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Letter from Fr. Stephen Murtagh OFM Cap. to Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, addressing various financial remittances, personnel issues, and a specific loan for a school project in Oregon. He highlights the physical toll of the missions in Oregon and Western California, stating they require ‘zealous, strong young men’. Father Murtagh notes that several friars (including Conleth and Urban) have asked to return home to Ireland for holidays. Reference is made to property in Wilmington, Delaware. Fr. Stephen is firm that they should not give up the site and is preparing arguments to keep the school/seminary there.

Letter from Fr. Stephen Murtagh OFM Cap. to Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, addressing the ‘dearth of men’, internal conflict regarding leadership roles, and financial negotiations for a new school. He highlights a severe shortage of personnel. Father Stephen suggests that unless a man is sent from Ireland, they may need a special dispensation from Rome to allow Fr. Cyprian to hold both offices, despite the difficulties. He explicitly states they cannot recommend Fr. Urban Riordan for re-appointment due to his ‘frank and foolish administration of funds’. He also refers to a meeting with Bishop William David O’Brien in Chicago regarding a loan for the purchase of property for a Seraphic School.

Letter from Fr. Joseph Fenelon OFM Cap. to Fr. Peter Bowe OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, discussing the activities of Capuchin friars in California and in Oregon and their interactions with local church leadership. He also refers to the recent visit of the Minister General to the American mission houses. He writes ‘From Ukiah we came to Los Angeles where he stayed the night and next day we proceeded to Roseburg thence to Bend where Fr. Casimir and Vincent came to meet the General. He did not go to Lincoln or Abbottstown, but the Fathers met him on the way. I had to part with him at Bend as I was due for a Retreat here which started at Cathedral Chapel last night. The Father General expressed himself in very happy terms about the condition of our American Houses, but I am sure you will get a detailed account from him later on. He was very amiable and nice in every way, and by my fluency in the Latin tongue helped by the Secretary who speaks English pretty well. I spent a pleasant yet strenuous two weeks with him’. Reference is also made to the possibility of the Capuchins acquiring Santa Inés mission.

Letter from Fr. Joseph Fenelon OFM Cap. to Fr. Peter Bowe OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, discussing church appointments and visitations in California. He writes ‘I was present in Ukiah, when Archbishop Hanna blessed the Corner Stone of the new Church there and a deputation again waited on him and on me for a Father to be appointed to the district of Willits. The Archbishop appealed to me to put a Father there, accordingly I have appointed Fr. Ambrose to the position, who is a very safe man, and as I have no Brother to go with him there, arrangements are being made to get an old lady as Housekeeper for the present. I was thinking of taking Fr. Sebastian to let Brother Paschal go there for some time, but as he is an old man he requires the help of a Bro. Fr. Urban will be in Ukiah with Fr. Raphael, and Hopland can get Mass every Sunday now, and also Willits’.

Letter from Fr. Joseph Fenelon OFM Cap. to Fr. Peter Bowe OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, referring to arrangements for the Capuchins to take over Mission Santa Inés in California. He writes ‘As regards Sta. Inez the pastor who preceded the present man had retired but not resigned and the Bishop received a letter from him saying he was able again to resume the work of the parish, whereupon the Bishop wrote to me that he could not put us in charge for the present, but that it was a fait accompli that the Capuchins were to have the parish when the old man would fail or die, and this cannot be very long.

I was making arrangements to put Fr. Casimir and Bro. Didacus there, I asked Fr. Casimir would he mind or have any regrets if I asked him to take on St. Inez, not the slightest he said, so I had the matter nicely arranged when I received the note from the Office. Probably by the end of Summer old Fr. [Alexander] Buckler will give up’.

An image of the grave of Fr. Albert Bibby OFM Cap. at Mission Santa Inés in California. The Capuchin friar kneeling at the graveside is either Fr. Urban Riordan Cap. or Fr. Leo Sheehan OFM Cap.

Copy of the decrees and resolutions of the Custos Provincial (Fr. Stephen Murtagh OFM Cap.) and Consultors. The document lists new appointments for the Capuchin Franciscan Fathers across California and Oregon. The letter lists the leadership teams for several key missions and friaries:
Hermiston, OR (Our Lady of Angels): Fr. Alban (Superior/Pastor) and Fr. Fabian.
Bend, OR (St. Francis of Assisi): Fr. Edmund (Superior/Pastor), Fr. Vincent, and Fr. Victor.
Roseburg, OR (St. Joseph’s): Fr. William (Superior/Pastor), Fr. Bernard, and Fr. Leo.
Ukiah, CA (St. Mary’s): Fr. Adrian (Superior/Pastor), Fr. Valerian, and Fr. Roger.
Burlingame, CA (Our Lady of Angels): Fr. Sylvan (Superior/Pastor), Fr. Anthony, Fr. Isidore, and Fr. Daniel.
Los Angeles, CA (St. Lawrence of Brindisi): Fr. Thomas (Superior/Pastor), Fr. Fergus, and Fr. Leopold.
Solvang, CA (Old Mission Santa Ines): Fr. Urban (Superior/Pastor) and Brother Conrad.
Wilmington, CA (St. Patrick’s Monastery): Fr. Joseph (Vicar), with a significant number of additional friars including Fathers Benignus, Aidan, Conleth, Irenaeus, and Norbert.