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Photograph of Capuchin friars at the Provincial Chapter in St. Mary of the Angels, Church Street, Dublin.

Photograph of Capuchin friars at the Provincial Chapter in St. Mary of the Angels, Church Street, Dublin.

File of correspondence and memoranda regarding the boundaries of the American Capuchin Provinces arising from the desire of the Irish friars to establish a house in the Eastern United States. The correspondents include Fr. Sylvester Mulligan OFM Cap, Definitor General, Fr. Thomas Petrie OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Fr. Kevin Moynihan OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, and Michael J. Curley, Archbishop of Baltimore.

A letter (21 January 1930) from Fr. Thomas Petrie OFM Cap. to Fr. Kevin Moynihan OFM Cap. reads:
‘The Pennsylvania Province is pained and surprised that your Province should make a second attempt to enter our territory, and this time at our very door, in the heart of our Province, where our Fathers have been labouring since 1873. You must realize that your attitude does not show us that consideration and fairness which we might expect’.

Draft letter from Fr. Brendan O’Callaghan OFM Cap. to Fr. Kevin Moynihan, Provincial Minister, discussing a typed copy of Bishop Fitzmaurice’s recent letter. Father Brendan notes that Father Joseph Fenelon typed up the copy and mentions that he has also sent a copy to Father Sylvester Mulligan. He requests that the Provincial send ‘Fr. Edward or Canice or both’ to secure Bishop Fitzmaurice’s signature on an official form, lamenting that a short form previously supplied by Father Sylvester has been misplaced. Father Brendan notes that the local real estate agent must be wondering why they have not closed the deal yet, and he urges the Provincial for a final word so they can settle on the house purchase. He concludes by expressing regret that the Provincial has been so heavily bothered by the simultaneous issues with the Baltimore and Wilmington properties.

A photograph of Fr. Kevin Moynihan OFM Cap.

An image of Fr. Kevin Moynihan OSFC (1896-1959) and (seated) Fr. Chrysostom Sutton OSFC (1876-1918).

Group photograph of Capuchin friars at Holy Trinity Friary in Cork, marking the golden jubilee of Fr. John Butler OFM Cap. The group includes Fr. Kevin Moynihan OFM Cap., guardian of Rochestown Capuchin Friary, Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, Fr. Flannan Downing OFM Cap., Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap., Fr. Reginald O’Hanlon OFM Cap., Fr. Eunan Buckley OFM Cap., Fr. Brendan O’Callaghan OFM Cap., Fr. Thaddeus Field OFM Cap., Fr. Clement Connolly OFM Cap., Fr. Malachy Hynes OFM Cap., Fr. Edward Walsh OFM Cap., Br. Bernard Perry OFM Cap., Br. Crispin Brennan OFM Cap., Fr. Anslem Griffin OFM Cap. One of the prints is mounted on card and has a newspaper clipping identifying the friars present in the photograph. Photographer/Studio: 'Cork Examiner'.

Letter from Fr. Brendan O’Callaghan OFM Cap. to Fr. Kevin Moynihan, Provincial Minister, enclosing the Bishop of Wilmington’s official permission letters. Father Brendan notes that local diocesan priests strongly opposed their arrival due to the poverty and small size of the diocese, prompting a restrictive clause in the agreement to appease them. He explains that while the permission officially allows them to work and seek alms, the order has never used the traditional ‘Quest’ system in America. Although several houses have been scouted in Wilmington, no property has been purchased yet; however, Father Brendan highlights Wilmington’s ideal location for mission work due to its close proximity to Philadelphia and New York.

Letter from Fr. Sylvester Mulligan OFM Cap. to Fr. Kevin Moynihan OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, addressing the ongoing dispute regarding the Bishop of Wilmington’s restrictive alms clause. Father Sylvester reports that the Definitory met and decided the Father Kevin may accept the condition restricting their right to quest (beg for alms), as Father Brendan confirmed the friars can sustain themselves through preaching. However, he warns that inserting these specific local conditions into the official petition to the Sacred Congregation could cause Rome to refuse the ‘Beneplacitum’ (papal approval), as it might look like a surrender of Capuchin rights. To resolve this, Father Sylvester provides a short, simple Latin template for the bishop to sign, which grants standard entry permission without listing local restrictions.

Letter from Fr. Sylvester Mulligan OFM Cap., Definitor General, to Fr. Kevin Moynihan OFM Cap., Provincial Minister. Father Sylvester notes that the Father Provincial of the Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh) Province refused to reconsider his opposition to an Irish foundation in Baltimore. The Capuchin Father General has therefore advised that the Irish friars should withdraw from Baltimore as soon as ‘prudently’ possible. He emphasizes that the withdrawal should be handled with ‘charity’ to preserve good relations with their religious brethren, acting ‘as if nothing had happened’.