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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.

Report and minutes of meeting between Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, and Fr. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap., Regular Superior. The meeting was held at the Sancta Maria mission station, Lukulu, Northern Rhodesia. The minutes refer to various decrees, appointments and recommendations made in relation to missionary work in Barotseland, and in South Africa.

Letters of Fr. Oliver O’Hanlon OFM Cap. (1902-1957). The correspondents include Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Provincial Minister; Fr. Kieran O’Callaghan OFM Cap., Provincial Secretary; Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister; Fr. Stanislaus Kavanagh OFM Cap.; Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap., Provincial Minister. Most of the correspondence relates to missionary activity in the parish of St. Monica’s, Parow, Cape Province, South Africa. The subjects include: arrangements for Fr. Oliver’s journey to South Africa on board the SS Adolf Woermann. (5 Mar.-22 May 1930); a request from Fr. Oliver to ensure that Parow parish is kept in addition to Athlone parish as it ‘contains the biggest coloured school in the vicariate’. (26 Feb. 1931); requests for mass stipends. (15 Jan. 1932); James Carlton Clarkein who wishes to join the Capuchin Order as a lay brother. (3 Mar. 1932); the resignation of Bishop Bernard Cornelius O’Riley, Vicar Apostolic of the Cape of Good Hope. Fr. Oliver wrote: ‘It is the best thing he could have done. He had not the necessary qualities to be a bishop of such vicariate as this’. (22 July 1932); requesting that Matroosfontein parish come under Capuchin ministry. (3 May 1934); the opening of a church in Matroosfontein. (17 Sept. 1935); the future of the Capuchin mission in the Cape Province. (28 May 1940); the difficulties of sending priests to the mission during wartime conditions. (15 Oct. 1940); the opportunity of establishing a mission in the Port Elizabeth Vicariate. (2 Aug. 1949). The file includes a rough sketch map of the Irish Capuchin Mission in the Cape Province. The map also indicates the distances between the various mission stations. With two photographic prints including one of Fr. Oliver O’Hanlon OFM Cap. The other may show his residence at Parow. References are also made to the following Capuchin friars: Fr. Seraphin Nesdale OFM Cap.; Fr. Casimir Butler OFM Cap.; Fr. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap.; Fr. Alban Cullen OFM Cap.; Fr. Livinus Keane Cap.; Fr. Fintan Roche OFM Cap.; Fr. Timothy Connery OFM Cap.; Fr. Marcellus Carroll OFM Cap.

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).

A collection of black and white photographic prints mostly relating to Monsignor Killian Flynn OFM Cap., Prefect Apostolic of Victoria Falls from 1936-50. Most of the prints have been captioned by his nephew, Fr. Edwin Flynn OFM Cap. and some were published in Mgr. Killian Flynn as seen from his letters (Ndola, 2003). The file includes prints of Fr. Killian:
• As a novitiate and student.
• With his parents.
• With Fr. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap. and Fr. Seraphin Nesdale OFM Cap. (1897-1980) probably on a ship during their first voyage to Africa in 1931.
• With African porters during a long trek into the bush, 1931-2.
• With Fr. Casimir Butler OFM Cap. (1876-1958) celebrating the opening of the first mission church on 30 Oct. 1932.
• The exterior of the ‘Stone Police Camp’ at Livingstone, the site of the first mission chapel, 1932.
• With Fr. Oliver O’Hanlon OFM Cap., Fr. Alban Cullen OFM Cap., Fr. Jerome MacQuillan OFM Cap. and Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap., 1935.
• With Paramount Chief Yeta III of Barotseland.
• With Cardinal Laurean Rugambwa, Nairobi Cathedral in 1967.
• At the first all-African Bishops’ Conference in Kampala, Uganda, in 1969.
• At the Zambian Episcopal Conference.
• Receiving an MBE in Livingstone.
• Greeting Pope Paul VI in Kampala, Uganda. The Pope visited Uganda from 31 July to 2 Aug. 1969
• With Capuchin friars from East and Southern Africa in 1972.

A collection of prints including many of Fr. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap. (Bishop of Livingstone from 1959-74). Most of the prints are un-captioned. The file includes prints collected for publication in 'The Capuchin Annual'. The captioned photographs include:
• Fr. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap., Fr. Killian Flynn OFM Cap., Fr. Casimir Butler OFM Cap. and Fr. Seraphin Nesdale OFM Cap. in Northern Rhodesia in c.1931. The images were probably taken during a trip to Victoria Falls.
• Group of Irish Capuchin friars in Northern Rhodesia. Front row (from left to right): Fr. Timothy Phelim O’Shea OFM Cap., Monsignor Killian Flynn OFM Cap., Fr. Oliver O’Hanlon OFM Cap. Back row: Fr. Christopher Crowley OFM Cap., Fr. Seraphin Nesdale OFM Cap., Fr. Timothy Connery OFM Cap., Fr. Casimir Butler OFM Cap., Br. Alexius Paolucci OFM Cap. and Fr. Jarlath Gough OFM Cap. The photograph was probably taken after the installation of Monsignor Killian Flynn OFM Cap. as Prefect Apostolic on 25 Nov. 1936.
• Bishop O’Shea OFM Cap. at a Parish Council meeting at the new church, Shimano, Mangango Mission. c.1970.
• Bishop O’Shea with Fr. Jude McKenna OFM Cap. in 1967.
• Fr. Agathangelus Herlihy OFM Cap.
• Bishop O’Shea at a retreat in Mongu in Aug. 1974. The group includes religious sisters and Fr. Jude McKenna OFM Cap.
• Bishop O’Shea OFM Cap. with the Little Sisters of St. Francis.
• Bishop O’Shea OFM Cap. with Sr. Colmcille and three new novices.
• Bishop O’Shea OFM Cap. with the President of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda.

Letters from Bishop Hugh Boyle (1897-1986), Vicar Apostolic of Port Elizabeth, to Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap. and Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Ministers, requesting that more priests be sent to South Africa to work on local missions in the Vicariate of Port Elizabeth. The file includes correspondence with the Most Rev. Martin Lucas SVD, Apostolic Delegate to South Africa, referring to the urgent need for more missionaries in the district of Peddie, Cape Province.

Letters of Fr. Alban Cullen OFM Cap. (1902-1957). The main correspondent is Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Provincial Minister. Other correspondents include Fr. Kieran O’Callaghan OFM Cap. and Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap. Provincial Minister. The subjects include: the progress of the Irish Capuchin mission in South Africa, particularly the ‘coloured localities of Athlone, Parrow and Claremont’; arrangements for the opening of the mission in Barotseland, Northern Rhodesia; the language difficulties. Fr. Alban wrote ‘The big drawback of the Church in South Africa has been the dearth of English-speaking priests. Cape Town has them. Port Elizabeth has some. Johannesburg has a few. But almost everywhere else, French, German, Dutch have possession’. (21 Mar. 1931); requests for mass stipends (18 Sept. 1931); information concerning the forty square miles of the Capuchin mission in South Africa including ‘Athlone, Crawford, Jamestown, Belgravia Estate, the Welcome Estate and Langa’. (6 Nov. 1931); the construction of churches, mission schools and orphanages; the establishment of a canonical foundation by the Irish Capuchins in Athlone, Cape Town. (14 Jan. 1932); the deprivations faced by the ‘native population’ in Cape Town. (26 Feb. 1932); the education of the coloured population of Cape Province, South Africa. (18 Mar. 1932); Fr. Alban’s attempts to hire John McCormack, the renowned Irish tenor, to perform in aid of the poor of Athlone Parish, Cape Town. (5 Aug. 1932); on the necessity of holding property in the Athlone Vicariate. Fr. Alban affirms that ‘the Athlone Catholics are poor, miserable coloured native people on the verge of starvation’. (25 Nov. 1932); the building of the Church of St. Mary of the Angels in Athlone, Cape Town. (9 June 1933); Fr. Alban’s work as a missionary since his ordination in 1925. He wrote ‘I have devoted my time exclusively to the missionary life – almost four years with the Californian Indians, and almost five with the coloured and native people of Athlone’. (27 July 1934); the visitation of Fr. James O’Mahony OFM Cap. to South Africa. (6 Sept. 1935); his desire to return to Ireland. He reminds Fr. Colman Griffin OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, that he is ‘the last of the first three [priests] who came here in 1929’. (6 June 1951). The file also includes a letter from Fr. Aloysius Travers OFM Cap. to Fr. Edwin Fitzgibbon OFM Cap., Provincial Minister, transmitting news from Fr. Alban re the number of communicants in Athlone parish. (19 Nov. 1931).