Mission by Fr. Theophilus Murphy OFM Cap. (1928-2006) for the Irish Capuchin Provincial Chapter. The report is divided into the following sections:
Photographic album of Fr. Jarlath Gough OFM Cap. (1902-1983). The album contains un-captioned black and white prints relating to Fr. Jarlath’s time as a missionary in South Africa. The album includes some views of local worship including communion groups and photographs of religious sisters (probably in South Africa). With prints of Athlone Catholic Hall in Cape Town, South Africa, Fr. Agathangelus Herlihy OFM Cap. (1911-1968), and the grave stone of Fr. Eustace Burke OFM Cap. (d. 2 Oct. 1949).
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’.
Two local children in Cape Town, South Africa. Manuscript annotations on the reverse read ‘Little Mother / Cape Town’ and ‘Two little friends – Cape Town’.