Letters from the Most Rev. Owen McCann (1907-1994), Archbishop of Cape Town, to Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap., Fr. Conrad O’Donovan OFM Cap., Fr. Berard Creed OFM Cap. (1923-2004) , Fr. Eustace McSweeney OFM Cap., Provincial Ministers, and Fr. Jarlath Gough OFM Cap. (1902-1983) reporting on the missionary efforts of the Irish Capuchins in Parow (Parish of the Immaculate Conception); Matroosfontein (Parish of the Holy Trinity); Athlone (St. Mary of the Angels); Welcome Estate (St. Theresa’s); Langa (St. Anthony’s). The Archbishop also requests that an Irish Capuchin priest (Fr. Jarlath Gough OFM Cap.) be sent to St. Helena and Ascension Island – part of the Cape Town Archdiocese. He writes: ‘There are 5,000 persons on [St. Helena] Island but only 3 to 4 Catholics at present … the prospect of conversions is uncertain. The Anglicans are well established. The schools are under the Government, as also the hospital’. Reference is also made to an application of Ronald Hinrichsen, a convert from the Dutch Reformed Church, to join the Capuchin Franciscan Order (24 Sept. 1952); to the death of Fr. Oliver O’Hanlon OFM Cap. and the resulting vacancy in Parow parish (16 Aug. 1957); to a draft agreement with the Capuchins re Belgravia parish which has been separated from Parow (1 July 1961); to the need for new priests to meet the growing population in the Cape Flats district (20 June 1966); to Archbishop McCann’s desire to see Fr. Carthage Ruth OFM Cap. return to South Africa (4 Nov. 1968). Later, Archbishop McCann expresses his condolences on hearing of the death of Fr. Christopher Crowley OFM Cap. (22 Mar. 1984).
An internal view of the Catholic Church at Tyger Valley, Cape Town. Manuscript annotation on the reverse reads ‘Church at Tyger Valley / Fr. Oliver O’Hanlon OFM Cap.’.
(Left to right) Fr. Agathangelus Herlihy OFM Cap., Fr. Terence Anglin OFM Cap., Fr. Cuthbert McCann OFM Cap., Fr. Oliver O’Hanlon OFM Cap., and Fr. Capistran Singleton OFM Cap. at the mission station in Katima Mulilo, Caprivi Strip, South West Africa ( now Namibia).
Report by Fr. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap., Regular Superior, on missionary work in the Cape Province, South Africa. The report asses the work of the Irish Capuchin friars in Parow parish (Fr. Oliver O’Hanlon OFM Cap. and Fr. Casimir Butler OFM Cap.); Matroosfontein (Fr. Marcellus O’Carroll OFM Cap.); Athlone (Fr. Terence Anglin OFM Cap. 1900-1947); the Welcome Estate (Fr. Damascene McKenna OFM Cap., 1913-1967); Langa (Fr. Christopher Crowley OFM Cap.).
A report on Irish Capuchin missions in the Cape Province at Parow, Matroosfontein, Athlone, and Langa. Reference is made to the building and staffing of churches, friaries, schools, and halls at these locations.
Letter from Sr. Maria Angela, a Capuchin Poor Clare, to Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, seeking copies of the 'Ordo' for the Divine Office. She wrote: ‘Now we are in need since the war began. We have no more connection with our Home Convent and received no more orders from there like we received all the years’. Reference is made in the letter to the kindness shown to the sisters by Fr. Oliver O’Hanlon OFM Cap.
Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap. with Fr. Jerome McQuillan OFM Cap., Fr. Killian Flynn OFM Cap., Fr. Oliver O’Hanlon and Fr. Alban Cullen OFM Cap. at Maramba in Northern Rhodesia.
An image of the exterior of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Parow, Cape Town. A printed caption to the image reads 'Father Oliver's beautiful new church at Parow, South Africa / Dedicated on the Feast of Immaculate Conception, 8th December 1935'.
Ledger of loans and monies supplied to the Irish Capuchin missions in Africa compiled by Fr. Kieran O’Callaghan OFM Cap., Provincial Secretary. The ledger includes records of money supplied to Fr. Alban Cullen OFM Cap. and Fr. Oliver O’Hanlon OFM Cap. to build parish churches in Athlone and Parow, Cape Town, in March 1933. £1,700 was given to Monsignor Killian Flynn OFM Cap. to build a friary (14 June 1937), and £1,000 was given to Fr. Casimir Butler OFM Cap. for Livingstone Church in Northern Rhodesia. The accounts also include monies derived from the Seraphic Mass Association (SMA) from Aug. 1931-Jan. 1935. The accounts are signed are by Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap. Provincial Minister, 10 Aug. 1937.
