Letters of Fr. Casimir Butler OFM Cap. (1876-1958). The correspondents include: Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, Fr. Kieran O’Callaghan OFM Cap.; Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Vicar. Most of the correspondence relates to the establishment of missions in South Africa and later in Barotseland, Northern Rhodesia. The subjects include: Fr. Casimir’s first impressions of Cape Province (23 Oct. 1929); the journey to Barotseland (30 May 1930); requesting permission to retain Parow parish (26 Feb. 1931); discussions with Monsignor Bruno Wolnik SJ (1882-1960) to establish a local mission a few miles from Livingstone (16 June 1931); the necessity of wearing a white habit. Fr. Casimir wrote: ‘It is almost impossible to wear brown during the hot weather. The Conventual Fathers at Ndola wear white. The Jesuits wear any old things. I suggest a light cream-coloured habit’ (27 Nov. 1931); the need to speak the language in Barotseland ‘before we can hope to gain the hearts of the natives’. (30 Nov. 1931); on the study of the Lozi language (26 Jan. 1932); suggesting that a foundation be established in Barotseland ‘to which Catholics can look to with pride – a large church and school, sufficient for a fifty-mile area’. (3 May 1932); affirming that ‘mission work in Barotseland is going to be a slow business, the obstacles look insurmountable’. Fr. Casimir added: ‘it is a great consolation to know that it can never become a white man’s country’ (23 May 1932); confirming that the new church at Livingstone will cost £3,500 (6 Sept. 1932); referring to the work of Fr. Declan McFadden OFM Cap. and his father (30 Oct. 1932); arrangements for the impending visitation by Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap. (3 Dec. 1934); the activities of the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society. (18 Dec. 1934); Fr. Casimir’s arrangements to travel to Ireland via Marseilles on-board the Italian ship, SS 'Giulio Cesare' (5 May 1938). References are also made to the following Capuchin friars: Fr. Oliver O’Hanlon OFM Cap.; Fr. Killian Flynn OFM Cap.; Fr. Seraphin Nesdale OFM Cap.; Fr. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap.; Fr. Declan McFadden OFM Cap. The file includes a letter from Fr. C. C. Martindale SJ to Fr. Cuthbert McCann OFM Cap. offering to collect £100 for Fr. Casimir’s missionary work in Barotseland (16 June 1931).
Silozi Litaba za Bibele (with illustrations) published by the Teresian Press in Livingstone, Northern Rhodesia. With the Imprimatur of the Most Rev. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap., Bishop of Livingstone.
Draft report on the history of Irish Capuchin mission in Zambia compiled by Fr. Donatus McNamara OFM Cap. for the Lexicon Cappucinum Project, International College of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Rome. The report includes the following sections: Historical Development of the Mission Outstanding Missionaries Mission Stations and Foundations Current Friaries Bibliography Development of the Capuchin Vice-Province of Zambia List of Vice-Provincial Superiors Biographical details for Bishop Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap., Fr. Killian Flynn OFM Cap., Br. Andrew O’Shea OFM Cap., Fr. Jude McKenna OFM Cap., Fr. Philip Baxter OFM Cap., Fr. Edwin Flynn OFM Cap., Fr. Charles Hanley OFM Cap., Br. Declan O’Callaghan OFM Cap., Br. Hugh Raymond OFM Cap., Fr. Kieran Shorten OFM Cap., Fr. Godfrey Sinvula OFM Cap., Fr. Salavtor Quinn OFM Cap., Fr. Theophilus Murphy OFM Cap., and Br. Rudolf Pieretti OFM Cap. Persons who had a significant relationship with the Mission: Bishop Bernard O’Riley and J.J. Conserdine.
Copy letter from Fr. Conrad O’Donovan OFM Cap. to the Assistant Manager, Barclay’s Bank, Goodenough House, London, re overdraft facilities (up to £11,900) to be granted to the Most Rev. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap., Bishop of Livingstone, for the administration of Capuchin missions in his diocese
Newspaper cuttings, ceremonial booklet and other documents relating to the consecration of Monsignor Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap. as Vicar Apostolic of Livingstone by the Most Rev. Ettore Felici, Apostolic Nuncio, at St. Mary of the Angels, Church Street, Dublin, on 8 September 1950. The attendees included President Sean T. O’Kelly, the Taoiseach, John A. Costello, and Éamon de Valera. The file includes cuttings of photographic prints of the consecration mass, the departure of Bishop O’Shea OFM Cap. from Dublin to return to Africa (with Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister). Includes cuttings from the 'Dublin Evening Mail' and the 'Irish Press'.
Letters to Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap. and Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Ministers, re the appointment of a Vicar Apostolic of Victoria Falls, Northern Rhodesia. The correspondents include Fr. Agatangelo de Langasco OFM Cap., Commissionary General, and Fr. Cuthbert of Chicago OFM Cap., Vice-Secretary General of the Capuchin Missions. The file includes questionnaires, biographies and other documentation (in Latin) re the three candidates: Monsignor Killian Flynn OFM Cap., Fr. Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap., Regular Superior, and Fr. Cuthbert McCann OFM Cap. Definitor.
Directory of the Diocese of Livingstone (the Most Rev. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap., Bishop) noting the number of parishes, priests, missionaries and communicants.
Lists of Irish Capuchin friars at various mission stations in Northern Rhodesia. The list is arranged under the following locations: St. Mary’s, Livingstone (Rt. Rev. Bishop O’Shea OFM Cap., Vicar Apostolic) St. Theresa’s Pro-Cathedral, Livingstone Christ the King Mission, Maramba St. Fidelis Mission, Sichili Holy Family Mission, Katima Mulilo St. Joseph’s Mission, Mankoya St. Francis Mission, Mongu St. Patrick’s Mission, Kalabo Sancta Maria Mission
Report by Fr. Declan McFadden OFM Cap. sent to Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, on the progress of the Irish Capuchin mission in Barotseland, Northern Rhodesia. Reference is made to the difficulties encountered by the first missionaries (including Fr. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap., Fr. Killian Flynn OFM Cap., Fr. Seraphin Nesdale OFM Cap. (1897-1980) and Fr. Casimir Butler OFM Cap.); the establishment of the Loanja mission; negotiations with government authorities and tribal leaders; the work of other missionary orders including the White Fathers and the Jesuits. Fr. Declan concludes ‘as regards the mission outlook in general in Barotseland, I must candidly state it is going to be a very tough problem. The whole territory is fearfully primitive and undeveloped. The only transport help of a convenient or modern touch that we have as an ally is a spasmodic lumber train which carries us from Livingstone to the Barotse border’.
