Letters of Fr. Killian Flynn OFM Cap. (1905-1972). Correspondents include Fr. Kieran O’Callaghan OFM Cap., Provincial Secretary; Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Provincial Minister; Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister; Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap., Provincial Minister. Most of the correspondence relates to developments in the Irish Capuchin mission in Northern Rhodesia and to a lesser extent in the Cape Province, South Africa. The subjects include: the arrival of Fr. Jerome MacQuillian OFM Cap. and Fr. Marcellus Carroll OFM Cap. in Northern Rhodesia. (18 Aug. 1935); the establishment of the Lukulu Station in Barotseland. (1 Sept. 1935); Fr. Casimir Butler’s desire for chaplaincy work in Parow Parish, South Africa. (10 Dec. 1935); co-operation with the Holy Cross Sisters. (20 Dec. 1935); work on the Sancta Maria (Lukulu) training school and the need for each Rhodesian Mission Station to have spiritual books for ‘retreats and ordinary reading’; arrangements for the arrival of Fr. Jarlath Gough OFM Cap. and Br. Alexius Paolucci OFM Cap. (5 May 1936); the establishment of a Prefecture for the Barotseland Mission (13 July 1936); enclosing a copy of the annual report on the Irish Capuchin Mission in Northern Rhodesia. (28 July 1936); the appointment of Fr. Killian as Prefect Apostolic of Victoria Falls. (11 Aug. 1936); Fr. Killian’s investiture as Prefect Apostolic (25 Nov. 1936); negotiations with the Paris Missionaries regarding the limits of the Sancta Maria Mission at Lukulu. (1 Jan. 1937); enclosing a copy of the 1937-8 report for the Victoria Falls Prefecture. (14 Sept. 1938); the boundaries of the Parow and Athlone parishes, Cape Town, South Africa. (6 Nov. 1939); the health of Fr. Livinus Keane OFM Cap. (9 Nov. 1939); an outbreak of the bubonic plague at Sancta Maria Mission and the dangers of transferring priests from Europe to South Africa due to the U-Boat threat (18 Mar. 1940); the proposed new status for the Irish Capuchin houses in the Cape Province, South Africa. (13 Oct. 1940); the position of interned ‘alien priests’ in Northern Rhodesia (25 Apr. 1941); the arrival of Polish refugees in Livingstone. (12 Aug. 1941); the ill-health of Fr. Damascene McKenna OFM Cap. in Northern Rhodesia (5 June 1942); the provision of doctors in Catholic Mission Centres. (23 June 1944); the Katima Muliho mission station. (11 Dec. 1944); copy report on the state of the Northern Rhodesia mission sent to the Prefect of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. (28 Jan. 1945); a proposal to circulate a local mission magazine. (19 May 1945); the jubilee letters of Fr. Phelim O’Shea and Fr. Oliver O’Hanlon (24 June 1945); extending an invitation to the Irish Sisters of Charity to establish a ‘foundation for coloured work in this Prefecture’ (31 Dec. 1948); the pressing need for more priests to be sent to the Northern Rhodesian Mission (28 Aug. 1949); the arrival of Fr. Colga O’Riordan OFM Cap. and Fr. Carthage Ruth OFM Cap. (22 Nov. 1949); on the need for priests to take ‘sociological courses’ before departing for Africa. Fr. Killian wrote ‘I am becoming more and more convinced that not by Baptisms alone is Africa going to be converted and that priests must be thoroughly versed in sociological principles. How can anyone keep the Commandments in a modern African compound hut?’ (11 Feb. 1952).
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.
Photographic album of Fr. Albert Hayes OFM Cap. (1915-2005). The album contains un-captioned black and white photographic prints. Fr. Albert was resident in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) from 1945-67. The volume contains captioned prints relating to Fr. Albert’s ministry in the country including: • Bishop Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap. with first communicants in Livingstone. • Interior views of the High Altar and Sanctuary of St. Theresa’s Church, Livingstone. • An aerial view of St. Theresa’s Church and the surrounding suburbs of Livingstone. • Views of Victoria Falls, Northern Rhodesia. • Altar servers. • Excursion trips for Altar servers. • First Holy Communion Day in Livingstone in 1948 and 1952. The names of the parents and children are given in captions. • The wedding of Mr and Mrs Butcher in Livingstone. • Fr. Albert Hayes OFM Cap. (1915-2005) with African religious sisters at an air-strip in Northern Rhodesia.
Photographic prints of Irish Capuchin missionaries in Northern Rhodesia. The prints are extant on loose cards taken from a photographic album (CA AMI/2/10/1/2). Most of the prints have been annotated: Capuchin friars at the Maramba mission station. Fr. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap. at the Livingstone Capuchin Friary. Confirmations at the Maramba mission station. Fr. Colga O’Riordan OFM Cap. Fr. Agathangelus Herlihy OFM Cap. in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1940. ‘Fathers, Sisters and girl boarders, Easter 1941’. The mission car in 1941. A trek to a mission station in 1937. ‘Hoisting a roof on a mission hut’. A local cook with his wife at an Irish Capuchin mission station. The building of the first Capuchin mission church in 1938. The interior of a mission church in 1939. Local game shot outside the mission grounds. Preparations for an eight-week trek through the bush. The Capuchin community in Sichili in 1937 (Fr. Christopher Crowley OFM Cap., Fr. Agathangelus Herlihy OFM Cap. and Fr. Fintan Roche OFM Cap.). A local teacher and altar servers. The building of the father’s dwelling at a mission station. Scenes on the way to Sesheke (including the local chief’s hut). The Parish Church and Capuchin Friary in Livingstone.
Photographic prints assembled by Fr. Alfred O’Mahony OFM Cap. (1912-1988) relating to missionary work in Northern Rhodesia (later Zambia). Fr. Alfred ministered in Africa from 1942-73. The file also includes some prints of missionary friars in South Africa. Most of the prints have not been annotated. The file includes images of: Fr. Maurice Dowd OFM Cap. Fr. Anthansius (Noel) Winston OFM Cap. St. Matthew’s Church, Bonteheuwel, South Africa. The wedding of two teachers at Sancta Maria Mission School in Lukulu. Fr. Seán Cahill OFM Cap. in Cape Town on the occasion of his silver jubilee in Nov. 1982. Fr. Raymond Dillane OFM Cap. Friars in Northern Rhodesia on the occasion of Fr. Alfred’s silver jubilee. Religious sisters with local children and parishioners. Bishop Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap. with local religious sisters and parishoners. Victoria Falls. Local weddings. Mission churches and buildings. Fr. Agathangelus Herlihy OFM Cap. Dr John Roche in Sichili in Sept. 1964. Scenes along the Zambezi River.
Copy of Br. Andrew O’Shea’s oral account of his missionary work in Northern Rhodesia (later Zambia). With a copy cover letter (and reply) from Fr. Edwin Flynn OFM Cap. to Fr. Theophilus Murphy OFM Cap, describing what they affirm is Br. Andrew’s 'Fioretti'. Br. Andrew served as a missionary in Africa from 1943-86. The script is given the following headings: • Father Alfred O’Mahony OFM Cap. and Brother Xavier Cox OFM Cap. going on a journey. • As a farmer sees it and as a city lad sees it. • Somili and the Mubishopo – that is Monsignor Killian Flynn OFM Cap. • Monsignor and the Maramba Girls Lapa (compound). • Monsignor and the Sisters’ washing. • Father Raymond Dillane’s Silver Jubilee. • Father Raymond Dillane OFM Cap. • Father Albeus McQuillan OFM Cap. and Linda Friary. • The visit of the Fatima Statue of Our Lady to Mongu. • The Holy Ghost and the oil stocks. • My friend Kadom (by Father Christopher Crowley OFM Cap.). • Tripe or fishtails. • Kadom and the radio. • The grand finale of Kadom. • Snippets from mission life. • Father Albert O’Mahony OFM Cap. • Father James O’Mahony OFM Cap. • Father Aquinas Carroll OFM Cap. • African Holy Cross Sisters. • Sister Rudolf. • Fr. Capistran Singleton OFM Cap. • Brother Xavier Cox OFM Cap. • Sister Martin. • Father Albert O’Mahony OFM Cap. on his first walking tour. • Archbishop Matthews. • Cardinal Spellman. • A man from the agriculture department visits Lukulu. • Father Ronan Herlihy OFM Cap. and Brother Andrew go fishing. • Father Luke Browne’s attempt to cross the Zambezi in a jeep. • Mission Buildings. • Father Flannan Buckley OFM Cap. and the jam pots. • Fr. Theophilus Murphy OFM Cap. • Monsignor’s typewriter and the donkeys. • Father Macanise, the donkeys and their scotch cart. • Father Brian Browne OFM Cap. and his method of winter heating. • Fr. Jerome MacQuillan OFM Cap. and the Divine Office. • Spenser flies his plane. • Father Albeus McQuillan OFM Cap. • Father Livinus Keane OFM Cap. • Brother Andrew O’Shea OFM Cap. • Another cook called Peter, and the marmalade. • Brother Gabriel McGillicuddy OFM Cap. and the bricks. • Bishop Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap. and cars. • The Thames trucks.
Letters of Fr. Fintan Roche OFM Cap. (1898-1953) relating to his experiences as a missionary in Barotseland. The correspondents include Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap.; Fr. Kieran O’Callaghan OFM Cap.; Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Provincial Minister. Reference is made to the work of Fr. Killian Flynn OFM Cap. who is in ‘some God-forsaken native village about 9 days from here building a school [and to] Fr. Phelim [O’Shea OFM Cap.] and Fr. Seraphin [Nesdale OFM Cap.] in Loanja’. (11 Dec. 1933). Later, Fr. Fintan refers to the establishment of further mission stations around Mongu and ‘other remote centres … where we won’t conflict with already established Protestant missions’. He also affirmed that ‘Barotseland is not “virgin soil”, it is chuck full of Protestant Missions, some of them 30 days by river from Livingstone’ (20 June 1934).
35 mm colour slides of photographs taken by Br. Joseph Murphy OFM Cap. (1929-2009). The majority are images of missionary work in Zambia. Br. Joseph ministered in Zambia from 1958-79. Many of the slides relate to the visitation of the mission undertaken by Fr. Berard Creed OFM Cap. (1923-2004), Provincial Minister, in 1968. The file includes: • Local leprosy patients • Fr. Berard inspecting construction work on mission buildings • Capuchin friars with Irish religious sisters working in Zambia • Fr. Berard Creed OFM Cap. and Fr. Anthony Boran OFM Cap. greeting Bishop Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap. • Mission churches and residences in Zambia • Friars performing baptisms and celebrating other religious ceremonies with the local populace • Victoria Falls. • Patients undergoing procedures in mission hospitals. • Fr. John Grace OFM Cap. • Sioma Falls • Bishop Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap. with Capuchin friars at Dublin Airport awaiting his return journey to Zambia. Several general views of the airport are also extant. The file also includes several non-mission photographs including images of a Pontifical Mass celebrated by Pope Paul VI in St. Peter’s in Rome in September 1970, St. Bonaventure's Hostel in Cork, and several images of family and other relations of Br. Joseph.
A collection of photographic prints documenting the visitation of the Zambian Vice-Province by Fr. Eustace McSweeney OFM Cap., Provincial Minister. Includes images of Fr. Eustace with Fr. Bruno McKnight OFM Cap., Regular Superior, Fr. Michael Duffy OFM Cap., Fr. Edwin Flynn OFM Cap., Fr. John Grace OFM Cap., Fr. Eugene Mooney OFM Cap., Fr. Philip Baxter OFM Cap., and Fr. Noel Brennan OFM Cap. The file includes images of the grave of Bishop Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap. in Lukulu, the grave of Fr. Gerald Joyce OFM Cap. (d. 15 July 1944), superior of St. Patrick’s Mission in Sihole, Kalabo, and the first missionary to die in the Victoria Falls Prefecture, visits to Capuchin mission stations and parishes, the Chinyingi Suspension Bridge built by the Capuchin friars, religious sisters at hospitals and schools, and local inhabitants of the Western Province of Zambia.
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
