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Letter from Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap., referring to a meeting with a Fr. Keoghan re Sr. Brigid. Fr. Albert askes Fr. Bonaventure to ‘assure her that we are making a big fight for her. Everyone who stands by Ireland to-day is suffering. She suffers because of her devotion to us …’.

Letter from Fr. Albert Bibby [to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap.] referring to arrangements for sailing on the 'Republic' steamship from Cobh on 20 June. He also refers to his meeting in Goresbridge with Angela Cook, ‘a niece of Mrs McCurtain’, who is keen on joining a congregation of nuns. He concludes by stating that he has had a letter from Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. who is in ill-health.

Letter from Fr. Albert Bibby, Capuchin Friary, Kilkenny, to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap., referring to arrangements for his departure to the United States. He writes ‘I probably shall remain on here until at least [the] end of this month, possibly longer. All will depend on [the] letter from Provincial’. He also refers to his feelings re his imminent departure. He adds ‘I have now got over 1st effects of announcement. They feel it very much at home. But in this part of [the] world there is a very intense feeling or attitude of "ecclesia" towards all of our friends. This feeling is even more marked here than in Dublin'. He also refers to Br. Bonaventure McCafferty OFM Cap. who, he suggests, is 'under a microscope' following a recent meeting in Cobh.

Letter from Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap., St. Benedict’s Rectory, 320 West End Street, New York, to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap., affirming that he will soon be leaving for Abbottstown, Pennsylvania, and referring to his impressions of New York. He notes: ‘I feel absolutely no interest in it. I’d willingly go back, do my term of exile – be it long or short – in Mountjoy’. He also refers to the political divisions in the Irish community in the city. He concludes by asking if republican prisoners in Ireland have been released. He writes ‘Is Dev free. The press here doesn’t consider Ireland worthy of mention. England has great social, financial and business grip here’.

Letter from Br. Colmcille Cregan OFM Cap. to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap. referring to Fr. Albert Bibby's worsening condition in Santa Barbara Hospital. He writes that Father Albert ‘has no desire to die, as he had [a] big wish to do something for Saint Agnes [Mission Santa Inés], but God has ordained otherwise. Anyway, he set the Mission going and had got many interested in the restoration work’. He also refers to Fr. Dominic O'Connor's presence which has delighted Albert and that the latter expresses no bitterness towards his brethren at home. He also affirms that it is Bibby's wish to be buried in Ireland and to make representations to the Provincial Minister and the relevant authorities in Ireland to ensure that this happens.

A letter from Dorothy Godfrey (1893-1975) to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap. on her anger on hearing of the death of Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. She writes ‘I want to tell you and your good friends, that Fr. Albert did die broken-hearted over the treatment he received from F. P[eter Bowe] and the two who went over to England to have his faculties taken from him. What he suffered for God and Ireland he did not mind, but to think of his own in religion doing such mean things almost broke his heart'.

A view of several Capuchin friars walking in a walled garden. The group includes (from left to right):
Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap. (1880-1968). His hand is partially obscuring his face.
Fr. Augustine Hayden OFM Cap. (1870-1954)
Fr. Matthew O'Connor OFM Cap. (1859-1930)
Fr. Peter Bowe OFM Cap. (1856-1926)
Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap. (1876-1965)

A group photograph of Capuchin friars probably on the occasion of ordinations at Holy Trinity Church in Cork. An annotation on the the reverse identifies the friars in the image: ‘Front: Frs. Fiacre (Guardian), Peter (Provincial Minister), the Most Rev. Cohalan, Bishop of Cork, Sylvester, Martin; Back: Frs. Macartan, Bonaventure, Cassin, Felix, Kieran, Pacificus, Edwin, Fintan, Conleth’.

Letter from Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap. expressing his relief at being able to work again and affirming that he would like to do more preaching. He also refers to communications from Fr. Dominic O’Connor OFM Cap. and to his distress on not having access to Irish newspapers. Reference is also made to the troubled state of Ireland. He writes ‘the greatest opportunity that came for nearly 800 years lost: it would make one’s blood boil’.

Letter from Fr. Albert Bibby to Fr. Bonaventure Murphy OFM Cap., confirming that a letter has arrived from the Provincial Minister stating that he has arranged for his travelling to Abbottstown in Pennsylvania. Fr. Albert writes ‘I simply dread the saying good-bye here. But I see I must face it and rely on God’s help to bring me through this as he has brought me through other unpleasant experiences in the past’.